tuning / hull pad
 

This rookie has a question. When tuning a hull, is that basicly taking the waves and inconsistency out of the glass? Also I guess some boats have pads and some don't. Pros and cons? I don't fully understand these things. Thank you in advance.
Tom

Re: tuning / hull pad
 

I'll offer up what I know on the subject. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Tuning refers to making the bottom of the hull as straight and true as possible...as the designers envisioned before they mass produced the hull. In practice this involves smoothing out any hook in the hull, and making all the edges (on the strakes) sharp. Basically you are trying to remove the imperfections that were put into the hull as a byproduct of mass production. Depending on the hull you may see differences in handling, acceleration, ride attitude, and top speed.

A pad is basically a flat-surface section on the bottom of the hull. The idea is that as the boat goes faster and the boat rises out of the water (being lifted by the strakes), the pad then becomes the primary running surface...flat and smooth. It helps lift the boat up, keeps it steady, and makes it faster.

Re: tuning / hull pad
 

that goes in line with what I was thinking. I wonder which manufactures use a pad and which don't and why. Thanks for the info.

Re: tuning / hull pad
 

Pads generally CAN make a hull faster.
They also CAN make it re-enter the water harsher and affect its rough water ride.
They also CAN make the boatspeed more weight sensitive and less consistent.