Over the last month I got to design an oceanography research drone. It is only 157″ long and carries a research cargo that I am not allowed to show. Oddly it is aluminum. The builders of the whole package were open to composite but the end users insisted on doing alloy.
This was the project that crashed both Microstation and Vacanti’s B-Plates program. Both companies seem to have given up on a solution. Among other problems, Microstation seemed unable to export any usable non-native surface nor solid format. I ended up only able to export the chine splines and customer had to make surfaces there. You would think that level of fail would be shareware, not a $5000 program. Attempting all manner of work-arounds took longer than the actual billable work.
In any sailing magazine now we see that reverse bows are all the rage. For any multi to look new, it must have them now. I’m seeing an odd trend where designers are now adding reverse bows to any frumpy old design and presenting it as a whole new design. Its like any overweight production cat can now claim that it shares DNA with the America’s Cup cats. I do understand that the reverse bows do help a bit in smoothing the ride, but guys, if you put a hood scoop on a 1993 station wagon, it is still a station wagon. Like on the pic, it could even be a fragile station wagon, but it has the swag now. Its like a yuppie magnet.
I have been doing reverse bows on many designs for at least 5 years, and I respect the power of the style tide. But look at all the station wagons posing.
I found a new source for plastic fasteners of all sorts, plus hinges and handles. http://www.craftechind.com/ While not usable for primary structure, I see myrid uses for light weight, non-corrosive interior fastening.
I just got a new picture of the 56 daycharter catamaran Trilogy Elua. Again it was my first foam/glass USCG certified charter cat. 1987 as I recall. Hand drawing days.
I am pleased that IBEX is back in sunny Florida again, but I cannot make it to this one. Its not because they ask for, then ignore, my suggestions about needing papers there on e-commerce pitfalls and DIY boat building. As noted in previous post, I will be out of country.
Anybody who attends and sees something cool, forward to me and I will post.
It turns out that I will be out of country September 12 through October 4. I will have laptop with me and a chance to catch up on design, drafting and modeling. With no phones and no email.
I will try to get everyone caught up before I go, or take it with me.
I did get a week behind last one. A tiny job took all week as Microstation i now fails to do any trims and tech does not know why. The workarounds to customer ended up taking all week. Microstation seems to have no sense of urgency at all.
Another new example of the aft beam that disappeared. The Mcconaghy 49. There is a kind of fence there, but between the fact that there appears to be no shear transfer between it and the hulls, and its complex shape, I’m sure it has no structural use. The aft connective has to be tucked into the bridgedeck. Again, when you reduce beam height, the strength and stiffness goes away exponentially. Magical must mean much heavier. With enough carbon and enough money, you can do almost anything magical. I prefer efficient engineering to magical. Will also be tough to drag a crashed board up with a halyard at that angle.
These two samples were subjected to the same ASTM impact test. I forgot to ask the test number. Chippy organized the test.
The Vectran clearly outperformed the Kevlar. Did I mention that Chippy sells Vectran? Odd twist, he doesn’t believe in websites nor email. Have to use a phone to contact him. 425-747-8712. And I have rarely met anyone who could be creating better topics for how-to videos than Chippy.
