Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

So what does a padded bottom look like?
This is the only one I know of....( ! ) :p

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

Uh......no...that .....too ......would be incorrect.

T2x

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

Oh yeah...I almost forgot....... after Hustler built the first step hulls in 1986.......Reggie built the first step hulls in 1990.

T2x :p

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

I guess I wasn't asking a question with a straight answer :cool: . But what I got out of it is this...Hustler started stepped hulls in the late 80's, early 90's. Then Fountain started making them in the mid 90's, then others followed in the late 90's....I guess :cool:

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

Okay...a straight answer

Wooden Gold Cup and runabout builders started adding steps...or "shingles"...... to their hulls before they were even at full planing speed...... early 20th Century.

Steps were improved by seaplane float designers in the 30's

Many boats ...both racing and non racing designs used steps as a speed modification....... long before the first Vee bottom was designed in the late 50's......all over the world.

In fact, steps were specifically banned from all Outboard Performance Class (OPC) production hulls during the 60's and 70's......... Any air assisted bottom modification was deemed illiegal...including both steps...and concave running pads and strakes.......which was old technology...even then.

There is no way that any current builder can claim to have been the "first"....... it was old wine in new bottles...in 1986.........

As I have repeated too often......We put them on some Shadow 21 hulls in 1981........ and we were definitely NOT the first....... but we were ahead of Fountain and Hustler.......... By the way these 21' hulls still exist.....one is in Canada.

I had "shingle bottom" racing runabouts in the late 50's..... and they were old hat then.

T2x

P.S. All steps/shingles/slots...etc....make the running surface "slippery".........especially when turning....That's why most old step bottom racing hulls....used turning fins for traction.......... Today's stepped hulls need them too...... Ever see the trim tabs that come with them mounted off the outboard edge?...... What do you think they're for... decoration?

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

Bizzaro Stepped hull history...

Does that mean those rigs spin and end up right side up?

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

Maybe Reggie put the beak on the bow of his boats so when they spin and sink the bow sticking out of the water is visible for a longer distance. Its a safety feature, used in conjuction with his ground breaking use of steps. I think I've solved the mystery of the beaks.

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

No it means that they were built in the 1990's but existed in the 1890's........ or something like that.

T2x :D

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

What???
Dude...One hit off the Bizzo at a time. :rolleyes:
So what does a padded boat bottom look like?

Re: What was the first stepped V-Bottom??
 

During the 1993 Miami Boat Show, I had lunch at Monte's with Dick Cole, world's #1 moneymaker boat designer and Sonny Levi (my houseguest at the time). Dick brought along a big book called "Marine developments from 1896 to 1916" or something like that. Every goddam idea I ever had was in that book!