Will my boat plan float?

Discussion in 'All Things Boats & Boating' started by Dr.Smart, Mar 1, 2011.

  1. Dr.Smart
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Hi, me and my friends are making a barge for us, will it topple over, or sink?

    Thanks! :)

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Dr.Smart
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Um, anybody want to response? :)
     
  3. TeddyDiver
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    TeddyDiver Gollywobbler

    What's the hollow space below?
     
  4. Submarine Tom

    Submarine Tom Previous Member

    Will it topple or sink?

    Well, it might.

    Tell us more about the design and it's construction.

    -Tom
     
  5. Dr.Smart
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Air. So that it will float.

    It will be wielded by me, and it will be made out of aluminum.

    And what sort of engine do you think we will need? We want it to go at least 10 miles per hour.
     
  6. Dirteater
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Dirteater Senior Member

    Well Doc,

    If I see it right?
    its about 12 feet high and 25 feet long. and how wide? :eek:
    It looks like you have 6 x 25 feet of "air" for a hull? (weight perhaps?)

    It'll float fore sure, but I'd almost think it would float better upside down.

    that's quite the drawing to try to read my friend.
    Just trying to help you out and clarify.

    DE
     
  7. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    SamSam Senior Member

    Do you mean contained air, like a balloon?
     
  8. Dr.Smart
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Yes, it is 12 feet high, 25 feet long, and 12 feet wide.

    And 6 feet on the bottom is the "balloon" is that to much? Could it be less?

    How come it would float better up side down?

    Exactly.
     
  9. Dirteater
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Dirteater Senior Member

    Hi Doc,

    Well, now I see the picture a little clearer.
    ie: I didn't know it has a balloon/apron?, (kudos to SamSam),
    Please understand Doc, I'm no engineer.
    and when I see your drawing it appears top heavy.

    too me, its kind of a huge raft?
    why not a pontoon boat approach?

    Just a thought and a reply,
    I have to leave it to the pro's from here.

    thanks,
    DE
     
  10. Dr.Smart
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Do you think it could blow over?

    The bottom drawing is the front view.
     
  11. Zurael
    Joined: Jan 2011
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    Zurael New Member

    it'll float as long as it displaces more weight in water than it weighs
    but a square hull makes a lot of drag
    also with all the weight above the waterline I would think it would be inclined to topple over
    if the width increased with height I would think it would be more stable, but I'm no naval architect
     
  12. kerosene
    Joined: Jul 2006
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    kerosene Senior Member

    it would float better upside down as a lot of the weight is way above the "cavity" that provides the buoyancy.

    25ft long boat - 10mph - no way in displacement mode - very inefficient - needs way more power than if it actually looked like a boat.
    Structure is not that short of retarded.

    You don't want weight that high - no reason to be near that high - even if you wanted a closed cavity for buoyancy.

    Why is that area closed anyway? so it it "unsinkable"? I bet it would be easier to bail if a rock pierced the bottom if it was actually open. Now all will happen is that you see that the boat is swimming "kinda deep". Until it swims real deep.
     
  13. Dr.Smart
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Actually I want it to be more of an unsinkable raft. I am a beginner wielder, and it is easier to make a square then a round boat.

    What if I make the front more of a triangle?
     
  14. Dr.Smart
    Joined: Dec 2010
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    Dr.Smart Junior Member

    Hi, here is exactly what we are wanting to build:
    [​IMG]

    Does anybody have any good plans for a beginner wielder? And is that small enough to be puller by an suv?
     

  15. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
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    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Nothing personal Dr.Smart, but you don't have the skills to design a boat, frankly not even close, so lets move to the availability of plans.

    Metal boat plans aren't especially common in trailer boat sizes. Aluminum usually is too thin to weld in these sizes and is riveted instead. This said there are a few, start here;
    https://www.boatdesigns.com/Aluminum-Construction/departments/4/
     
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