Ship design-knowledge in early modern Europe : royal yachts and the shared knowledge of ship-designers and common shipwrights
The initial objective of this thesis aimed at comparing the performance characteristics of two yachts belonging to King Charles II of England during the latter years of the 17th century. This goal, which called for accurate modelling of the shape of each yacht, was extended to investigate the design processes used by Dutch and English shipwrights of the period. It was soon decided that, instead of focusing on the performance of each ship or, more precisely, of their theoretical âtherefore questionableâ reconstruction, this research would focus on the design knowledge of the early modern period used to design the different yachts and contemporary ships. This was necessary, firstly, as a means of helping with the theoretical reconstruction which was one of the initial aims of the research. But, most importantly, it was necessary to produce a picture of the knowledge-space in which ships of this period were designed and built. Consequently, this research offers an overview of the current narrative that describes ship design knowledge of the early modern period and criticises some aspects of it. Moreover, as the current understanding of such knowledge is included within a longer narrative that describes ship
Olaberria, Juan-Pablo
Ship design-knowledge in early modern Europe : royal yachts and the shared knowledge of ship-designers and common shipwrights. The initial objective of this thesis aimed at comparing the performance characteristics of two yachts belonging to King Charles II of England during the latter years of the 17th century. This goal, which called for accurate modelling of the shape of each yacht, was extended to investigate the design processes used by Dutch and English shipwrights of the period. It was soon decided that, instead of focusing on the performance of each ship or, more precisely, of their theoretical âtherefore questionableâ reconstruction, this research would focus on the design knowledge of the early modern period used to design the different yachts and contemporary ships. This was necessary, firstly, as a means of helping with the theoretical reconstruction which was one of the initial aims of the research. But, most importantly, it was necessary to produce a picture of the knowledge-space in which ships of this period were designed and built. Consequently, this research offers an overview of the current narrative that describes ship design knowledge of the early modern period and criticises some aspects of it. Moreover, as the current understanding of such knowledge is included within a longer narrative that describes ship
ship design knowledge early_modern_europe royal share knowledge ship common initial objective aim compare performance characteristic belong king charles_ii england goal call accurate modelling shape extend investigate design process use dutch_english period soon decide instead_focus performance ship precisely theoretical therefore questionable reconstruction would focus design knowledge early_modern_period use design different contemporary ship necessary firstly mean help theoretical reconstruction initial aim research importantly necessary produce picture knowledge space ship period design build consequently offer_overview current narrative describes ship design knowledge early_modern_period criticise aspects moreover current_knowledge include within longer narrative describes ship