Google SketchUp is Amazing!Learned in 30 Minutes!Now w/my boat design.

[ben2go]

I was looking for a CAD program to help work out some demensional problems and tried it.Took 30 minutes to learn the basics using the tutoral vids.It's a full 3D program so you can view your master piece from every angle.I'm not great yet but I made a PC work station.Forgot to save it.I tried 2D CAD programs and just couldn't grasp it.To complicated.Posted a link to the free educational version.Mac is supported also.

http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html

[ohgood]

ya man, g-younameit is always awesome stuff. awesomely simple, awesomely cool.

gawesome ?

i dunno, but everything they do ROCKS !

[ben2go]

I got bored and started fooling around with a shallow draft boat design I been working off and on for 2 years on paper.Got it done in a couple hours with Google SketchUp.Here's the results.Just the idea I had for the shallow lakes around here.










This design is loosely based on the "Chugger" by Lewis Boat Designs.I plan to make my boat a little more sea worthy than their Chugger 8.My design is 19'4" over all hull length and 6' wide.Draft is 8 inches with captain Ben and 12 inches loaded for a weekend trip.Estimated compacity is 1500lbs or 6 persons.Power is any out board up to 30hp.Head room is 6'6".Sleeps 6,4 inside and 2 in the rear chicken pit.A folding removeable Bimini top will enclose the rear chicken pit.It has a head,galley,dinette,wheel house,A/C,ac/dc power,queen size forward birth,side windows will open out,and front windows will fold up.May install a sky light.Plans are to use battery power with a small genset for back up.Depending on the engine I use,fuel compacity will be, 20 for weekends and 30 for week long trips.20 gallon tank will be built in with a 10 gallon portable tank for reserve.I have it all planned in my head,just gotta get it out on paper.

[ben2go]

It was suggested to me to use a 4stroke jet ski jet drive.I dunno how well that would work in the shallows and sucking up mud and rocks.Plus I don't wanna loose any space in the rear chicken pit area.That would make a good spot for the kids to sleep.

[pronator]

I love the SketchUp, not least of all because it's free. 

I designed some table legs and bench seat legs (to scale, of course!) for a welding job - had such a fun time playing with it. And I'd guess I'd only just scratched the surface of its capabilities.

Now if only they appealed the recent court decision to hand over our YouTube info to Viacom  , Google would still be my favorite company...

[ben2go]

If you have accsess to a plotter that plots to size you can make full size patterns with the program.That maybe what I do with some things that are small.

[pronator]

Hmm, I don't have access to a plotter (of any kind) but that sounds like a great idea. Throw up some more screenshots if you can. I love seeing that stuff! 

[ben2go]

Hmm, I don't have access to a plotter (of any kind) but that sounds like a great idea. Throw up some more screenshots if you can. I love seeing that stuff! 

You can have a print shop do the plotting.I'll post more as I design more.Haven't much time but I'm sure I'll do some soon.