Here's a link to the rib calculator on the "prototype" new IRC website that McSpuds & I are working on: mcspuds.net/local/ Go to "downloads" page
I can't get the hyperlink to work on your mcspuds.net page for the rib calculator. Is it somewhere else?
Unfortunately it would appear that McSpuds took it off his site. It also would appear that he never uploaded a copy here. I don't know that he uploaded it anywhere else, but someone might have a copy.
Actually I wrote it for McSpuds to post. It's free for all to use. Find it here: http://mcspuds.net/local/?page_id=71 ...and apparently Spudsy pulled it down for some reason. I will try and find a backup copy, but if you have one, please post it up.
Brian K's version on the SAS website. Should be valid for all fast gun formats. I don't know big gun rules, so....
is it best practice to use the most ribs you can in the bow of the ship or do most people just use whats needed to keep the hull shape?
I've seen both philosophies: Some put 3 or 4 ribs close together in the bow (1" apart or so), then the rest spaced out for rest of hull. Others just put them equally spaced between solid bow and solid stern. One thing I always ensured was anywhere there was a hullf0rm change (step down from bow, casement, start of a belt, etc), I'd put a rib at that point to give a solid anchor.