I just read "Secrets of Tunnel Boat design" by James Russel at Aeromarine Research. Obviously geared towards racing cats but had soem good general theory as well.

He does talk about how hull design is more trial and error than anything and that no one has really spent the money to do the research necessary to turn it into a science.

He doesn't spend a whole lot of time on step design, but hints that much of what we see on many hulls is a result of trial and a lot of errors and that most step layouts aren't very optimum. He states that if properly designed, a single step is the optimum design for any boat. This makes sense, from a theoretical standpoint, but who knows what real world issues might make that impractical.

got a drawing? a wall? a set of darts? I heard this from someone and have LMAO ever sense. OH YA! I forgot take alook at shingles:evilb:

Hi Bruce,
I had breakfast with my sister-in-law this past Saturday morning. She is a naval Architect and has worked on some fast Ferry boat designs.
Anyway, she told me she'd look up a few sources that may be appropriate/geared more toward our hobby.