Designing

The art of designing as distinguished from making a block model by the eye and building a boat from it first attracted public attention about twenty years ago. At this time the iron cutter yacht Vindex was brought out. The Vindex was designed on a drawing board and the lines made to the outside of the plank, while the displacement, centre of gravity of the same, centre of lateral resistance and various other elements were calculated before the model was made, and when these matters were settled the model was made, but the boat was built from the lines as drawn. Shortly after this other boats were built after the new method, and though the battle was fought by the model makers with great vigor, the new method has conquered and now naval architecture is a fashionable profession. The drawing board method is to assume a load water line, and all other dimensions are proportionate to this dimension. The plan is drawn to the outside of plank, and the model, when made from the lines, is exactly like the proposed boat. The displacement centre of gravity of the same, centre of lateral resistance, area of cross sections and other elements are all predetermined points. This seems to be but common sense, but the block model system was so strongly intrenched in the affections of yachts-men that no amount of ridicule was enough to heap on the heads of the "paper boat builders."