Design Evaluation and Alteration of the Dark Harbor 17.5: Case Study of a Modern Replica

Abstract

While there is still a strong passion and interest for traditional crafts, many of the designs now need to be adapted to comply with the contemporary rules and regulations, and additional modifications are required to meet modern expectations, in areas ranging from comfort to safety; hence the need for modern replicas. In order to ascertain the constraints on modern replicas, a redesign of a Dark Harbor 17.5 will be proposed. First, an initial design evaluation will be performed to assess the characteristic of the original yacht, regarding hydrostatics, hydrodynamics, structural arrangement and stability. Modifications in accordance with regulations and owner’s requirements will then be implemented to create a modern replica suited to today’s market. Finally, the new design will be compared to the original one, allowing to evaluate the challenges of design modernization and the impact of contemporary requirements on a traditional design.