how to build a boat

[gride300]

the only thing that actually has to be made is the hull and top deck. the rest can be purchased. how do you design a hull though? obviously CAD or solid works, but before building the mold do you simply make a wood hull to test or how does that work?

[CradGen2]

I remember a guy who build a Steel Hull Nautique with a Diesel motor. I want to say it was 2006 or 2007. I tried to find a couple posts quickly, but couldn't. The closest was a post out on Wakeworld. I thought there where pics on this site, but can't find.

[teamseal]

How to build a boat!

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[kevfran99]

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LOL.......but so true

[SkiTower]

not to bring up the competition, but Gekko brags about the aerodynamic software they use to create their wakes. I would imagine that all companies do it some way virtually before committing funds for testing.

[behindpropellers]

Design hull in solidworks = easy.

Having lots of experience at designing boat hulls = priceless.

R & D is where a lot of the money is going.

[TravisFling]

build a boat...

I think the hard part would be to find out how it's going to perform prior to getting it on the water. I can't imagine, but that's gotta be a toughie.

[swc5150]

Back in '98, I was told the MC Sportstar 19 was built in part because, "Why let a $300k mold go to waste".

[gride300]

i'd imagine that price tag takes into account all the money spent on trial and error, salaries, fab, etc. i'd think a nautical engineer could design one on CAD and build the thing out of wood for testing performance, then make a mold once it's dialed.

[teamseal]

Depends on what you are trying to build!
Before computers we utilized very talented craftsmen tool makers working hand and hand with a visionary designer.
Once a hull form was agreed upon then the prototype can be built. This can take anywhere from 3-6 months depending on size and how exotic you wanted the bottom. Over the years we learned what worked and what did not, lessons learned so to speak. Expanding on a design and advancing it to the next level is the norm. After the Proto type is finished and powered then the sea trials began. At this point misbehavior of the boat is sought out and administered to. Spray, wake and handling at this time are analyzed. Some times having to go back to the original plug and fix the problem. After the initial sea trials are finished then it is back to the tool room for deck and finishing touches to the hull. Molds are then built and interior lay out is finished up (This has actually been going on since hull form inception). Then the first of the finished products are pulled from the molds and assembled. The first boat finished is usually called a finished prototype, this boat then is run thru the ringer, again full sea trial and performance testing. Provided that the boat passes the testing and does not produce unwanted behavior then it is put into full production.
Now what I described is the short rendition of the story their are many man hours even today with C&C, cad and the "modern" design methods. It still takes at least a year to bring forth a new boat to market. Oh and lets not forget the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[2gofaster]

You won't find a modern glass hull prototype done in wood for water testing. I was involved with boat building back int he 90s. A mold for a boat would easily cost $500k today once you figured in all your costs. Once the design was created, we'd build a frame work out of wood and clay in the correct shape and cover it in glass and resin to make a mold plug. There was lots of measuring and sanding to create the smoothest surface possible. Then you'd create the mold off of that using fiberglass with tooling gelcoat. From there, we'd lay up 2 or 3 hulls for testing. After testing, it was almost guaranteed you'd either be building a new plug or modifying your existing plug based on what you learned in testing. Then recast your mold. Once you have a plug, you can shoot a mold in two days(but it needs about 2 weeks to cure), so the cost of the mold itself is small. And this would happen sometimes 3 or 4 times. Even with marine design software, you are going to be making at least two different series of molds to test with. You are going to have changes to your original plug. That's a given.

[maxpower220]

I'm pretty sure that you buy a boat that is already made and then modify it a little (enough that copyright won't get you). Then you make your mold and start building boats out of your garage until you a "known" and can expand.

[jonfo]

If all this testing and re-testing goes into the hull then how come some of the other brands hulls have problems like chine lock and cavitating on turns or when surfing? I have experienced these problems first hand while riding in these boats and always wonder how these problems slipped by testers, or if they just dont care.

[behindpropellers]

You won't find a modern glass hull prototype done in wood for water testing. I was involved with boat building back int he 90s. A mold for a boat would easily cost $500k today once you figured in all your costs. Once the design was created, we'd build a frame work out of wood and clay in the correct shape and cover it in glass and resin to make a mold plug. There was lots of measuring and sanding to create the smoothest surface possible. Then you'd create the mold off of that using fiberglass with tooling gelcoat. From there, we'd lay up 2 or 3 hulls for testing. After testing, it was almost guaranteed you'd either be building a new plug or modifying your existing plug based on what you learned in testing. Then recast your mold. Once you have a plug, you can shoot a mold in two days(but it needs about 2 weeks to cure), so the cost of the mold itself is small. And this would happen sometimes 3 or 4 times. Even with marine design software, you are going to be making at least two different series of molds to test with. You are going to have changes to your original plug. That's a given.

Shane-

I'm pretty sure the initial plug is made out of cnc'd sections and then filled and sanded. Once that is done you make the first mold off of it. I'm sure CC has plenty of mold inserts with its special chines...etc.

Tim

[2gofaster]

Tim, Like I said it was the early 90s when I was working for Glastron. There was nothing high tech about it then. At least a Glastron. I'm surprised those **** things would float! I'm sure you're correct about them CNC'ng and sectioning the plugs now. I did molds for iron castings later on and we CNC'd the plugs for those molds. But they were MUCH smaller than a boat. LOL