If the plans for the boat of your choice are not available with full-size patterns, you’ll need to arrange for the hull to be lofted by computer or by hand. To enable the hull to be lofted by computer, you’ll need to supply the lines and offsets to be entered, faired, and then plotted as full-size patterns. Computer-lofting is available from several design offices, including ours.

  Lofting by hand involves actually drawing out the entire hull of the boat full size. Don’t be trapped into drawing only the frames or stations, without actually drawing out the complete boat full size; this means you will need a lofting floor equal in size to the length and width of the half beam of your boat. You must plot out all station and waterline grid lines plus the full-size profile. The offsets are used to lay out the curved waterlines and buttock lines. You need to take great care to ensure that the frame or station measurements are correct so when you take off the full-size frame patterns and other parts including the stem, the patterns will be totally accurate. This is not a job for the in-experienced builder. Either choose a plan with full-size patterns or have the lines professionally computer-lofted. If you do decide to tackle the lofting yourself you will need a loft floor that can consist of several sheets of plywood. The sheets are laid out to form an area of say 3 feet (1 m) longer than the overall length of the boat, or longer by half the beam if you plan to develop the transom. You should paint your loft floor with flat white paint; this will enable you to see the grid and other lines more clearly.

   You’ll need at least one long timber batten of about 3/4 by 1/2 inch (20 by 12 mm). You’ll also need some smaller battens, a builder’s square, string or chalk line, and a set of loftsman’s drafting weights (ducks), plus suitable pencils. The information included here is very basic and if you haven’t lofted a boat before, you’ll need a good book containing detailed instructions.