Design, Lofting and Development

In our Design Workshop on Tuesday we were visited by James Franken, a well known and respected Yacht Designer and Lofting Specialist in Port Townsend. Jim presented us with a demonstration of the design, lofting and construction process using only CAD and Rhino (software not the animal). What was so incredible was that everything we have traditionally learned to do by hand with paper and pencil or on the lofting floor was done on the computer. Yes, you do need to know how to draw and fair lines and you need to understand the lofting process to be able to use the software. The software does not replace the traditional skills needed in design and boat building but allows the designer to be able to communicate his intentions in a clearer picture (as shown below). And if that is not enough, the information contained in the design in CAD or Rhino can then be transmitted to someone with a CNC machine to make parts, molds and even a complete boat. For example, Jim was instrumental in the lofting and creating the CAD files for a local company to cut and make all of the pieces for Sliver (the 62 foot Robert Perry design built by the school). The possibilities are endless. Needless to say many of us are using the student discount given to acquire this software. 

Here are some examples of Jim's work: