We're going to need a better designed boat!

February 21, 2008 8:47 PM

I want to design a boat. A big boat. Help me learn the basics of interior boat structures.

Question first, then background: are there basic, beginner's level interior design books/resources for boats and/or yachts? I realize it's one of those industries that is somewhat obscure, likely by necessity. But I figure there has to be some sort of primer on the subject. I have some idea of what I want, but help me make my design better. My Google-fu and Seattle and King County library-fu has failed.

Background:
I'm working on a story that involves spending long periods of time on a boat, with a crew that ranges from 4 to 10 throughout. And by boat I mean submarine, which, for the world where the story takes place, is as common as a semi-truck. I've got space set aside for cargo, a passenger section, both designed for VIPs or well-paying guests, and for those who just need a berth for a long ocean voyage. I have a bridge, captain's quarters, a sizable engine room, and places for batteries, life support, ballast, and things that generally make the ship go.

But it feels sloppy to me. My references for this sort of thing include spending some time of a fifty-foot Bluewater, some study into the luxury US Subs, pouring over super yacht magazines that were mailed to my house for some reason, and countless science fiction films and television shows (U-571, Red October, Firefly/Serenity, Star Wars/Trek, and on and on). Still, I feel like I'm missing the some of the finer things. I realize that the reader won't be seeing most of the boat, but if I can get a complete picture of the boat, I can give the reader a better picture.

posted by gc to grab bag (7 comments total)

Something like this site? (scroll down for more modern plans)
posted by amyms at 9:18 PM on February 21, 2008

You might look into books on steamboats/ocean liners, airships, and military ships ... they might give you a better idea of interior space planning for what it sounds like you are trying to create. The bibliography of boat and ship building is limited beyond classic wooden boat and yacht building, particularly dealing specifically with interiors - most concentrate on structure, not finish, or they are theoretical treatises on large-ship hydrodynamics...

You will find some books dedicated to the work of specific classic yacht designers: John Alden, William Garden, L. Francis Hereshoff, Philip Rhodes, et al. The books I'm thinking of usually have several views of the yachts these guys designed - including cabin plans, structural plans, and pictures of the resulting boat built.

I spent alot of my time in college in the Seattle public library reading about boats - books like this, this, this, and this... just to get you started.

(btw, I am a librarian and I used to build wooden boats ... if you want to talk books about boats, just email me and I can go on endlessly...)
posted by gyusan at 9:25 PM on February 21, 2008

SciFi is awful in terms of interior design, if you want something contemporary. Boats are much more cramped than the Enterprise(s), Serenity, etc, and I'd imagine submarines even more so.

As a rule of thumb: if it is furniture, it should fold away, or be usable for storage. If it has one purpose, get rid of it or make it multipurpose. If you don't get the urge to go out on deck and look at the sky, the room is too big.
posted by spaceman_spiff at 9:32 PM on February 21, 2008

I'm working on a story that involves spending long periods of time on a boat, with a crew that ranges from 4 to 10 throughout. And by boat I mean submarine, which, for the world where the story takes place, is as common as a semi-truck. I've got space set aside for cargo, a passenger section, both designed for VIPs or well-paying guests, and for those who just need a berth for a long ocean voyage. I have a bridge, captain's quarters, a sizable engine room, and places for batteries, life support, ballast, and things that generally make the ship go.

As described that just doesn't sound realistic to me. Space is at a premium on boats and triply so for submarines. Subs are cramped and claustrophobic, with no space wasted for anything.

Your description sounds like a submarine luxury yacht, which is something only the very wealthy (or corporations) can afford. That's certainly possible for a world where they are as common as semis. But I'd be reading this and wondering what this crew of 4-10 is doing with this boat. How can they afford it and afford to run it? Who are these VIPs? Can the "well-paying guests" keep it a viable operation? And why a submarine when a surface ship would be faster and cheaper and roomier?

But the right story and storyteller can skip a lot of seemingly important details when the reader is engrossed!
posted by 6550 at 10:56 PM on February 21, 2008

A little off topic, but here is an obscure interview with Gary Mull. A great human being, boat designer, and storyteller.

"The basic parameter was fun. When we had a decision to make in the design office, we always asked, 'Is it going to contribute to making it more fun?' "

Bon Voyage
posted by okbye at 11:19 PM on February 21, 2008

The Historic Naval Ships Association has the full set of 1964's The Fleet Type Submarine on-line.

The manual on the fleet type submarine includes descriptive information covering:

a. Submarine history and development
b. Submarine construction
c. Submarine systems
d. Submarine operations
e. Submarine training

It's all great stuff but note especially for verisimilitude chapter 17, Standard phraseology.
posted by nicwolff at 8:13 AM on February 22, 2008

These are all really good answers, but I'm picking just one. Still, thanks to all of you!
posted by gc at 9:49 AM on February 22, 2008