Getting Started With Lofting
Lofting—enlarging a boat’s lines to full size—is an important part of boatbuilding. Having this skill opens the door to a wider variety of boats to build and to having better control over the construction process.
Some builders have a love-hate relationship with lofting, yet it pays us fourfold for our efforts. It allows us to make corrections (yes, even great designers can make a few mistakes), it helps us to better understand the designer’s plans, and it renders patterns from which we can build the boat. Additionally, it gives us some latitude in making changes, such as sweetening the sheerline or adding a bit more rake to the transom.