A good number of boat plan include scaled-down representations of different views of the boat. These are referred to as "lines plans." The term "boat lofting" refers to the process of converting lines plans into full-size boat drawings. The boat lofting process is needed to produce full-size templates that are used to cut timber for the boat.
Importance of the Boat Lofting Process
One of the most important aspects of boat lofting is accurately depicting the curves of the hull. Another important aspect of the process is identifying and correcting possible errors in the original lines plans. Errors are not common, but when they occur they can have a serious impact on boat construction.
According to Howard Chapelle, recognized boatbuilding expert and author of the classic book Boatbuilding, precise boat lofting lays the groundwork for a well-built boat. Chapelle stresses in his book that lofting lines plans to full scale can eliminate a lot of trial and error during construction of a boat. It is much easier to correct errors during lofting, save time and effort during construction.
Boat Lofting Overview
The boat lofting process requires a large open space for laying out the plans. This space is commonly referred to as a "mold loft." Boatyards traditionally dedicate an entire building with a wooden floor to serve as a mold loft. Full-scale drawings are created on red rosin paper that is laid out on the floor. For hobbyists building smaller boats, a boat-size piece of paper or plywood can be used in place of a mold loft.
A table of offset measurements is provided with boat plans that require lofting. These measurements are used to plot the final shape of the hull. The first step in plotting the hull is to establish an accurate grid for offset plotting. The first line in the grid, which is often referred to as the baseline, can be laid down using a string to ensure straightness. After the remaining lines of the grid have been established and the offsets plotted, the outline of the hull can be formed by connecting the plotted points.
Curved lines in boat plans must be created with a continuous smooth flow. These curves are referred to as fair curves. Long strips of wood known as battens are gently bend around nails that have been inserted at offset points on lofting gridlines in order to create the shape of the boat's fair curves.
A boat loft will typically include three views: Body, profile sheet and half-breadth. Using battens to draw fair curves along offset points is repeated in each of the three views. The views are interdependent in that changing a line in one view will require related changes in the other views.
Alternatives to Boat Lofting
The boat lofting process has traditionally been completed manually. Thanks to computers, some boat builders are able to skip the lofting process and generate accurate full-size boat plans using computer-aided design (CAD). Other builders decide to purchase boat plans in a full-size format, an increasingly popular option for small boats. However, there is a wider variety of boat designs in scaled-down format and builders who shop for only full-size plans may find their design choices limited.
Importance of the Boat Lofting Process
One of the most important aspects of boat lofting is accurately depicting the curves of the hull. Another important aspect of the process is identifying and correcting possible errors in the original lines plans. Errors are not common, but when they occur they can have a serious impact on boat construction.
According to Howard Chapelle, recognized boatbuilding expert and author of the classic book Boatbuilding, precise boat lofting lays the groundwork for a well-built boat. Chapelle stresses in his book that lofting lines plans to full scale can eliminate a lot of trial and error during construction of a boat. It is much easier to correct errors during lofting, save time and effort during construction.
Boat Lofting Overview
The boat lofting process requires a large open space for laying out the plans. This space is commonly referred to as a "mold loft." Boatyards traditionally dedicate an entire building with a wooden floor to serve as a mold loft. Full-scale drawings are created on red rosin paper that is laid out on the floor. For hobbyists building smaller boats, a boat-size piece of paper or plywood can be used in place of a mold loft.
A table of offset measurements is provided with boat plans that require lofting. These measurements are used to plot the final shape of the hull. The first step in plotting the hull is to establish an accurate grid for offset plotting. The first line in the grid, which is often referred to as the baseline, can be laid down using a string to ensure straightness. After the remaining lines of the grid have been established and the offsets plotted, the outline of the hull can be formed by connecting the plotted points.
Curved lines in boat plans must be created with a continuous smooth flow. These curves are referred to as fair curves. Long strips of wood known as battens are gently bend around nails that have been inserted at offset points on lofting gridlines in order to create the shape of the boat's fair curves.
A boat loft will typically include three views: Body, profile sheet and half-breadth. Using battens to draw fair curves along offset points is repeated in each of the three views. The views are interdependent in that changing a line in one view will require related changes in the other views.
Alternatives to Boat Lofting
The boat lofting process has traditionally been completed manually. Thanks to computers, some boat builders are able to skip the lofting process and generate accurate full-size boat plans using computer-aided design (CAD). Other builders decide to purchase boat plans in a full-size format, an increasingly popular option for small boats. However, there is a wider variety of boat designs in scaled-down format and builders who shop for only full-size plans may find their design choices limited.
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