Sailmaker's Superstitions

[John Howland]

I am getting to do a low relief carving of a sailboat for a friend sailboat.
I once read that it is good luck to draw your sail plans starboard side up?
Does anyone know more about this. If so, does that stand true for other drawing like line drawings, construction plans, etc..?
I am not superstition by any stretch of the imagination, "Knock on wood" I just want to do the best job I can.carving.jpg

[J.Madison]

There are notable designers who draw their boats heading west, but they are in the minority. I've never heard of a superstition regarding it, just convention.

In the us at least, most designers were on the east coast, maybe that explains it. There is something to be said for doing it the other way, the station numbers are in order.

[Wiley Baggins]

Echoing J. Madison a bit, the convention for drawings seems to favor the boat sailing right/East off the paper. Having said that, assuming the sails will be convex on the carving, heading left/West would put the boat on the favored/starboard tack. Ultimately, where it’s displayed might matter the most.

[John Howland]

There are notable designers who draw their boats heading west, but they are in the minority. I've never heard of a superstition regarding it, just convention.

In the us at least, most designers were on the east coast, maybe that explains it. There is something to be said for doing it the other way, the station numbers are in order.

J Madison,
Thanks,
Makes sense, I have favor the starboard side up for construction and sail plans; but I be noob. The hull, keel and rudder/flap that matches the line drawing are port side up or right side of the page. The left illustrations keel doesn't match the line drawing, just an afterthought.

[John Howland]

Echoing J. Madison a bit, the convention for drawings seems to favor the boat sailing right/East off the paper. Having said that, assuming the sails will be convex on the carving, heading left/West would put the boat on the favored/starboard tack. Ultimately, where it’s displayed might matter the most.

Wiley,
Yes convex, I like to make things as hard as possible.
I hadn't thought about the favored/starboard tack and had started a new drawing of America and Titania battling it out at the 1851 : THE £100 cup or the "America Cup". I had them beating up wind on a starboard tack leaving Cowes. After some reacher I see the prevailing wind off the Isle of Wight are westerly. Well back to the drawing board and I had even had their sails starboard side up in the drawing. Well just goes to show you that you can't count on luck.
Thanks much,

[Todd Bradshaw]

I tend to draw sailplans that I intend to build from the perspective of the starboard side, but I'm not aware of any conventions on the subject. The main reason for doing so for me was that it just works out better to have the mast and luff lofting on that side of the room, just from a layout/lofting/building perspective for that space.

!BLEKING copy.jpg

[wizbang 13]

What is “.37’ “?

[Canoeyawl]

What is “.37’ “?

11.2776 cm

[John Howland]

Tood,
I hope you don't take offense at my attempt at having a little fun at sailmaker's expense.
I hold their knowledge in highest esteem.

The center of effect was easy enough on this sail plan.
Untitled 3.jpgAttachment 128932

4 7/16"

[John Howland]

I know only enough to be dangers.
I suppose one should do the sail plans with reffed main and storm jib, Noob mistake.

[Todd Bradshaw]

The biggest sailmaker's superstitions are (1) I'll make good money doing this (2) It won't tear up my knees and (3) sailors in general understand that the sail is their boat's motor, thus it should be a good one.

[Lee.007]

The biggest sailmaker's superstitions are (1) I'll make good money doing this (2) It won't tear up my knees and (3) sailors in general understand that the sail is their boat's motor, thus it should be a good one.

Hey Todd, While I agree that 1 and 2 are pretty far fetched superstitions based on some of my feeble attempts to designs sails, I think number 3 is actually an assumption that can be proven to be a fact. I quit racking my brain on sail designs because it is easier, maybe even cheaper, to buy decent used sails.

Oh, and I also learned, as the old adage goes, size DOES matter. But not in the way everyone is thinking now (get your minds out of the gutter). Too much sail area or too big a sail, and the boat is over powered and can capsize in a heavy gust before you can get it reefed. Too little sail area or too small a sail and it will take you what seems like a week to get across the lake in the hot summer sun. I know any old tarp or bed sheet will make a boat move, but if we are looking for performance or full potential of the boat, I think it does need to be a good one.

And as far as drawing the boat on a easterly heading, how do we figure that for those of us using a computer and CAD and design in 3D? I usually set the bow on the origin coordinates (x=0, y=0, z=0) and go from there so in the front view I am looking at the front of the boat, side view is the side of the boat (port or starboard depending on the view I select), the back is the stern, etc. I guess there is no room for superstition in CAD....

[Peerie Maa]

And as far as drawing the boat on a easterly heading, how do we figure that for those of us using a computer and CAD and design in 3D? I usually set the bow on the origin coordinates (x=0, y=0, z=0) and go from there so in the front view I am looking at the front of the boat, side view is the side of the boat (port or starboard depending on the view I select), the back is the stern, etc. I guess there is no room for superstition in CAD....

Freeship, excellent CAD design software puts the origin at the baseline aft, so that up and forward are all positive putting the bow to the right.
2 Coble_Linesplan.jpg
Not that it matters much, because you can rotate the model and view it from any direction.
3 Coble rendered2.jpg

[Juan]

Yes

ships are drawn with the bow facing right, and airplanes are drawn facing left.

It may be pure coincidence; but in fact Ships sail wrong in order to maneuver. Hence the difficulty that naval architects have in understanding small sailing ships.

My proposal for a peace treaty between Aeronautical engineering and naval engineering is that Naval architects should keep the territory ranging from 30 Tons to 1 million Tons.

:-)

[John Howland]

Sailors would whistle trying to attract the wind to their sails.
“Whistling for a wind” a futile endeavor but in a pinch I still give a tweet ever once in a while. For just maybe the wind has ears.

[rbgarr]

NG Herreshoff drew plans and carved models both ways. Should be good enough for anyone.

[John Howland]

Whistling or singing into the wind was forbidden as it would "whistle up a storm"


Hosea 8.7 Makes the enigmatic statement.
“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind”