Step 12...

[Sean Herron]

Hello...

So I got all the bells and whistles - whoopie - how do I design and build a boat whilst forcing myself to think like some computer science graduate - all the free stuff and all the stuff that is the price of an imported car in the late 70's - but you know what - I can't pay attention and I cannot return the calls from my banks' loan manager...

I miss my TIG welder and that router thingee - not the networking gidget but the power tool THAT REALLY DOES SOMETHING - somethinng tangible and tactile...

Let's face it - old Nat used to pour over his splines and weights in that castle of his - and when he got bored he went out to the shop floor - now we just Google CRAP and go buy the latest Microcrap game - or at least I do...

Just bought MS Combat Flight Simulator 3 - and it's crap - prefer the first one that I can rip texture files out of...

I figure all the kids getting sucked into the MS corporate void have graduated from schools using MS crap and then they were given tools written by MS by MS to regenerate MS crap - version 23456789 - crappy...

Oh well - I think I will use what I have - to get back to basics - maybe even pull out my old splines and ducks and go cut some wood...

I do like my MP3 Zeppelin collection though...

Funny - as I get older - I prefer simpler things - beer - friends - wood stoves - rain on a tin roof - a sharp knife to sharpen a dull pencil...

I miss my old 1968 Pontiac Parisienne - VERY MUCH...

This digital 'paperless' world has not lived up to all its promises...

I have these Rhino 3D course books in front of me and I just look at them and I feel like going outside and shooting off some rounds...

Let's stay tactile...

YUP...

SH.

[Tim B]

Paperless office??? I can't see my desk for paper!!! I do agree, though. We are in danger of ending up with everything looking great on computer and nothing actually working.

For the Rhino course books, I'd just start doing something you're interested in, then use them for reference if I were you. There's nothing more boring than doing some-one elses examples.

Keep it real,

Tim B.

[chandler]

I couldn't agree more Sean. I have this freeship thingie and it absolutely refuses to do what I want it too.
I'm heading down to the basement loft floor with my drafting board ducks and splines and I'm going draw a few lines on paper then transfer them directly to the loft floor!

[tamkvaitis]

I am using simple autocad. All calculations I am doing on the paper. You can create ship (virtualy) that will from one angle look good, but from another it would look totaly crap. I have been working for a person who was rebuilding old motor boat into three masted charter shooner.During the building process the design changed for three times. Why? because there are things that you cant predict on pc. Real boats not 3d rendered images are sailing threw the oceans.

[Robjl]

Converting a power boat to a schooner is always going to be plagued with problems...you will likely finish up with a three masted motor boat!... not a real schooner that will really sail. But your friend need not be concerned, I was in the charter industry for over a decade, the passengers will be happy... they don't know the difference.
I disagree with you about your rendered views....
"You can create ship (virtualy) that will from one angle look good, but from another it would look totaly crap"
In my view if it looks crap in one view it probably is crap.
Also as often happens..
"During the building process the design changed for three times. Why? because there are things that you cant predict on pc."
I disagree strongly. Competant builders and designers are doing this all the time. If you are talking about minor finds during the renovation, that is allowed for,.. but if you are talking about changes in the proposed layout or setup that is called inadequate planning, and while a good builder may cope with it, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER AND COMPLETE PLANNING. and never more important than in boat construction. It is not a problem that can be sheeted home to a pc.
Yes, planning takes a long time but the chances of finishing up with a "dog's breakfast" of a boat don't exist.
Yes...
"Real boats not 3d rendered images are sailing threw the oceans".
but all the good ones were well planned by people (professional and amateur) who by experience or training knew what they were doing.
A poorly built/designed boat is a shame on the original designer that will be passed from owner to owner, each struggling and making excuses and trying to make it work. Bad boats should be aground in the kids playground...that's the only place they should be.
Sorry to offend, but that's what I think.
Regards all.

[Robjl]

You're starting to worry me mate, starting to recognise myself... if we don't watch out we'll become grumpy old men.
As for tactile, tangible.. hey fella, learn to use a good yacht design program, I did, didn't really take too long once I found a project. And wow!!! it does what my router, power sander and the rest of the noisy stuff won't do. It helps me produce a rational hull shape, it works out the centre of bouyancy, waterline length, displacement, trim, righting arm, prismatic coefficient, I can view a rendered sketch from any angle, I can put a Gaussian curve on the hull surface to check fairness and a whole lot of other stuff that used to take ages...I mean bloody ages.. so I can spend more time with the noisy tools making sawdust so I'll get sailing sooner.
Software is just another tool.
Regards

PS
Oh, by the way I reckon old Nat would have traded his firstborn for Prosurf.