speedboat ergonomics

can some one help me find as much relaventdata on speedboat ergonomics both interior and exterior?

[tom28571]

How does ergonomics relate to the design of speedboats?

Ergonomics in a speed boat?...

Man thats a new one, ergonomics as per the guy sitting in the boat driving it? - or as in how the hull operates efficiency wise?

This is all the ergonomics you'll ever need - if you look at it and it gives you a woody - it's got enough ergonomics!

Cheers!

[David Dobbs]

In a raceboat / high performance boat where there is a lot of pounding, it is typical for people to stand using bolster seats to lean against and to hold them in. It is left to the humans' own suspension systems to be able to absorb the shocks. With some padding to keep them in place side to side and to lean against. I'm not sure if there is enough involved that research has been done into this ??? - you could look at some of the pre-made bolster seats.

Also there is the helm layout. In quality boats thought goes into selecting and arranging instruments so they are easy to read at a glance. In cheap boats it's amazing how little thought can go into a helm and how difficult it can be where there are simply two dozen gauges, lights, and switches crammed into a 12" x 18" box called a helm. This has gotten much better in the last 5-10 years in terms of the quality and layout of the helm.

In raceboats there is also the issue of single vs. two person operation (with one person steering and the other on the throttles and watching the instruments.) So with performance boats configured in this way you often have to make it so you can operate the boat either alone or as a pair, with whatever compromises might be necessary to achieve this, in terms of optimal locations for two vs. optimal locations/sight lines and easy access to controls for one.

[Willallison]

I'd have to agree completely with David.
Ergonomics is an important area of consideration in any environment where people are supposed to operate - and in the field of boat design, it is often an area which is overlooked. How many times have you been on board some flashy new sports cruiser, only to find that the seat bases are too short, or that the head is just that little bit too small to actually take a pee in, let alone a shower. Or the galley's benches are a few inches too high / low, the bowrail appears designed to trip you up and send over the side instead of helping you do the opposite. The guages on that snazzy looking dash are obscured by the unadjustable wheel, which wouldn't be so bad if you could only move the bloody seat so you could reach the wheel!
These are all examples of bad ergonomics and whilst many designers take the human body into consideration - probably subconsciously - just as many do not.

[tom28571]

Of course you are correct Will and David. My age is showing. When I was in industry, we called it Human Engineering, what Webster defines as a sience that deals with the design of mechanical devices for efficient use by humans. Ergonomics is simply defined as, of or relating to biotechnology. I must be behind the times but we do seem to keep coming up with new uses for words that already had a specific meaning. It doesn't really sound any better to me and doesn't change anything but I will go along with current common usage.

I am very much in favor of the practice of ergonomics (it still sound funny) in the design of anything to be used by humans, including speedboats. However if the speedboat is going to be really speedy, the human is going to have to give up something to achieve that speed. David's offshore racer is a prime example. Damaged backs and knees, kidney problems and bruised or broken limbs among racers are testament to that.

[duluthboats]

Everything gets updated but us.

http://dictionary.msn.com/find/entry...rch=ergonomics

Gary

[tom28571]

Sigh.... I'm not buying a new dictionary

Which "ergonomics" do you use tho?

Do you design the ergonomics for a 6ft 6 inch tall American gentleman with long arms and legs and who weighs say 12 stone or for a 5ft 10 Ozzie beer belly who weighs 20 stone, or a 4 ft 6 inch japanese gentleman, who'd need lead platform boots not to be blown outta the boat at speed and a milk crate to stand on to see over the windscreen?

Ergonomics is a great term - and the japanese spend an inordinant amount designing their new auto's with the very best of "current ergonomics" theory - which is why at 5ft 10 inches and 2o stone, I bang my head on the A pillar getting in - my fat a$$ sinks into the seat until the underframe bites in and gives me a butt cheek bruise sending my leg to sleep, and If I fold down the visor it knocks my glasses off in the process!.

Gimme a great big dob of common sense and whack the ergonomics where the sun don't shine IMHO...as I personally think it's currently a failed science!

Look - I make furniture - on commission for a lot of $ and I make it all to the suit client buying it - some new kitchen cupboard tops are set at a height to suit the wife who uses them - not the occasional peanut butter and jelly spreading 6ft 6inch husband, then the dining table might be raised slightly to accomodate the 6ft 6inch tall hubby so his legs fit under and his forearms level with the table top while he's using a knife and fork - ergonomics is an individual thing, and thats where a "suitable range of adjustment to accommodate all users" across many ethnic and sexual groups makes a lot of sense.

What goods the exact helm and seating arrangement for hubby, if wifeys legs are swinging and don't reach the step, her arms don't reach the grab handles and every trip out is an unpleasant experience?

Yeah OK ergonomics - but gimme real people ergos - not some computer model ideal crash dummy test mannikin ergonomics!

Cheers!

[Willallison]

Trouty,
Hence my remarks regarding adjustable helm seats / wheels

[Nomad]

I guess this is all just too deep for me!!

Hi Gary in Duluth, Who are you? I live in Moose Lake Minnesota, I own a 3 boat F2 team. Please send me an email at brian@tabararacing.com...
Thanks,
Brian