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From: John Winters <jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca> subject: [Paddlewise] Designs Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2004 21:13:32 -0300 · This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:38 PDT

PeterO wrote;
Some snips

> IF boat performance could be characterized 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?

I would never say a thing was impossible. Godzilla can optimize the
resistance of a hull shape now and once designers develop a method of
optimizing course stability roots then that gets you closer. Then you need
only work out the aesthetics, stability characteristics and merge them all
together into a whole and you have it. OOPS. One other thing. You need a
designer personality to go with it. ;-)

> Didn't know that hulls were sold as you described. Do they do
> this for kayaks yet?

I know some companies that might sell hulls. I have heard of one in Quebec
that did it but don't know if they survived. If enough interest developed I
would bet that some builders would jump at the chance to sell more product.

I was going to add some details about Godzilla but I see Nick Schade has
done it better than I could.

Few buyers understand that designers must do a lot of homework to create
their designs. I cannot speak for Nick or Matt but I have 44 years of boat
building and design experience. When I create a design you get the benefit
of that experience. Ditto for Matt and Nick. When you buy a copy you still
get the benefit of that experience but Nick, Matt, and I get nothing. Am I
against charity?

No way. I give extravagant donations to the SPCA and Harmony House for Cats
but I expect paddlers to pay their own freight.

Cheers

John Winters
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