Offshoreonly.com - Who had the first (production) stepped hull?

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BRUCE SEROFF (Post 2686521)

I thought that was how they developed the 37 Outerlimits Stilletto. I remember the boat they used. Scott Langbeins' White Lightning

That was a cut down 40' Hustler.

And I think the question was what was the "First Production Stepped Hull" not one off experimental

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2686494)

We made some 21 Shadow vees with steps starting in 1980. Of course the Shadow Cat, from which the Chris Cat was made, also had steps starting in 1980.

However, for the record, Cougar Cats had steps a few years before that and OPC tunnel hulls had them going back to the early 70's. In addition Switzer Wings had steps, as did some other molded fibreglass and wooden in line 6 outboard cats and hydros going back to the mid 50's. Of course Stock Outboard, Inboard and Gold Cup "hydros" had them from the earliest part of the 20th Century ( A "Hydroplane" by definition is a stepped, 2, 3 or 4 point hull).

The bottom line is that steps in Offshore at any era after that division started (1959) were in no way "new" technology...and have been used more as a fictional marketing ploy rather than a real innovation regardless of who claimed "ownership". Reggie probably learned about them when Mercury and Billy Seebold put them on his Seebold tunnel hulls in 1973 or so, and I know the steps on our Shadows got a lot of attention on Long Island where the Hustlers were later built.

Steps were recognized as a speed advantage (for boats in the 40-60 mph range) to the point that the APBA had specifically made them illegal in the "stock", monohull classes of Outboard Performance Craft(OPC) racing from 1961 on....and many Offshore events were run in conjunction with OPC classes.... (Chicago-Milwaukee Race, Around Long Island Marathon, etc......)

The bottom line is there is little true significance in debating who the first guy(s) were to put steps on Offshore type hulls since they had been around for many decades prior to the first application in that genre.......and most of the designer/ builders knew all about them.

T2x

amen t2x you are right as usual . robbie

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2686499)

You're wrong. Harry wasn't born when the first stepped hulls hit the water.

T2x

Ok, Now lets get down to business.

If you are looking for an early "Production" stepped Mono hull........

Here's one.....and not the only one.

circa 1961

T2x

T2x - OK, i know you are not a fan of the modern stepped V hulls, and George Linder is, is this correct? Why do you not like them? and does this apply to Cats? And how old were you when the first time steps were used? (just kidding)

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2686550)

I am always amazed at how this topic always morphs from "Who was the first to put steps on a hull?" to "Who was the first guy that I ever heard of (or had drinks with and have been duped into believing is an "icon").......who put steps on a hull?"

To a lot of our OSO members, it seems if it happened before you bought your first boat...or went to your first race...it didn't happen.

:p:p:p :D

T2x

Thank you Sir. As always :ernaehrung004:

Quote:

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2686630)

If you are looking for an early "Production" stepped Mono hull........

Here's one.....and not the only one.

circa 1961

T2x

That's cool T2.. That's a lot like my Dad had in the mid -late 60's and I grew up on. Ours had no windshield, tho.
(WTF with me and winshield less boats?? ):evilb:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee (Post 2686567)

Noah's early prototype:D

Now that's some serious offshore!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOBILEMERCMAN (Post 2686428)

For sea planes?

Well, this thread sure took on a life of it's own. I figured that ole T2 would be jumping in here at some point. Nice archives of those old runabouts....memories.

To answer your question....no, not for seaplanes, the first patent issued was for a racing type hull that was basically a flat bottom with many steps built into it.

If the newbies would like some more info, check out a great book on marine design by Uffa Fox. A lot of racing stuff and a lot of offshore stuff is covered too.

Cat Killer has the BEST step set-up!! :-) The point is not to have steps, the point is to have a well balanced hull that runs fast in all kinds of conditions. Then steps are (in my point of view) neccesary. The one that spends most time and money with the best guys, wins.

I am amazed about how many boats that have "steps"... One Wellcraft I saw the other day had steps in the chines only, NOT the hull........