Wooden boats and their environment




Ireland has a rich tradition of boat-building, both working craft and racing boats. These boats were designed for specific purposes and particular places, local weather, materials and craftsmanship were incorporated into their designs. Sometimes the designs came from abroad and were adapted for local conditions. Many of these designs are still preserved and active today.

This course is about designing a wooden sailing boat for Lough Derg (County Tipperary) referring to the history and traditions of local construction and water use. Students will learn about the history of boat design and construction, the processes of design and the methods of construction. There will be visits to boatyards and boatbuilders with a particular emphasis on techniques of wooden construction. The final objective is the creation of a new design of sailing craft.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

America's curves

The yacht America 1851, the first winner of the America's cup, designed by the Steers brothers as a development of their fast pilot boats with  a shape of hull that would fundamentally change yacht design, moving away from the cod's head/mackerel's tail hull form of older boats. The clipper bow and schooner rig was much modified during the boat's life to keep it competitive but the boat's visit to England in 1851 had a huge influence on British design, whatever the outcome of the controversial race.

Unlike more modern America's cup designs, America was armed with three canons. Images below from Francois Chevalier, a very interesting designer/author/historian.





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