Thread: Ocean Explorer in Google Sketchup 3D

Thats really cool scotty! If you are using sketchup, keep the model itself off the net as it has the panel shapes.
But perspective view jpg like this is absolutely fine. Thanks for putting it up!!! Best wishes Michael

More info here Ocean explorer micro sailing cruiser

No problem! I kinda figured keeping dimensions off and only showing angled views would be ok. Thanks!

Scott

I worked like a dog today on this little guy. Here are a few more pics:

A few more pics from this evenings work:

Hi Scotty

The great thing about building a model this way in SketchUp is that you will have nutted out a lot of the issues that building from the plans might present you. Having said that the plans are a model of clarity for my money.

Great stuff.

JDH

Thanks JDH,

That was my goal entirely. It may take me a few years to get around to building, maybe not. I have a list of projects a mile long that I'd "like" to do. I just couldn't resist buying the plans and getting the model done.

All I can say is... Wow! I wish I could make Sketchup dance like that. I once played with it to help my son design a Cub Scout Pinewood Derby car and came to realize it took longer to model in Sketchup than it did to make the thing for real.

Do you think you'll model the sail as well? I'm curious how you might approach that. I'm looking forward to following your progress!

Thanks! I've been doing sketchup for a few years now. I play around with a few consulting gigs but mostly just for fun. I did a full scale model of Bolger's micro and the Origami folding dinghy. It gets pretty intense when you have to do complex curves. LOT'S of erasing!

The sail will probably just be freehand, but who knows!

Progress:

Wow!

I am really impressed. Both with your perserverence and that google sketchup does such a good job.

It might be a serious design tool one day! Just think how fast technology is moving.

Question. In the top drawing in the above post there is a triangular ply web in the cockpit. Is that in the plan? I didn't notice it and can't guess at the function.

MIK

Thanks! Perttu calls it a reinforcement web? Not sure it would stay there or not. It is probably supposed to go near the hatch to help with that edge. It's on page 28 of my plans. Perttu, you out there?

Scott

MIK

I would argue that SketchUp is already a serious design tool particularly when combined with the many amazing plugins that are available for it. There is already a very useful set of spline tools, work is in progress on skinning lofting tools and there are a couple of surface development tools. All these plugins are available for free. All we need is for somebody with the Ruby programming skills to write a plugin to do some of the calcs for navel architecture and we are about there

I am presently building a couple of Souriceaux and worked the whole boat up in SketchUp prior to cutting it all out on a CNC machine. Every part that is made in ply is CNC cut, this included milling foils in 3D which was a marvel to behold. SketchUp is a little strange to get your head around if you have used a conventional CAD system but persistence pays off handsomely in time

The biggest advantage in what Scotty is doing is that it provides a great simulation of the building and making process. Cuts down a heap of errors, if you pardon the pun The "rouge" ply triangle is a good example, as it is on page 28 as the man said ! Using SketchUp this way forces you to think pencil, measure, T square and then cut just as you would in the workshop.

JDH

Agreed. GSU is an awesome design tool. Oh, and here is page 28. Check out the little triangle. I think he means to put it directly on the side panel, not leave it floating out there in space. One for each side?

My Micro and mini micro: