Boat Design for Dummies Questions

Hi,

I'm a member at a fishing forum and we commonly discuss boat design, but mostly the rigging and not hull design.

Where is a place I or others could go to get basic information on hull design. Mostly flatbottoms and modified V hulls are used there. Some of the questions that have come up, for example:

1) Do soft chines turn better than hard chines?
2) How to design for shallower draft?

Nobody there is discussing more complicated designs that get discussed here most often. Just flatbottoms, airboats, semi-V hulls, etc. Just looking for the basic physics, if there is such a thing.

 

Well, best to get a hydrodynamics for dummies type of book first. Since to really appreciate the answer to your questions, some research would be in order. Since you will find upon your quest often contradicting guidance. Hence, a basic background will be sufficient to then critique each one to separate the wheat from the chaff, as there is plenty out there.

Also the difference can be very simple or very complex and each with their own set of caveats.

 

Thanks again Ad Hoc!

 

jnwaco

I know my reply doesn't realy help that much, but hydrodynamics cannot be summed up in one liners as such.

 

Well, not necessarily looking for one liners. A book recommendation would be fine. I'm just interested in a really focused set of hull shapes is all. I don't know that deep v or keel design would be terribly applicable for shallow running boats.

 

Try “The Nature of Boats“ (Dave Gerr).
http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Boats-Insights-Esoterica-Nautically/dp/007024233X

Your focus is too narrowly defined. It would be similar as if you sad to mathematics teacher that you just want to learn division, not interested in addition, subtraction and multiplication.

You can’t design a boat aiming at just one goal. Every boat is compromise between number of interconnected factors. You need to understand basic general principles first, to be able to apply them on your chosen type of vessel.

For example, if you design just for shallowest draft, result would be floating object of circular form with vertical sides and flat bottom. It would be terrible boat of course.

 

The shallowest draft is a flat bottom with vertical sides. A vee bottom turns tighter. You will finf the word "compromise" repeated a lot through all these threads. In short, you gain one way and lose the other. At the end you get the best you can for the purpose.

 

Hey, thats just a dream! And you will agree immediately, you will?

 

You could try
"Introduction to Naval Architecture"
By E.Tupper

Obviously it covers more than hydrodynamics, but gives a good summary of the background, which will then lead you into more specific areas for you to research.

 

Sorry peer, you could try " Mama Alices everyday cookbook" to have the same result.
They do´nt understand the difference between "DESIGN" as artificial drawing and " design" as a development of compromises to a certain extend.
Regards
Richard

 

Apex

Noted