re: The Lofting Process

Paul, good explanation. 

In todays world, yes the companies that sell the plans for any craft, include full size patterns for the home builder. I have read that one can use a spreadsheet to put the Offsets into and graph the lines, then transfer it into a CAD program and print out the patterns. I don't have a CAD program.

I have done a few scale models in the past, by scaling down Offsets, and didn't do too bad. In doing this one I did find a few points a tad bit off, which was corrected with a fair line. I could have just done the Forms, but I wanted to see the profile of the craft full size. An, d I needed to figure out the Stem both on the stern and bow, my plan is to avoid a epoxy dump, and have solid ends, and terminate the strips into a rabbet above the waterline and back about 2' from the end.

Lofting can be a mental challenge, but the rewards are great keeping the mind active. I believe it's a lost art of Boat Building, with so many places offering plans. If I was living up in the Pacific Northwest or around Maine, I would have probably entered the trade as a younger person. It would be fun to take a class at one of those Boat Building places. But I'm teaching myself.

I have some good reference material at the house here. Even have James Gardner's 2nd Edition of his book which includes about 17 boat plans of the old watercraft used in the Northeast. It would be fun to tackle one of those.