Speed does not equal ride. Guess which one they are for.

Give me a break.

Also, are you the same KAP from PB, why the attitude here? Only like West Coast people?

DUDE, CAN'T YOU READ!

Posted by T2x
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 are so right my duh!

Only in the cabin... love it my bad.

Rlj676

Relax Michigan man the comment is about steps being gimmicks---not you.

FYI---are you saying you prefer a non stepped boat over a stepped hull? If that is the case just say so I will sharpen my keyboard!

Yes! and are you the same Rlj676 from OSO.

Best Regards,

KAP

Got it, I am.

I think he means "speed gimmick". You give up some handling ability (maybe a lot on some boats) for top end. You don't use top end that much really (or I sure don't see too many people who do).

My boat is not stepped, and I like it a lot! It rides great in the rough, and is very easy to drive, I can let my friends drive with little fear they will tuck the drives in a turn, etc. I'd like to go faster, but honestly the lake is usually kind of rough so I don't want to go full out all the time. I think I'd like a step boat someday (TS Gun sounds nice), but more for the efficiency than speed. But at that point it won't be something you can let someone drive like they would a runabout, etc.

Steps seem to serve their purpose well, but their purpose isn't improved ride. I was asking if you think they do improve ride, how?

i was checking that out at harrisions last summer. ITS BAD, the seats are crazy. had to be hard to run that boat

That's Awesome; picture please!


"The concept was originally proposed by Rev. Ramus of Sussex England in 1872. He proposed both a single stop with tandem planing surfaces, and a combination of three pontoons with one forward and two aft. Indications are that these shapes were derived from model tests. Unfortunately, the heavy steam power plants of that day could not push a hull fast enough to plane, and take advantage of the new concept.

As early as 1906 there were published drawings for small stepped hulls with hard chines. William Henry Fauber [8] obtained a U.S. patent for hulls with multiple steps in 1908, (1) but could find few people in the U.S.A. interested, so he moved to Europe."
http://www.lesliefield.com/other_his...the_future.htm


(1) Ironic; still that way w/Offshore racing today.

Invented, discovered, implemented and produced are not synonymous.

more stuff @ http://www.thunderboats.org/history/history0157.html

Hey rlj676:

You are one of the few familiar screen names sometimes it comes across different than how it reads in any event.

I think stepped v-bottoms are better riding in the rough when you go from swell to swell the compression on the downside is smoother the vents funnel the water even make a whoosh sound when really compressing/landing.

The steps aerate the hull better for top speed in terms of less wetted surface and I like running fast. Especially if the Mexican patrol boats are around... I can see the Coronado Islands from my home. Yeah us West Coast boaters have the Pacific Ocean... come to Todos Santos home of the big wave surfing swells that will swallow most boats.

Overall, I would never own a non stepped V-Bottom. The only issue I have with them is they do not turn well and like to spin out if pushed hard into a turn ricky racing around and I rarely ever found the need to make racing like turns while in the Pacific ocean.

I'm not an engineer but know what I like for my boating environment.

KAP

P.S. Headed to the Rio/Arizona it is 116 deg. gonna be a hot one.

"FYI---are you saying you prefer a non stepped boat over a stepped hull? If that is the case just say so I will sharpen my keyboard!"

I know them so well - now you better pretend to be a boatless duck with yellow fur!

Yeah I am...Been on plenty of conventional hulled Cig, Apaches, and PowerPlays and never felt the need for a more "whooshy" cushioned ride...maybe the west coast boater is more of the sensitive type

Interesting take, I've never heard anyone reference the steps actually aerating enough to cushion a blow. Most of my research has found people to claim the ride of a wave crushing traditional V to always beat a step boat.....think Apache vs Fountain. There's obviously a lot more to the equation though, mass, balance, speed, etc.......

I must be less of a speed freak, as I'll take my stability over an extra few mph. We know that's not your case with twice the power on your cat (deckboat).