Things I have learned from building and designing boats

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by David L. Dodd II, Mar 29, 2021.

  1. sharpii2
    Joined: May 2004
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    sharpii2 Senior Member

    Absolutely.

    Good is better than perfect, because at least it's possible.

    Perfection is that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

    Persuing it has probably killed vastly more projects than it has improved.

    Every boat designer and every builder is a clutz. But some are far more clutzier than others.

    Only with time and patience does the clutziness dissipate.

    I, myself, am on the high end of the clutz scale. This is because I lack patience and am somewhat undisciplined (I'm working on those).

    Realistically speaking, any boat I build of my own design will not be a masterpiece of craftsmanship, or even design.

    My hope is that it will be adequate, useful, and perhaps even a little interesting.

    After I finish it and test it, I plan on writing a book on it that will walk a prospective builder through the entire process, while pointing out my many mistakes in building the original.
     
  2. Howlandwoodworks
    Joined: Sep 2018
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    Location: USA MO

    Howlandwoodworks Member

    Somethings I have learned and
    Somethings I should have learned:

    Don’t breath the foul air.

    If I don’t understand I should either be silent or learn.

    Make all of your mortise and tenons as large and as deep as possible.

    Keep your fingers connected to your hands at all times.

    If an old tool works best use that one.

    In your contracts in bold letters there should be a line that reads:
    All Change Orders must be submitted in writing, agreed upon and signed by both parties before said work can begin. Or something to that effect.
    Warning:
    This can be a double edged sword.
    Disclaimer:
    If some miss fortune should befall you from any of these suggestion I take no responsibility for your bonehead actions.

    Keep a daily log book of these category and try to keep them in balance:
    Quality, Quantity, Relationships and Modality or at least make a note.

    Research something and make one of your tools better each day.

    I stoles most of these ideas from someone much smarter than I am.
    John
    Retired from all that nonsense.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2021
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  3. Will Gilmore
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    Will Gilmore Senior Member

    I think that's the real pearl of wisdom to be gleaned from your post.
    "Don't let someone else's work evade your eyes, remember why the good lord made your eyes, so don't shade your eyes... only, remember to always call it 'reasearch'." -Tom Lehrer
     
  4. David L. Dodd II
    Joined: Jun 2020
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    David L. Dodd II Junior Member

    2 new rules:

    Boat Building Rule #27: The project isn't done until you have bled on it.

    Boat Building Rule #28: Anyone who offers to help will need your help, and lots of it. Accept anyway.
     
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  5. The Q
    Joined: Feb 2014
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    Location: Norfolk, UK

    The Q Senior Member

    You forgot two rules for both building and design...

    Rule 0 or Alpha... Have plenty of coffee available..
    Last rule or Omega.. Have a bottle of good whisky ready for the end of the day.... you'll need it..
     
  6. Will Gilmore
    Joined: Aug 2017
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    Will Gilmore Senior Member

    I learned that, as a designer/artist, not necessarily of boats, customers don't do well with too many choices. Keep it simple, most customers will like it better that way.

    Along with that, never offer choices that you don't want the customer to choose.
     
  7. comfisherman
    Joined: Apr 2009
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    Location: Alaska

    comfisherman Senior Member

    For the guys messing with glass....

    There is not dustless method if your time has any value. Suck it up and get it done.

    A shop vac with at least 6 hp makes a big difference.

    Shop vac bags are awesome, catch basin setups are nice but bags are faster.

    An oz of masking is worth a pound of grinding dust.

    Design as much as possible to have very little overhead glass work as possible. My arms are feeling that as I type this.
     
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  8. Will Gilmore
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    Will Gilmore Senior Member

    By the way, this, and many of the above lessons listed here, applies analogously to parenting. Never offer choices to your children that you wouldn't be willing for them to make.

    Just thought I'd add that experiential wisdom because it also lead me to understand that children and customers are very much alike.
     
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  9. cthippo
    Joined: Sep 2010
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    cthippo Senior Member

    Never measure when you can gauge.

    If you are wondering if you used enough caulk, you have not used enough caulk.

    A surprising number of problems solve themselves if you ignore them long enough.
     
  10. cthippo
    Joined: Sep 2010
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    cthippo Senior Member

    This is also known as the "Cumulative goatfcuk factor". All errors will compound towards the end and whatever you do last will be the most screwed up part of the project. Plan for this by leaving non-visible, non-structural things for last that can afford to be kludged together.
     
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  11. DogCavalry
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    DogCavalry Senior Member

    As a deficiency carpenter working for a residential custom design/build company, I ca confirm this. Every subtrade will casually damage a preceding subtrades work, and make a later trade's work much harder than it needed to be.
     
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  12. dustman
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    dustman Senior Member

    More caulk isn't necessarily better. It's not how much caulk you use, it's how you use it.
     
  13. dustman
    Joined: Jun 2019
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    dustman Senior Member

    And it's not always that they do damage, it's that they just don't care or think about the next guys work.
     
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  14. DogCavalry
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    DogCavalry Senior Member

    Exactly. They don't do damage on purpose. They just generally don't care if they do.
     

  15. comfisherman
    Joined: Apr 2009
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    comfisherman Senior Member

    Sitting in a bare hull feels like and endless supply of volume. It fills up 2x as fast as you think, plan reasonably and expect it to get crowded.

    Plum everything next size up from what you think, flow rates for all systems like bigger pipe....

    Despite led's and other efficiency's, electric consumption goes one way..... plan accordingly.
     
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