Damn... Too Old... didn't anyone ever tell you that smoking caused premature aging of the skin?.........:p

This is more enjoyable now having been a former lurker of many moons.

My take on the Apache' "42"?

If I had one it would be called "Firewater" ? maybe someone has used this name already I don't know.

Like the name of my new non- existent Apache'?
That's such a good name it would be a shame not to buy one "42" !

Hey look at "steps this way"

I used to be an educator so let's call this the Mr. Wizzard show on steps.

What is a machine? A machine is any device that can apply mechanical energy at one point and deliver it in a more useful form at another point. Simple machines are all around us and help us accomplish work faster and easier many times each day. Steps are machines and the ancient Mayans I believe were the first known to have put them to good use building large structures.

The steps on a boat's underside truly allows energy from the engines to be applied to a different fulcrum point where it is more efficient and the boat then wastes less energy and goes faster.

There is a transition in a "planing" boat from going from a displacement hull to a "planing boat" "getting on plane". That is in and of itself a "step". Amazed so far? Listen on-wards.

So you can make a case that displacement hulls are safer than planing hulls because a "non-stepped" planing hull is really a "stepped hull". The strakes I believed they are called are really lateral steps. One big step, "on plane" and "off plane"

The addition of steps on the undersides is a remarkable event in that it transforms a "planing hull" into a hybrid hull of sorts. A hybrid of the traditional "Deep V bottom" and a "Flatter bottom transom" boat.

Displacement hulls have huge problems at high speeds with the force of the water crashing against the bow constantly. Planing hulls are safer at higher speeds and I personally feel that stepped hulls are safest at the highest of speeds.

Think about this and place it in perspective and you will see steps as an evolutionary process in power boating.

Just remember as you "throttle off", the boat goes up and down the underside steps. Keep a visual of this in your mind. If you power down in a turn you are stepping down and coming partially "off plane causing some degree of "mid hull" to "bow steering" to occur.


Test time:

Who would want a Cigarette with a displacement hull raise their hands?

Not too many; just one or two

:D

How about a Cigarette without steps?

Well some out there for sure like them and they are wonderful boats; so my hand is up too.

How about Cigarettes with steps?

Lots of hands up as well as mine!

The only way I know of besides education and experience to make boating safer is to enjoy it at the dock while drinking beer. I do that too a lot! :D

ok, so a non-stepped hull is like walking on a sidewalk vs stepped hulls like climbing a ladder to clean the gutters??

are Flybridge, SportFish boats considered stepped hulls as you have to climb the ladder too

I think steps are safe on high performance boats.

Hey "42"

Steps are like "gears in a transmission" in a lot of ways.

You guys and your analogies... too funny... if you really want to know the history of steps in boat bottoms... try going to www.uspto.gov . Do a search on step bottom boats and look at the "prior art" , you will see lots of step bottom designs dating back many years... some of the hull designs were never made... but they got a patent... :D When I say history... I'm not talking about the theory.. because if the patent is too old... the "claims" aren't with the drawings... but it makes for interesting reading if you are into minutia.....:p

Thanks Reed it was interesting reading.

I've wiped out a few times turning on the steps!!!:chimp: