Step hull or Deep- V
 

OK time to stir the pot.
A friend is looking to get in the game, he almost bought a Fountain last weekend. We had a long discussion about the stepped hull, and I am under the impression the step is not as stable in rough water at speed as a conventional V. He is sticking buy the salesman who told him they can run 80 in 12' seas:rolleyes:
Anyone????

In 12' seas, you sure don't get any benefit from a step! Plenty of hull aeration without one!

The issue is not so much the step(s) in rough stuff, its the delta pad. Pad boats have a flatter surface that "slaps" on entry instead of cutting its way in. Course then again, if you're flying level the forward third of the hull makes entry...

Steps are faster in smooth water.
Steps rarely are as stable or predictable in turns (there are exceptions).
Steps usually don't require as much trim for best speed.
Steps usually run more level in smooth water.

Full V's are usually more stable and predictable in turns.
Full V's usually provide a more comfortable ride in bigger seas.
Full Vs usually must run bow-high for best speed in smooth water.

These are all gross generalizations and each hull design has its share of gives and takes for what the builder decided was the compromise he was aiming for...

Sounds like I have the perfect boat for your buddy.

Lets try and stick with bashing the salesman and not Fountain this time.:rolleyes:

No bashing
 

I was not bashing Fountain or the salesman, it just seemed like a tall tail to me, hence the rolled eyes. I'm not into bashing anyone or any manufactuer. Just enjoying the sport!
I am however, trying to get more unbiased info from people that have more experence than I.
Take it easy,
Joe

80mph in 12' seas? Hmmm....boats that go that fast in those kind of seas are more apt to be in the 47 footer range, and even those might not be long enough!

Ain't nobody running 80 in 12' seas, especially a pleasure boater.

:D

yea, what a line of hoohy. maybe 12 foot ocean swells that are a mile apart. I now wouldnt believe anything that salesman said.

I've seen boats run 80 in 12" seas, whats the big deal.:D

My 24'er will run 80 in 12' seas It only drafts 2' 12 is plenty deep.

sorry:D

I got the chance to drive 2
step hulled boats this last year,
both powered by 500 efi's,
both boats had integrated swim
platforms, one measured 30',
the other 33'

The 30' boat would have trouble in
12" sea's at any speed above 70 mph :eek:
the thing would yaw badly, yes it had
full hydraulic steering, managed to get
this thing running in the upper 80's,
by playing with trim, the yawing became
controllable, this was on nearly "glass smooth"
water, normal water conditions, i doubt the
boat would turn those speeds.

The 33' boat on the other hand had
no ill handling quirks, and this was on
a main channel, saturday, LOTO ride,

but this boat was 10 mph slower than the
30' boat.

Being neither of these were my own boats,
i never tried any high speed turns.

Neither of these boats were gonna go
anywhere near 80 mph in 12' sea's

Theres good ones and bad ones,
I agree with what Mcollinstn has said.

my.02
jt

80mph and 12 ft. sea's, hope this guy has good life insurance!

About the "STEP" or "NO STEP" subject , I know of a 38 step hull, and I won't mention any names or boat manufacturer, that rolled in a turn completely over, upside down and right side up again.Some of you may have heard of the incident.The boat ran in the low 90's and this person took the boat way past it's limit in a turn.Now I'm not knocking the step hull.I'll run step or no step anytime,anywhere.This was an extreme situation and in this situation a boat with strakes running the full length of the wetted surface,a no step,wouldn't have rolled.

I own a step hulled boat, at lower speeds ,under 40, I have turned the wheel sharp, no problems. I have never tried this at higher speeds-I know what can happen. You don' t trim in the drives for a turn on a step hull. The benefit is that cruise and top speed is higher than non-step with the same power. I can't comment on which hull is better in rough water, I think experience/skill makes a big difference on how a boat rides/handles.

Now this is the unbiased info and experience that I'm looking for.
BTW my friend said that he talked to the driver of a race boat who owns 3 boats, 2 F brand and 1 O brand, thats where the 80 mph in 12' seas story came from.
Let's hear more
Thanks
Joe

Maybe you guys can clarify 12 foot seas for me. Is this ocean waves(big rollers)? because I boat in lake erie and when we get 12 footers they will beat you to death in a fourty foot boat at 50 mph.

80 mph in 12 footers ??????

That sumbtch better say "47 Apache" all over it !!!!!!!!!!!1

80 MPH in 12 footers, isn't my idea of recreational boating!

A properly designed step-bottom will run faster in rough water than a non-stepped boat.

While I go pop some popcorn, can you back this statement up?

well I have a stepped bottom , granted this no large
one 26' and in the ruff is a bit unpredictable
in smooth water or 1-2' ers its great with a nice ride to boot

Where is T2X on this topic
 

He had some pretty serious opionions about Steps. It appeared from an earlier thread, in the general discussion section, that he felt steps are not much more that fads and add little if anything to the speed / effeciency to a hull.

I disagree with him, but that was on the other thread as well.:p

Exactly! I too have owned both and absolutely love my 34' twin step. I would not dare try a high speed turn in any boat that big. I am not that kind of thrill seeker. I can say that I cruise 50mph at 3500 and close to 80 WOT with 496HO's. I would like to know if anybody with a non-stepped 33-34 footer can make that claim?

formulafastech.....I think the evaluation has got to go beyond just stating a top speed. Did both boats have the same outdirve, ratio and prop ? Are you comparing a Bravo with a Mirage ? What are the slip factors for both boats ? I think you also have to look at crusing RPM. Props can also have a huge effect on cruise Speed versus RPM. Look at the aricle in Powerboat on the new 5 blade Maximus from Mercury. It produced higher speeds at all but one RPM point and that was WOT.


Point is it's a difficult comparison due to the many variables involved.

Steped or non, hell I dont know, but I boat on lake MI and when the 12 + fters out there, she is tryin to squash you with them...not for me,

formulafastech.....Why do you think they went with the 1.65 ?

ROUGH WATER.... I hear that... Anythime I hear someone running in 12 foot seas, let alone 80, I question their wave measuring or speedo reading capability:D

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha,12 foot seas huh,not me not today!

besides that, I cant hold a beer, steer, and hold down the two loud sticks at the same time if the water is that rough!:D :D :D