Message-Id: <199710091310.JAA10546@www.onlink.net>
From: "John Winters" <jwinters@onlink.net>
To: <baidarka@lists.intelenet.net>
Subject: Re: design+building -- Longish
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 1997 08:19:30 -0400
Carl wrote;
(SNIP)
>
> So, to make a reasonably accurate comparison of the bows of two boats you
> could use a sectional coefficient at locations equidistant from the bow
of
> each boat (assuming similar lengths - nope length wouldn't matter much
just
> relative location on the hull)?
Well, yes and no. Yes, because it will give you more information that just
the length and profile but no because to get the full picture one needs the
curve of areas of all sections. Mind you, this is a bit superfluous unless
you have a strong interest in the topic. The value of the curve of areas is
to reveal what the effective waterline length will be. The value of the
vertical prismatic coefficient is that it gives some idea of if and how
much a boat will pound, how well it will surf, and provides a suggestion of
how controllable the boat will be.
>
(SNIP)
> Where does one go to school to learn all this fascinating information
about
> boat design? Would one of the Naval Architect correspondence courses
that
> are advertised in the backs of boating magazines be worth taking?
>
There are plenty of good books on the topic. A visit to my web site
provides a bibliography of all the books and papers that I have found to be
worthwhile.
A course in naval architecture is hardly worth the time or expense. They
teach a lot about powering, structures, accommodations etc. etc. etc. that
has no value to paddlers. I think you can get all you need without
investing a lot of money.
Cheers
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://www.onlink.net/~jwinters