STEPPED PLANING BOATS, SOME FULL-SCALE TEST RESULTS

摘要

Designers of high preformance boats have long been intrigued with the use of transverse steps in boat hull design as a method of reducing wetted surface and resistance. How¬ever, instability and erratic performance characteristics seemingly inherent to the stepped hull have hindered their use for any but out-and-out racing craft in which safety and riding comfort can be compromised for the proven advantage of greater speed.nToday, in a rapidly expanding pleasure boat market, the experience level of the average operator is even less. At the same time, the boat¬ing public is demanding greater speed but that speed must be accomplished safely and in comfort. Boat designers, in an effort to satisfy these demands are exploring and evaluating known data and conducting additional experimentation which shows promise of improved performance.