Thread: "Skene's Elements of Yacht Design"

Skene was a wonderful mathematician, but I've never been particularly impressed with many of his conclusions. This said, his book is a bible to most of us, as we wade through the convoluted opinions and discussions of several subjects. L. Francis Herreshoff had a similar opinion of him (though he considered him the fastest draftsman he knew) and in fact employed him as a draftsman in the early 20th century. They knew each other professionally and personally, living in the same area of Massachusetts

When Kinney came along in 1962, the idea was an up date to the original test, but it became more then that, but the name stuck. Apparently in the 1930's, after the untimely death of Skene (1932), a rival publisher bought the rights to the book, doing two more editions posthumously. The last being the 6th edition in 1938.

Similarly, my version of the "6th" edition includes the original text as appeared in 1938, plus racing rules of the period, plus a few additional, which clearly were after the 1938 text.

Other supplements exist too. For example the 1938 text had a powerboat section mostly written by George Crouch.

Why publisher Dodd & Mead elected to entangle Kinney's work with Skene's is beyond me, but marketing logic would dictate they looked to capitalize on the bearing Skene's text had in the industry. I'm assuming this, because Kinney, clearly could stand on his own as a designer.

Paul,

Thanks very much indeed for the information about the metamorphosis of "Skene's Elements of Yacht Design".

My 1948 printing of the 6th edition contains a number of drawings which have been printed upside-down, and does indeed have the George F. Crouch chapter included. Although it was printed well after Norman Skene's death, it is still his book, rather than the completely changed Kinney edition.

It is interesting to note that Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum list a substantial number of L. Francis Herreshoff drawings which were intended to be used in Skene's book. Even though they are not credited, I can see LFH's hand in quite a few of the profile drawings in my 6th edition.

A most important quote from "Skene's Elements of Yacht Design" can be found in chapter one of the sixth edition - "One should study constantly the work of others, but rather with an eye to discovering what not to do than what to copy."

In this business, we all stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before.

Ross Lillistone www.baysidewoodenboats.com.au

Originally Posted by PAR

Skene was a wonderful mathematician, but I've never been particularly impressed with many of his conclusions.

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I can't remember specific examples now, but I remember thinking something similar about Kinney as well the couple of times I read the book from cover to cover.

This never stopped me from using his methods though. I suspect that it might reflect what Paul said at one point.

Something like "Sometimes the only thing a boat designer has to offer is his opinion"

Like looking at both of your designs I see things I would not like to do the same way .... but Hell ... I like the boats.

MIK