Taking lines off an existing hull

Hello, I recently came across a thread requesting assistance with the process of taking the lines off an existing hull. A number of the replies were unhelpful and pretty damning of the process. The assumption being that the only reason for lifting the lines from an existing hull would be to steal designs and break copyright.

While I agree that to steal an existing current design in this way is tantamount to stealing, I think it should be made clear that there are many valid, and legal reasons, for taking the lines off an existing hull:

Historical research

Building a replica, or designing a derivative, of a craft which has evolved, as opposed to designed, and where the builder is long dead.

Repair/rebuild of boats where drawings are no longer available.

Reading this thread made me wonder if we, who tend to look at the world from our own environment, are often too quick to judge.

 

I do not know why you think that getting some forms of an existing boat used to steal a design. Just a fevered mind can think that. There are many reasons for an honest professional, in the exercise of their profesaión, need to do this job and you've just exposed some of the least important.

 

I do not think that but there are a number of people that do oppose the practice of lifting lines from an existing boat.

 

I am not able to know who are these who oppose to a work that many naval architects must perform to perform some of their calculations.

 

I have had to lift the Lines off an existing hull - the owner needed some stability work and the boat had been designed by the builder and there was no Lines Plan.
I have done it manually ( only masochists enjoy it... trust me) but now get a laser scan- fast and accurate.

 

JSL, were you trying to steal the design of another designer?

 

Here in Brazil there are many boats that were built with no lines plan at all. Builders just eyeball a hull and do it. And then eventually the port authority wants stability calculations. So getting the lines off an existing hull is not that uncommom. I find photogrammetry works pretty well, and is cheaper than laserscaning.