RE: [Paddlewise] Design

G'Day, John and Matt,

John wrote: -
>Computers do not design much of anything. I asked
>mine to design a kayak and left it on for  week but
>nothing happened.

Glad to hear it! But can computers really not design boats?

IF boat performance could be characterised by a set of equations or
heuristics and IF a boat designer or set of boat designers could incorporate
their knowledge into a computer via an Expert Systems program, then surely
all a customer need do is enter a set of requirements and choose the color.
Whether it would be a good boat or not who knows. Or perhaps its fair to say
the design was carried out 'generically' by the expert, because he answered
the questions put by the Expert System program during its training phase?

Desite the above I don't believe that computers or equations are anywhere
near subtle enough or sophisticated enough to take the place of a human
brain in designing something as complicated as a truly great kayak. (now
thats begging for a response!!)

>I think one can fairly say that most things made in
>industrialized nations for the mass market (and not
>so mass market) these days take advantage of
>computers at some stage in the design process.

Agree and have been grateful many times for their CAD/CAM/CNC help. (I've
designed one or two CNC systems, but that was years ago)

>They were sold all over the North America where they were
>outfitted with decks, mast, sails and rigging  wonderfully
>constructed from wood, fiberglass and synthetic lines made
>from petroleum products. Some even benefited from products
>made from hemp.  ;-)

Touche, Loved the "lack of self control"! But that Torres Strait boat was
beautiful! Didn't know that hulls were sold as you described. Do they do
this for kayaks yet?

Regarding copying in general,  I agree with all you say, wholeheartedly. And
regarding creativity, I know very little about kayak design but on looking
at the pictures of Matts boat the hull asymmetry from bow to stern struck me
as inspired. The way the chines seem to disappear halfway and the 'fixed
rudder' takes over, it looks as if seat movement, or even better, body lean
could be used to very great effect with such a hull.

But I don't intend this in any way as a comment on the debate between Peter
Treby and Matt Broze where the issues seem to be deeper and also I don't
want to comment in Dave's absence.

If there are still issues between Matt and Dave and If Matt thinks its worth
it, I would be prepared to approach Dave, who I regard as a friend, and see
if something can be resolved. By the way I haven't discussed this with Dave.
He lives 500km south of Sydney, but I want to see him anyway. I know this is
not a perfect solution. Matt if you think this is worth trying would you be
willing to brief me privately? I would respect your confidence and Dave's
absolutely.

All the best, PeterO
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