David Napier by David Napier and David Bell: Note 14
14. 'ROB ROY'. MODEL EXPERIMENTS
These model experiments served Napier's purpose in a practical way, although lacking the precision secured by the more scientific mechanism employed by some shipbuilding firms in recent years. The value of such experiments was not recognised by the early shipbuilders, who, for a considerable period, were content to follow the much more expensive process of altering and re-altering the hulls of existing vessels in order to ascertain what were the proportions and forms most conducive to speed. References to many of the steamboats of that time contain such notes as "rebuilt sharper and deeper"; "a new sharp bow, lengthened five feet, sailing improved"; "bottom twice altered"; "bottom rebuilt and sharpened, sailing improved"; "lengthened six feet forward and eight feet abaft, with a fine entrance and run, went much easier through the water," etc.
It took many years to bring about a fair perception of what a steamship's form should be in relation to her intended speed, but the immense value of model tests, carefully carried out in completely equipped experimental tanks, has been shown by the remarkable "lines," so produced for recent "Atlantic greyhounds" and Dreadnoughts, and the splendid steaming performances of these vessels.
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