I undertsand what a step is and what it does, I also understand what a notch is and what it does. Will someone explain to me what excatly a pad is and what it does? I think my new to me zt280 has a pad, and I would like to learn how to take advantage of it. Thanks!!!

A couple of these guys might have it figured out Rob... http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/c...st-summer.html

Velocity's specialize in pad bottom boats and they run good. Velocitys pad is the longest, widest that I have seen, and it really helps minimize the wetted surface of the boat freeing up speed. So you might learn more researching those. Black Thunder's pad looks similar to some of the Checkmates pads, also good running boats.

But even a small pad on the bottom of a Checkmate or Baja helps to lift the boat up out of the water and create less drag. The Pad is on the lower rear portion of the keel and is generally is flatter then the 24 degree deadrise.

To utilize the Pad on the bottom of the boat you trim the boat up to the sweet spot. To far and you will actually lose speed. Then trim back down when you need the sharper part of the V to slice the waves.

Obviously Tres Martins Driving school will know more then the rest of us on OSO.

Enjoy your new boat!

a pad is basically a little piece of flat bottom at the stern. on my Nova 3 it is about a foot wide and tapers as it goes toward the bow. at that size on my boat it doesn't help at all. boat is no faster than the prev gen hull the Nova II-same size with no step-no pad. the velocity pad is much wider on the 22 foot hull and it is about the fastest single V hull in it's size range.

While lots of folks have tried to explain what a pad is and what it does, here's a picture of the pad on my Progression 22. It's the small, somewhat flatter area running right down the keel. The drain plug is right above it. Note that it has less deadrise that the hull sections next to it - which are 24 degrees.



As others have correctly noted, there are all sorts of variations on pad design, but the idea behind all of them is that they allow / force the hull to get up and ride on them to varying degrees. The wider and flatter the pad, the faster you go. But, ride can be somewhat compromised by a large / flat pad.

As to your original question about how to take advantage of a pad, there's nothing you really have to do differently. It works automatically with no driver input required.

Thank you for the clarification, I noticed your prop shaft is about an inch or two below the running surface, nice!

The 24 Superboat I owned had a similar pad. I will say that driver input was important to keep the boat balanced on the pad. I found a good hydraulic steering system to really be helpful.