True Round Metal boat Building

High Tech Design - Low Tech Construction

"Bezier Curve"
Design and Construction

"Bezier Curve" is a design and construction process which enables one-off builders to construct a true round sailboat design as easily as a hard or radius chine design. The beauty of Bezier Curve is that it is simple, consistent, and predictable. There is nothing vague about the method. You can see the process thoroughly by following the building of the "Bezier 12.5".

If you think you have the skills to build a hard or radius chine hull, then you have the skills to build a true round hull using "Bezier Curve Construction".

Construction of the Bezier 12.5 Building the 12.5 Bezier 12.5 Pictures

The Prototype Build

Let me say that while I have built several plywood and chine steel designs that I have no physical experience building a true round hull. The Bezier 12.5 is my first true round build.

With that said, I do know: Boat Design, Metal Fabrication, CAD-CAM, CNC Programming, and Pattern Development. Put all these things together and we come up with "Bezier Curve Chine". Why name the method "Bezier"? Because a Bezier Curve is type of freeform curve used in the design of true round hull forms. Just like "Radius" chine refers to the radius of a circle. Hence we call "Radius Chine" construction - "Radius Chine" construction. Both names relate to the geometry from which they are derived.

Again, this is my first true round build. My knowledge of line heating is limited and mote since Aluminum can not be line heated anyway. Explosive and Hydraulic forming are definitely out, and the English Wheel is not used in the construction method.

The beauty of Bezier Curve is that you can actually see and learn it within metalsailboats.com. The method is consistent and predictable. There is no force fitting of the shell plating to the framing, and nothing vague about the method. You can see the process thoroughly by following the building of the "Bezier 12.5". If you think you have the skills to build a hard or radius chine hull, then you have the skills to build a true round hull using the "Bezier Curve" method. In short the "Bezier Chine" method is simple, consistent, and predictable.

"Bezier Curve" Takes the concept of "Radius Chine" to the next level. Compare the similarities and differences between "Bezier Curve" and "Radius Chine" Click Blue Button

Bezier Chine in a nutshell:

Bezeir Curve does away with vague and obscure techniques like Line Heating, English Wheels, special tooling, fixtures, and exotic methods to achieve a true round hulls.
• The pre-engineered design and fabrication method enables an average person to build a true round bottom hull using the same skills as required in hard chine construction.
• Hull panels are shaped using a cold forming "Press Break" process. The method is simple, consistent, and predictable.
• The curved sections of this hull fit together easily, with minimal adjustment onto the framework.
• Along with Architectural drawings Bezier Curve construction uses full size flat patterns and or Cad-Cam cutting files for the build.
• The result is the unmistakable beauty of a round hull - the uninterrupted graceful line curving to meet the water.

Dennis Schaffer, Yacht Designer
Telephone - 617-653-1063

Bézier Curve DESIGN

(The next logical step)