building a boat! need help!

[PAR]

I'm just a software subroutine . . .

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by Frosty

And the question is folks--who is the real kid on this thread.

Answer _______________

I may have to grow older, but they can't make me grow up.

[rwatson]

We will keep Pars 'explanation' on hand for the next 10 years, and we can just link to it for all the next two dozen 'beginners' projects - and re-use the sentiments.

Frostys comments

"Boy do I know what you feel. you want to build a boat and --well it looks easy enough, but then someone says you need to read books first when you want to get hammering nails.

I remember what it was like to be a kid even though it was more years ago than I would care to remeber. I too would build stuff, hey my dad would have me in stiches talking about stealing garden fences to make boats that sank in seconds in the local canal.

Build it --sink it- dry off and think a bit then have another go."

is right on the mark too -

Somewhere in between is the path that everyone takes.

All I can add to these great classics for Sail102 is:-

Once you actually get started building from the plans, it will make a lot more sense. There is no problems starting off boat building in a bit of a confused state - most of real the learning is done at the closed end of the glue bottle, and the blunt end of the saw.

[sail102]

Originally Posted by Frosty

And the question is folks--who is the real kid on this thread.

Answer_______________

Jim-Bob

[sail102]

Originally Posted by PAR

So, I was right? You are a pre-high schooler or possably just entering high school? Zero, engineering, sailing and wood working experience, except for the 6" x 8" log cabin you made from popsicle sicks a few years ago? Do you still have your Lego set?

In all seriousness Sail102, building a boat is fairly easy, if you use a set of plans and follow the instructions. Designing a boat, even a small puddle jumper, isn't easy. The worst part of all this is the "unnatural environment" it can place humans (like you, your family and your friends). From an engineering point of view, you have to have a pretty good grasp on things, before starting down this road. Your experience indicates you have zip.

Lets try this another way, which many here have heard before. Would you ride an elevator to the top of 10 story building, if the designer was as experienced as you? How about an airplane ride at 15,000 feet, that was designed by someone who asked a discussion forum, how long to make the wings? Of course you wouldn't and it's simply because both of those devices, place you and other humans in an unnatural environment. It's not normal for people to be at 15,000' or 10 stories above ground, as any mistake can get your butt killed fairly easily. The same is true of a boat. Where not talking about a swimming pools and water wings here, but a little boat that can easily take you well beyond the point, where you couldn't possably expect to swim back to.

So, maybe your a prodigy engineer or something, though based on your current effort, either really young or not so much the prodigy. If not the gifted, empirical savant engineer, then you'd be best advised to get a set of plans, get some sailing experience and some swimming lessons, as 8' sailboats capsize (yep, every single one). So, if you take one out, you can just bet this will occur and you'll be splashing around wondering do I save the 6 pack or myself. Having been in this situation many, many times myself and having made both decisions (I'm an excellent swimmer and not willing to sacrifice beer) your design needs to resist this small boat tendency and your current attempt will be quite prone to it.

Don't take the comments here as a personal assault on your integrity as a yacht designer and structural engineer. Frankly, you can't because you are neither, but I was intentionally harsh to hopefully convince you how truly bad your design is (hello, this is the real world calling). You can keep going to spite me and the vast majority of others posters here. Maybe we will not read about your drowned butt being washed up on a shore some place, which is the whole point here.

Lastly, you don't think you're the only one that's come down this path before do you? In fact, you picture looks just like a MS Paint sketch I saw here about 5 years ago, 45 degree garboards, angled bow and all. Not a curve on either design (clever). I think I laughed for a half hour before replying. It's not your fault, at least you're trying, but we'd like to see you survive sea trials (never bring a woman on trials, trust me on this) and publish you latest project, if for no other reason then to stuff it up the butts, of the nea saying old farts . . .

A PDR would be a great start and is precisely 8' and sails pretty good (okay it's a concrete mixing tub with a sail), but it's pretty good for a concrete mixing tub with a sail. I'd recommend Michael Storer's version the OZ PDR which is only 20 bucks for well detailed plans. It's likely the most simplified version of the PDR (there are several versions).

http://www.pdracer.com/ link to PD racing.
http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/st...acer/index.htm link to Michael Storer's OZ PDR plans ($20).
http://www.pdracer.com/free-plans/ link to free USA race legal PDR plans.

The OZ PDR isn't exactly PD rules compliant, but it incorporates many features that are far better then the free plans show, plus have a mountain of instructions and details, all that can be incorporated into a race legal (in the USA) Puddle Duck.

sets. who doesnt like lego?

[tunnels]

Originally Posted by lumberjack_jeff

How about ten feet?
http://www.microcruising.com/

What a amazing list !! I have saved it and going to spend time to read all and every bit !

[peterchech]

Has anyone mentioned the dynamite payson articles/books?

My first boat I followed his cartopper instructions. Great place to start.