The Elements of Boat Strength: For Builders, Designers, and Owners

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Item # MH-31591  ISBN: 0070231591




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This work is significant. It is the first to include a method of assessing structural strength in the context of the modern marine environment.—Commander M. C. Cruder, U.S. Coast Guard

Acclaimed author and naval architect Dave Gerr created this unique system of easy-to-use scantling rules and rules-of-thumb for calculating the necessary dimensions, or scantlings, of hulls, decks, and other boat parts, whether built of fiberglass, wood, wood-epoxy composite, steel, or aluminum. In addition to the rules themselves, The Elements of Boat Strength offers their context: an in-depth, plain-English discussion of boatbuilding materials, methods, and practices that will guide you through all aspects of boat construction.

Now you can avoid wading through dense technical engineering manuals or tackling advanced mathematics. The Elements of Boat Strength has all the formulas, tables, illustrations, and charts you need to judge how heavy each piece of your boat should be in order to last and be safe. With this book, an inexpensive scientific calculator, and a pad of paper, you'll be able to design and specify all the components necessary to build a sound, long-lasting, rugged vessel.

Table of Contents

List of Formulas, Tables, and Charts | Acknowledgments | Introduction

Chapters

1. Scantling Rules and the Scantling Number
2. Fiberglass Construction Materials and Methods
3. Fiberglass Design Considerations, Modern Laminates, and One-Off Construction Methods
4. Fiberglass Scantling Rule: Basic Solid-Glass Hull Shell
5. Fiberglass: Internal Structure
6. Fiberglass Sandwich or Cored Construction
7. Wood Construction Materials and Methods
8. Wood Design Considerations
9. Plank-on-Frame Scantling Rule
10. Fasteners, Straps, Knees, and Details
11. Modern Wood-Epoxy Construction
12. Wood: Species, Type, and Application
13. Aluminum and Steel Construction Materials and Methods
14. Aluminum and Steel Design Considerations
15. Aluminum and Steel Shell Plate and Longitudinal Framing
16. Aluminum and Steel Structural Details
17. Aluminum and Steel Alternate Construction Methods
18. Welding, Small Openings, and Riveting Aluminum
19. Small Aluminum Boats and Copper-Nickel Hulls

Appendixes

• Appendix 1: Photo Gallery
• Appendix 2: Pipe Sizes and Properties Table
• Appendix 3: Bolt-Strength Tables
• Appendix 4: Finding Specific Gravity
• Appendix 5: Measure and Unit Conversion Tables

Bibliography | Index

About the Author

Dave Gerr is a naval architect who designs both yachts and commercial vessels. A contributing editor for Boatbuilder, Yachting, and Offshore magazines, he is the author of Propeller Handbook, the industry standard reference on props, and the acclaimed The Nature of Boats, both published by International Marine books.

The Elements of Boat Strength: For Builders, Designers, and Owners