| Generally speaking there are two types of boat hulls. | | | | design characteristics. |
| They are the displacement hull and the planning hull. | | | | Planing Hulls: |
| The hull type will play a significant role in the purpose | | | | Planing hulls will also push aside or displace an amount |
| of the boat and how and for what it is used. When | | | | of water equal to their weight when they are at rest |
| deciding to own a boat, understanding the | | | | in the water. However, they are designed to rise up |
| differences in these two hull types will ensure, at the | | | | out of the water and ride on the surface when they |
| least, the boats design will be capable of fulfilling the | | | | reach a certain speed. This planing speed varies from |
| purpose for which you intend to use it. | | | | boat to boat depending on the particular hull design. |
| Displacement Hulls: | | | | The three main types of planing hulls are: the Flat |
| The displacement hull derives its name from the fact | | | | Bottom, the Vee Bottom and the Deep Vee Bottom. |
| that when the boat is placed into the water it pushes | | | | The flat bottom boat is a planing hull but it produces |
| aside or displaces an equal amount of water. The | | | | such a rough, pounding ride it is seldom used for |
| weight of the water that is displaced is exactly equal | | | | anything much larger than a dingy or boat tender. |
| to the weight of the boat. | | | | The vee bottom and deep vee bottom produce the |
| This type of hull has a round bottom which makes it | | | | softest ride on the water. The deeper the vee the |
| subject to rolling from side to side. This is particularly | | | | softer the ride will be. However, the deep vee hull |
| true when the sea conditions become rough. To | | | | requires more power to get it up or planing than |
| offset this condition some form of stabilizers will | | | | does a normal vee hull. |
| generally be deployed thus smoothing out the ride. | | | | Planing hulls like displacement hulls also have a |
| When moving forward this hull type must push aside | | | | calculated maximum hull speed. Because the design of |
| the water as it maintains its full displacement whether | | | | the planing hull allows it to break free of the water |
| moving or sitting still. The hull will never rise above or | | | | and ride on the surface it is able to exceed its |
| onto the surface of the water. | | | | maximum hull speed. Thus, generally speaking the |
| Every boat has a maximum hull speed. It is calculated | | | | greater the power of the engine the faster the boat |
| using a complex formula which takes into | | | | will go. |
| consideration the boats length. The longer the length | | | | Whether the boaters desire is to travel at a leisurely |
| of the boat the greater its hull speed will be. A | | | | pace or to get from point A to point B as fast as |
| displacement hull will never exceed its hull speed | | | | they can there is a hull style that will accommodate |
| regardless of how much power its engine has. | | | | them. When purchasing a boat it is important to |
| Since increasing the power does not increase the | | | | know which type of boater you desire to be and |
| speed displacement hulls are usually powered by small | | | | what is the main purpose for which the boat will be |
| engines and cruise at speeds in the neighborhood of | | | | used. Knowing this the correct type of boat hull will |
| eight to twelve knots. This of course varies | | | | be selected. |
| depending on the size of the boat and its particular | | | | |