PARADOX

Ditto. Good comments, but a few.
A long winded explanation, (no offence intended) for the "suction" comment I made earlier. However. Steps been around for decades, back in the early PT boats. Actually the "hydro foils" originated the idea. Lifting heavy boats out of the water. No question, steps work for the intended design, but one of the reason for diffeernt steps and numbers is Pattents, and the location and size of the steps. The AT steps came from the Challanger Offshore boats by Harry L. Schoell. Singe "huge" step, designed for the Merc. Black Hawks. It was Pattented and Harry designed the AT steps, thus almost the same. Now, to get on the bandwagon, boat designers wanted to add steps to keep up with the marketing need. A builder can't just put a step in an copy some existing steps so new designs and ideas surface. If steps are the greatest thing since sliced bread and the more the better,? (based on some posts and theories) boat bottems would look like a saw blade.
In all reality, you put enough horses behind a log, steps or no steps, that log will outrun any cats, steps of "v" s. (no handling remarks please.. it's an example.) With all the motor options and competative pricing, hull designs is evolving left and right. And I think that's great. While I don't make a judgement what is better, all this gives us boat nuts a wider selection for a boat purchase. However, in my oppinion, all this comes down to personnal preference, compromise and $ to spend. I seen boats, (not HP) with so called "steps".
Looks good. a notch in the hull. (no elevation difference) but it can be "marketed" as a step hull, and the avarage boat buyer may have no clue that it doesn't do anything. (avarage may be a wrong choice of words). Steps cost more, period. New mold, etc. May get away using less horses. Consumers have a great diversity to get a migrane buying a boat. (just like I been taking bottles of Tylenal lately) but I just love it...

Sean H

did somebody say sawblade?

LapseofReason

Sorry, I see where you have Active Thunder Factory Rep. on your screen and assumed you were wooking for them in some way. I don't think I was insinuating I just want to know who else uses a single step.

Semper Fi

I agree. I wanted good, useful information -- not a pissing match. I can happily say that the thread has been very informing.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

I help people get into boats, but I'm not on a payroll.

Cigarette, Outerlimits, Fountain, and others, used single steps in the past, but moved on to other things. They never spent a serious amount of time dialing them in.
AT has chosen to stick with the DDC hull designed by Harry Schoell, and tune it to exactly what the boat AND owner likes/wants/needs.

hpoffshore

Reggie Fountain never spent time working on the shape of his running surface??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

Not really on single step 38+ footers. How long did he keep them; a year? Two?
That is, before moving on to multiple steps... where he has spent a plethora of time dialing in.

hpoffshore

First-off...Time is not quantified in "plethoras"; and Fountain made a 42 single step, not a 38.

VelocityMark

Before this thread makes a wrong turn, I just want to say thus far it has had some very good points brought out and I have enjoyed reading it. Welcome gramp but I have to ask what Velocity you are talking about that has a narrow beam? I have a 280 and the beam on it is 8'2", and the 39 that is so fast with the 700s in it has an 8'3" beam. A 38TS Top Gun has an 8' beam and a 38' fountain has an 8'6" beam, so I would say they are average if anything. Also I'm not sure what Paradox means by the stakes being designed to push the water away from the boat, my 280 has stakes like you drew for example A.

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

Thank you very much for the insight gentlemen.