| Well, what do you think? No, they're not really much | | | | for yourself. What? You cry - I have no idea how to |
| good. | | | | go about designing a boat. Well, nor had I until I came |
| Curiosity | | | | across some remarkable new software that takes |
| My Dad used to say "You only get what you pay | | | | you through the process and gets you up to speed |
| for". Not very original, I know, but never was a truer | | | | in no time. It also automatically performs hydrostatic |
| word spoken. And it definitely applies to boat plans. A | | | | calculations, meaning you can see how deep it's going |
| quick search round the web will reveal a number of | | | | to sit in the water and resistance calculations, |
| sites that offer free boat plans. Some of them are | | | | meaning you can tell how fast it's going to go and |
| effectively photos of build-it-yourself plans appearing | | | | what the effects of any changes to hull shape are |
| in old sailing magazines, sometimes from sixty or | | | | likely to be. |
| seventy years ago. OK for curiosity interest but | | | | Expensive? |
| hardly much use if you actually want to build it. | | | | Yes but this sort of thing must be expensive, you're |
| Don't Waste Your Time | | | | probably thinking. Well, it used to be. Specialized |
| Others are partial plans, giving you details of some | | | | software like this would have set you back several |
| parts of the boat but missing out other (usually | | | | thousand dollars in the past. But not any more - the |
| crucial) parts. Other websites do the usual internet | | | | wonders of open-source programming mean that |
| thing of leading you round a circle of links that never | | | | sophisticated programs can be developed on a |
| actually get you to any free plans at all. But you'll | | | | shoestring and made available to the public at |
| probably find a collection of plans to buy (for several | | | | remarkably low prices. |
| hundred bucks or more). | | | | Forget Free Boat Plans |
| My Dad Was Right | | | | Believe it or not, the software I'm using right now to |
| In my experience, my dad was right. I've never | | | | design a 32-foot sailing yacht for my father-in-law |
| found any free plans of any value or use on the | | | | cost me under fifty dollars. I wouldn't even consider |
| Internet. | | | | free plans, using my own software to develop my |
| By far the best way to get the plans you want for | | | | own boat design ideas is one of the most satisfying |
| the boat that you want is to actually draw them up | | | | and enjoyable things I've ever done. |