Free automatic hull fairing … for a boat that won’t need to float!

[JeromeC]

Hi All,

I am new to boat building and design but have started a little project to build a playground boat for my child. Well, actually, half a boat as it will sit against the fence of our very narrow garden!
(More info and drawings here: http://www.woodenboatvb.com/vbulleti...ad.php?t=72805 )

As I like to learn new things, I am having a go at designing the hull myself. I read a lot through the forums here and have learned to use DelphShip over the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately the auto hull fairing is not available in the free version, and smoothing the curvature graph of sections by moving the control points is not straightforward.

1- I haven’t been able to find any, but just in case: Is there any free hull fairing software available?

2- I am learning to use MATLAB so I have been thinking of implementing a hull fairing algorithm myself (if I get it to work I’ll share it with everybody interested of course). As a little exercise, I got as far as plotting the curvature graph of a curve fitted to a number of control points. But I was wondering if any body knows how hull fairing algorithms work?

Thanks for any help

Jerome

[Gilbert]

If it will be a chine boat you do not need to use software to design it. Just get a batten and draw a plan view and a side view and draw straight section lines between the points of the keel, chine and sheer. And away you go.

[JeromeC]

Hi Gilbert, Thanks for your reply,

Yes I do intend to have a go at lofting and draw the plan full size. In fact, I have ordered the book “lofting” by Allan Vaitses but it will take five to six weeks to arrive! So, between now and then I want to have a go at 3D modelling and fairing.

Jerome