Lines Plan Finished

I have now finished drawing the final lines plan. I'm now able to begin the process of drawing out the boat full size or 'Lofting' as it is referred to.

I have now finished drawing the final lines plan. I'm now able to begin the process of drawing out the boat full size or 'Lofting' as it is referred to.

I decided to begin by carving a half-model. Traditionally, boat builders and designed always carved a half model of the hull and then took the lines off the model. This process lets one really get a feel for the shape of the hull. It's one of the most pleasurable ways to spend a few hours.

Armed with a sharp block plane and a couple of spokeshaves, the budding designed carves away the timber while they feel the hull, and imagine it slicing through the water.

My half model started with a few pieces of Australian Red Cedar 'Toona ciliata' glued together with polyurethane glue. Cedar works easily with a relatively tight and uniform grain. I then roughly drew the sheer in profile, and half breadth views. The bandsaw was then used to cut these two lines. Once I had a bit of a banana I screwed a bit of wood to the inside face and clamped it into the vice. Then begins the gradual removal of timber to the desired shape.

The next phase is something you'll have to experience for yourself: words won't do it justice.

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I carved a bit away then left it for a while then went back to carving etc. It's always nice, if you have the time, to carve your new design over the space of a few days (or weeks in my case). I believe you'll end up with a better shape.

My inspiration came from the book "The Whaleboat: A Study of Design, Construction, and Use from 1850 to 1970". The lines of my boat very closely resemble those of the whaling boats that frequented the Pacific. However, my vessel is a little bit shorter at 24 feet as opposed to the standard 28'.

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Now all this could have been done on a computer, and yes I did give it a go; but jeez it was tedious and my eyes started to hurt after a while. I much rather pencils, paper, and the smell of shavings.

The tools I used for the job:

  • A1 drawing board and parallel rule (you could also use a table and large square)

  • Westcott ships curves (can be bought off amazon)

  • Mechanical pencil 0.5mm

  • Pen 0.7mm

  • Eraser

  • Erasing shield

  • Drafting ducks x 8

  • Splines (battens)

  • French Curves

  • Sharpener

  • Blue flexible curve

  • Square

 
Abir TarafdarComment