A new blog: http://blog.tadroberts.ca/
February 19, 2010. New posts are at http://blog.tadroberts.ca/.
Engineering a High-speed Wooden Hull
Engineering a high-speed hull is not rocket science, nor is engineering a high-speed wood hull that difficult, but there are some basic principals that apply.
October 26, 2007 Comments
Transport Efficiency (Et): A Useful Comparison of Speed/Power/Weight
The comparison of MPG without regard to either load (displacement/weight), or time (speed), seems an incomplete discussion. There is a very useful comparison of speed/power/weight called Transport Efficiency (Et ). With this coefficient, plotted against a dimensionless speed, we can compare the efficiency of displacement, semi-displacement, and planing hulls.
July 12, 2007 Comments
Fuel Use, Efficiency, and Ocean-crossing
The Passagemaker Lite hull form is reasonably efficient under power; the form minimizes wave making and form drag with a long waterline and narrow beam. But there is a fairly large gap between theoretical fuel consumption and actual (ocean crossing) use. Let’s look a little more closely at real fuel consumption.
March 28, 2007 Comments
The Key to Long-term Structural Health and Livability for Any Boat is Great Ventilation
The key to long-term structural health and livability for any boat is great ventilation. The ventilation system must be versatile so that the amount of fresh air flowing through the boat can be adjusted to suit conditions. It is also important to be able to have some fresh air supply even in the worst conditions.
June 08, 2006 Comments
Design Review: The 18' Mower Sailing Dory
C.D. Mower, or Charley, practiced yacht design from 1895 until about 1939. He was a prolific and successful designer, both independently and in partnership with others, and a design editor for both The Rudder and Motor Boating magazines. Mower was versatile, producing designs of power and sailing vessels, for both racing and cruising. He was well known for designing successful one-design and class racers, but also simple cruising boats for home builders, including his collaboration with Thomas Fleming Day on the Seabird and her larger sisters Seagoer and Naiad. He is also widely known for the Hull Lines drawing of Spray, which have been published in many issues of Sailing Alone Around the World, though apparently this was not produced from original research. Howard Chapelle apprenticed in Mower's office in the later 1920's.
May 21, 2006 Comments
A Review of Hydrodynamics of High-Speed Marine Vehicles by Odd M. Faltinsen
As author of the previous textbook Sea Loads on Ships and Offshore Structures, more than 200 scientific papers, and Professor of Marine Hydrodynamics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology for over 30 years, Professor Faltinsen is hugely qualified to put together this book.
Hydrodynamics of High-Speed Marine Vehicles covers the three main modes of high-speed marine travel, submerged hulls, air cushion supported vessels, and foil supported vessels. Starting from basic concepts in resistance, propulsion, waves, seakeeping, and maneuvering, he works through the theory, examples, and exercises in each area. The book is well illustrated with graphs and diagrams throughout.
April 01, 2006 Comments
New Boat Concerns: Building to Comply with Transport Canada and ISO Standards for Small Passenger Vessels
I was recently asked to look at a new Small Passenger Vessel project by a local builder. The owner intends to operate a 26' fast aluminum vessel in the Gulf of Georgia carrying 10 passengers on day trips. As the builder has not previously built a Transport Canada certified Small Passenger vessel, he had a number of questions regarding the adaptation of his stock pleasure model for this use. The owner also has a number of concerns regarding area of operation and propulsion options. Both the builder and the owner want the vessel to comply with incoming TC (2006) ISO standards for stability and deck drainage.
November 18, 2005 Comments
