Taking the lines of an existing hull

http://www.loc.gov/folklife/maritime/linesb2.html
Techniques are discussed by John Gardner in his articles "Taking Lines Off Bigger Boats," "Taking Off Lines Allows Duplication of Existing Boats," and "Triangulation Method is Well Suited to Lifting Lines," by Walter J. Simmons in his book Lines, Lofting and Half Models

Gardner, John. "Taking Lines Off Bigger Boats." National Fisherman 67, no.1 (May 1986): 58.

_______. "Taking Off Lines Allows Duplication of Existing Boats." National Fisherman 66, no. 12 (April 1986): 44-5.

_______. "Triangulation Method is Well Suited to Lifting Lines." National Fisherman 67, no. 4 (August 1986): 65-67.

 

When I was trying to develop an understanding of planing boats, I took the bottom lines of several boats. It had absolutely nothing to do with copying, splashing or any other kind of cheating. I was trying to relate performance to design from imperical data and think I learned a lot. I mostly learned why some boats are so bad in some respects. My own designs owe something to that work but are not very close to any of the boats I measured. Perhaps that is the issue with many who ask about taking lines.

There are lots of reasons other than splashing for taking lines from an existing boat. Realistically though, I expect Caldera is more right than wrong in his asessment. Still, we ought to respect the originator of a design around here.

 

I have said it is wrong to copy a design " splashing" But I usually find it funny and just wonder if these people have the skills to draw a lines plan. Have they ever made a half hull? have they ever taken the half hull and see if it matched the lines plan that they made it from? I will have to say that if you can do that then WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ASKING HOW TO TAKE THE LINES OFF A BOAT? IF YOU CAN'T THEN PAY THE DAMN MONEY AND BUY THE DESIGN!!!

 

Woody you got the right idea "if you can do if you can't . . .
Caldera methinks you too have it - plagarism is the most serious form of flattery ever!
And if anybody steals any of my ideas enjoy 'em cos man you'll drown, one way or another (think about it!!)

 

In my opinion, there is very little point in actually stopping people from copying a design (we all know that all the ACC keels are pretty much EXACTLY the same). After all, if someone wants to copy, they'll just wait for it to be build and take a load of offsets, you need a ruler and a square, it's not hard.

The good designer, however will have progressed from that design by the time anyone realises it's worth copying. Also, you often find that the people who go out and "copy" hull-shapes are not designers themselves, they may be builders (or amateurs), but it's not hard to design something that will out-perform a poor copy of an existing design.

Further, the hull design for most boats does not actually a large part of the design. True, the hull (and rig) defines the handling charateristics and performance, but it is the interior that really takes the time, and that is the test of a good designer... does everything fit?

Tim B.

 

lines plan

Can you tell me why you need these drawings ? i do such work but normally am asked to do it by the surveyors in the name of the manufacturers to get the ce certifications prior the boat is built.