didn't Ohio Steel have something with jet style intakes on top of the decking and it vented to the steps of the haul?

I thought several of the boat manufacturers in the late-80s to 90s attempted this. In the early days of designing a "ventilated hull", I remember several pictures and articles about vents in the deck to break the vacuum and introduce air into the water. I even remember some articles about attaching electric blowers to those vents to force air down to bubble the water to reduce friction. In the end, my understanding that the reason the vents on all AVS hulls go all the way out to the sides of the hull was to break the vacuum and allow air to be sucked in above the waterline, down that "groove" and under the hull. It seemed like it was a manufacturing decision however, as all other options created stress points and more parts to fail (with catastrophic results).

We tried it with a few 21 foot Shadows in 1980-81 ...didn't do much of anything, but they were pad boats and the steps we put on them didn't make any improvement either...except for handling...which went in the wrong direction. I agree with the earlier poster who nailed it by saying the best approach is to get as much hull out of the water as you can.... and then maybe aerate the remaining wetted surface.

T2x--just noticed the photo on the avatar. I worked at a marine dealership here in Texas when I was 18-19yo, and "pit crewed" for the shop, that raced a cab-over with an inline-6 Merc with 3 exhaust stacks out of the cowling!!! Loud, awesome looking, just fun to see and hear. Looked kinda like your pic, except with huge shiny exhausts! Blast from the past!

Perhaps something like this?


[ATTACH=CONFIG]509240[/ATTACH]

Man, that just makes me smile!!!!
Thank you very much! Outboards just don't have it anymore!