12' Skiff using Solidworks

[xduncanx]

Hi this is my first post here and I have not been a very long reader. (so apoligies if this has been covered)

I'm A 27 year old Mech Engineer from New Zealand. I'm keen to embark on my first boat build as summer is just around the corner.

I'm looking at designing and building a ply stitch and glue 12' Skiff.
It will be a very simple design something like this. (such that i can design all panels in completely SW10, flatten and then cut out of the ply)


My competance with SW is decent though, seemingly, not in any of the skills required to do this boat hull. Like I said I'd like to be able to make the three panels required for the hull and be able to flatten tham so I can take measurements.

In addition to this i'd also like to constrain the top of the sheer, when flattened, to be a straight line. So that when it comes to cut this panel from ply this straight line will be the edge of th ply. (I saw this on another site and thought it sounded like an efficient way to save ply)

If anyone could help me with setting up my planes ( a simple SW model for me to go over would be a saviour), info of whats importent, creating developable sheet metal parts in SW or things i generally might need to know
that would be very much appreciated.

Note: I'm not interested in using any other software (i.e. Rhino) for this design.

Cheers

Michael

[thedutchtouch]

your drawing looks very similar to a number of skiffs that have already been developed, one of which i used as inspiration for my boat, hannu vartiala's 12'skiff. he has free plans on his site here: http://koti.kapsi.fi/hvartial/skiff12p/skif12p.htm hope that helps

[Knut Sand]

I Thiiink....

That in some way you can use the "sheet metal" function, but for that, you'll need one 100% flat surface for the "base flange" I think it's possible to start from the transom, and insert "cut" in the bow and the chine (eh, well the lower part of the sides and the bottom...

I've tried once, no real luck. Sharper corners go ok, but the not so curved sides (boat sides) doesn't open/ flatten, normally...

I once had a protection cover that I tried to flatten, large radius, didn't flatten, didn't flatten, didn't flatten, then suddenly; flat....
Tried to duplicate; no luck.... More confused... But the flattened model worked ok in the production drawing, and in the cnc cutting machine. When bended in place as intended: Looked like it actually was designed by one who knew what he was dooing...

Sharper edges/ corners is ok/ easy to flatten, but that's a shape not suitable for a boat.

[TimothyM]

You could just copy the skiff in the picture, loft it and tweak the design to your liking. I've attached a screen shot of the skiff traced in CAD. This took about 15 minutes and you have all the information you need to loft the hull in 3D. I use prochine to expand panels, but you may be able to do it with solid works.

[lewisboats]

In addition to this i'd also like to constrain the top of the sheer, when flattened, to be a straight line. So that when it comes to cut this panel from ply this straight line will be the edge of th ply. (I saw this on another site and thought it sounded like an efficient way to save ply)

I suspect that that shearline won't come out flat when expanded...not without changing it significantly...but then it wouldn't be that shearline. Freeship will do everything you want including giving you the measurements of the expanded panels. You will have to take the time to learn Freeship though.