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- * Foam Core Materials in the Marine Industry
For over 60 years foam cores have been utilized in marine applications to lighten, stiffen, and strengthen everything form hull bottoms to fly bridges. But what exactly is foam core? What type do I use, and where can I use it? Should I use it instead of balsa or plywood? This article will attempt to inform boat builders about the properties and correct manufacturing procedures involved in constructing foam core sandwich laminates. (Added: 6-Apr-2002 Hits: 7267) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit * Foam Core Materials in the Marine Industry
- * Free Forming in Fiberglass
Fiberglass is a very good material for boats. The main problem with building a fiberglass boat is getting a smooth surface. With conventional molds derived from male plugs, the smooth surface is achieved by hundreds of hours of fairing, filling and sanding on the plug. For a one-off fiberglass hull, this process is even harder because the relatively soft, easily faired materials used for plug construction cannot be used for an actual hull. One very interesting technique to get around this problem is fiberglass freeforming or direct female molding. Free-formed fiberglass gets most of the hull mold surface smooth without sanding, but at a cost -- you must use developable shapes for the easily faired surfaces. Here is how it works. (Added: 11-Mar-2005 Hits: 12161) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit * Free Forming in Fiberglass
- * What makes the tunnel hull work?
A three-part article written by Jim Russell of AeroMarine Research which summarizes the main hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces which must be carefully considered and skillfully balanced in the design of a tunnel hull powerboat. While the tunnel hull derives much of its high performance from air lift, it depends at the same time on its planing interaction with the water to maintain a stable and controlled flight. This interdependence of water and air force dynamics is the key to Tunnel design. (Added: 11-Feb-2002 Hits: 6585) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit * What makes the tunnel hull work?
- * Working With Developable Surfaces
Developable surfaces are important to the home boatbuilder working with sheet materials like plywood, steel or aluminum. Developable surfaces can be formed from flat sheets without stretching, so the forces required to form sheet materials into developable surfaces are much less. In some cases, particularly with plywood, the forces required to form non-developable surfaces could be so large that the material is damaged internally. Another advantage of developable surfaces is that the development of such a surface is exact. When other types of surfaces are expanded the shape of the expansion depends on the distortion field applied to form it. If you are designing or lofting plywood or metal hulls you should understand developable surfaces and the methods for working with them. (Added: 21-Mar-2005 Hits: 8636) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit * Working With Developable Surfaces
- 5-Axis Milling for Plugs, Molds, and Tooling
Now that designers are adopting computer methods for modeling and fairing 3-dimensional hull surfaces, it seems reasonable to use the computer surface model to mill full-size male or female plugs, or even produce complete tooling by CNC machine. The promise is better accuracy, less cost, and faster turn-around time. This article discusses some of the things you need to know about the process before you jump in with both feet. Although the focus is on using outside services, the information will still be useful for those considering whether to buy their own equipment. Stephen M. Hollister. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 6000) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit 5-Axis Milling for Plugs, Molds, and Tooling
- A Design Revolution
If you have not bought a new powerboat in the last few years you may have missed a quiet revolution in design that has taken place. Subtle changes in hull design have produced performance benefits which were not possible previously. The newer boats plane a little more efficiently but the biggest change is in the cornering. Flat turns are very prominent in the new generation of vessels afloat. Patrick J. Bray. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 9604) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit A Design Revolution
- Aluminum for Boats
This article first appeared in the September 1997 issue of Cruising World magazine. It includes several good images showing different hull forms suited to metal construction, the relative advantages of each, and what factors one should have in mind when considering the use of aluminum as a hull construction material. Michael Kasten. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 7489) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit Aluminum for Boats
- Aluminum vs. Steel
The choice of hull materials is the most fundamental of choices when considering a new vessel design, or even when considering the purchase of an existing boat. If you intend to make use of metal as a hull material this article will be of some value in that choice. It will shed some light on the various ways to compare steel versus aluminum for a boat's structure. Michael Kasten. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 6811) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit Aluminum vs. Steel
- Automatic Hull Variation and Optimization
Design optimization is complicated by the infinite variability of the hull shape and the close interrelationship among all of the major design variables. As a vessel is stretched along its length, the prismatic coefficient, longitudinal center of buoyancy, and displacement all change. It is difficult to isolate and examine the influence of each major hull shape parameter on the vessel. This paper describes a computer program that solves this problem by automatically varying the shape of a parent hull while maintaining constant values for the major design parameters. Stephen M. Hollister. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 6136) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit Automatic Hull Variation and Optimization
- Computer Cutting For Boat Building
Computer modeling is by far the most efficient means of defining hull form, offering a designer access to powerful analysis tools for assessing stability and performance, as well as a highly accurate means of creating the structural parts and pieces of a boat via computer controlled cutting. For more information about the benefits and cost savings offered by up-to-date computer aided boat design and computer aided boat building check out this article. Michael Kasten. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 4924) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit Computer Cutting For Boat Building
- Computer Prototyping and Development
When considering a new vessel, what's the best way to get a preview of the shape? The computer is an enormously useful tool for creating a vessel prototype in order to visualize the shape in a "virtual" 3D environment. What about lofting and fairing? One can then use the computer generated model as a fairing and lofting tool. Michael Kasten. (Added: 10-Jan-2002 Hits: 4335) My Links | Rate | Cached | Visit Computer Prototyping and Development
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