I love steps on cats and hydros...where they belong. I also think that steps could work on vee hulls by increasing hull efficiency at between 50 and 70 mph or so ( maybe faster on larger hulls)....WITH....proper skid technology (anti spinout mods)....... The issue I have with them is the B*llsh*t that the current manufacturers have put out regarding their speed increases and stability...... It's hogwash in most cases. IMHO.

George is no more a fan nor critic of them than I am.......It was my idea to try them on the 21 Shadow...The simple fact is that they didn't give us any real speed on a pad bottom....... and they created a deterioration in handling during turns.

T2x

We called them "shingles" back in the day when we were kids and racing small outboards out in the bay.........they were good for a few MPH on a flat bottom hull.

T2x

That is just to funny I have heard that before (shingles) from a person very close to Harry S. Every time a certian brand was mentioned. Just to funny.

in my knowledge in the performance boat category, the first was the monte carlo offshorer 27 and then 30.

created by carlo riva after he sold his yard. He was helped by Bob Hopps and Cal Connell.

so the steps on v's today are just a sales gemic???

I have no idea what a "gemic" is. If you are referring to a "gimmick", then my answer is....in most cases yes. Certainly many boat manufacturers followed others in a "monkey see, monkey do" revolution about 10 -12 years ago. I agree that steps increase efficiency and speed when the hull is "wet" beyond the distance from the transom to the step. If properly designed there is no doubt that introducing cavitation on the running surface will reduce friction and drag. That having been said a properly balanced non stepped, pad hull will eventually run on minimal wetted surface and exceed the speed where a step hull works. You must remember that once a step is out of the water it has no benefit whatsoever. The problem is that even in slower hulls that do find gains from adding steps, there is a price to pay in handling and safety , especially in turns, that, to me, is not worth the modest and sometimes minimal gains in straight line performance. As a long time boat racer, I value tractability and balance above any other handling attributes, so I would skip steps (and counter rotating props) in favor of predictability in almost every situation.

T2x

Can you further define this? Do you mean opposite rotation on separate drives, or do you mean on duo-prop drives? What is the reasoning?

I mean "spinning in"........ wherein the rotational torque of each propeller creates additional outward leverage on the hull increasing the tendency to chine walk (and, in some instances, to barrel roll).

This is simple physics that some "experts" ( who should know better) routinely choose to ignore.....until they get wet.

forgive me for my spelling...not one of my strong suits..just wanted an explanation on your view of stepped hulls on V's...good info to ponder... I do see your point. I'm not an engineer but I did play the part once at bar

Funny...... I think I played the part of a Gynecologist at the same bar.