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Random Quote: If wishes were fishes, we'd all cast nets.
Fountain has them. Contender is starting to do them. Most of the faster guys all have them. Obviously speed and economy is a benefit of the stepped hull but like most things its a compromise. So what would be a disadvantage of a stepped hull? Does the stepped hull not matter until certain speeds or on certain beam boats? Deadrise matter?
IMHO...the step hulls don't ride as good in big seas. The whole idea of a stepped hull is to haul ass, get the boat out of the water, and ride on top. When the seas are big you either have to kick back the throttles (Which makes you lose the whole purpose of having steps), or get your ass kicked trying to go fast in them coming out the water and cavitating every other wave. I find the non-stepped stay in the water better and take the bigger waves with more authority. I owned a 34 fountain and switched to a 33t contender and the 34 fountains ride isn't even in the same ballpark as the contender when the seas kick up. That being said, I think that is the only advantage of a non-step. My next boat will more than likely be a bigger stepped hull boat due to speed and efficiency...we really need the fuel economy and speed here in Louisiana because our run to the tuna grounds is 150 plus miles one way...otherwise I wouldn't care.
How would the step hulls not stay in the waves more if the seas are bigger? Do the steps create more drag since its not a smooth surface and you arent really planing that well anymore?
The stepped hulls actually create less drag. The steps put more air under the hull which makes it run faster. However, it does put you on top of the water.
We had a 33' Palmetto and now a 36 YF (stepped) and the only negative to the step I can think of is high speed trolling around 15-16 knots the step makes it act different IMO, we back it down and a bit and noo an issue.
If you are in the really rough stuff the stepped is just like all the rest...pin the tabs down and maintain a safe speed....stepped rides just as well.
Where a step really shines is that it runs much flatter without tabs, which means your bow stays down and does what it is designed to do in rougher seas.
We would be hard pressed to ever go away from a stepped boat after owning one. Don't forget yes they are faster....but more importantly they are more efficient.
Well you need to know how to "Capt. a Stepped Hull" There has been a few accidents with them.
Accident #1not sure what year '07-08?) Contender came out with their new stepped hull design in Miami. THe Owners took one out to test run it, not sure if the Owner or Co-Owner was driving but either way, they were doing 40mph+/- and they hook a sharp turn. boat drifted out and , sent 1 guy flying hit the T-Top with his head and broke his neck. This was kept very hush hush....not to hurt the stepped hull sales.
2nd Accident: Wylie(owner of YF) was in the LA, 34YF or 36YF??? they went down the wrong bayou and was narrow but Wylie seemed he could spin a U-turn to get out to the gulf. Again he turn alittle too fast steps air it out the stern drifted outwards and they were thrown up on the marsh/bank. Waited 4-6hrs to get a tow.
If anyone knows a bit more can ellaborate with more details.....
TBS,
As anyone who has driven stepped hulls knows, trim the motors in before initiating the turn, and chop the throttles. AVS steps will cause the motors to ventilate, creating a loss of grip, and a subsequent slowing of speed, which will make the turn much more manageable.
And, as always, alert your passengers, if they are not already aware, of a sudden change in direction...
I read in another forum specialized in boat design that stepped hulls has another disadvantage, they might be more efficient and faster, but only slightly more ... marginally ... and if they are more efficient they are only at the higher speeds, at average speeds which are what the sea more often allows us to attain they are less efficient.
On the other hand most of the desginers of top cc boats today, seem to agree on their benefits and use them but it could well be a sort of fashion ... or marketing benefit mora than a true objetive benefit.
Having said that, I have been on a 33 invincible in both rough and flat seas and was truly impressed with its behaviour ........
I also seems to me that the hull with so many broken lines has to be less strong because of the inherent weakness that the corner on the laminate introduce ( which off course could be reinforced locally, but at the price of some weight gains)
i heard the same thing about that Contender incident...i agree with what was already said, they are unstable when turning hard. Ive also heard about difficulty in planing at low speeds. That being said i dont do much slalom racing(but i do high speed troll) in the ocean so i think the captain should compensate and be aware of this. I wonder how an autopilot would affect a step hull? I also wonder about a tunnel hull.
Stepped hull boats ride better at higher speeds, traditional deep vees ride better at slower speeds.
I have never had any issues turning hard in a Fountain with steps. The 34 and 38 seem to run on rails. The 31 which is a pad boat is a little tender in turns at higher speeds.
If a stepped hull is designed properly then there is very little disadvantage.
__________________
Fountain 38 Open with quad 300 opti's
233 Formula CC w/6.2 MPI Horizon
Your LU's/Motors will suffer in rough seas becuase of the turbulent water coming from the steps? Can starve the motors for water.
Also is it true that stepped hulls must place their transducers either under the helm or towards the bow, becuase it won't read over say 15mph.(turbulent water)
As I understand it the step causes the bow to ride higher than a conventional hull if you run the same motor angles. That is why they are generally faster. the most speed can be realized if the motor is parallel to the bottom and the bow is out of the water more, {less drag}. I believe stepped hulls were designed for off shore racing? It seems that most tournament fishermen are speed oriented?
As I understand it the step causes the bow to ride higher than a conventional hull if you run the same motor angles. That is why they are generally faster. the most speed can be realized if the motor is parallel to the bottom and the bow is out of the water more, {less drag}. I believe stepped hulls were designed for off shore racing? It seems that most tournament fishermen are speed oriented?
Tourney fisherman need speed. Avg runs are 50-90miles one way. Get a fast cruise or even WOT get their in 1 hr or so. Compared to 2hrs, loss of fishing time,etc...with a faster boat you can fish longer knowing that you can make up time on the way back to the scales.
I wonder as the CC's get bigger & bigger, if some of these issues with the steps will disappear. The bigger, heavier, beamier hulls perhaps being more stable, will make any differences unnoticeable?
Accident #1not sure what year '07-08?) Contender came out with their new stepped hull design in Miami. THe Owners took one out to test run it, not sure if the Owner or Co-Owner was driving but either way, they were doing 40mph+/- and they hook a sharp turn. boat drifted out and , sent 1 guy flying hit the T-Top with his head and broke his neck. This was kept very hush hush....not to hurt the stepped hull sales.
2nd Accident: Wylie(owner of YF) was in the LA, 34YF or 36YF??? they went down the wrong bayou and was narrow but Wylie seemed he could spin a U-turn to get out to the gulf. Again he turn alittle too fast steps air it out the stern drifted outwards and they were thrown up on the marsh/bank. Waited 4-6hrs to get a tow.
I belive DI had the same issue a few years back. One of the leading boating mags published an article about the diffrences between the two. They warned that due to shere science that rear end spin out was more likely and needed more careful manuvering.
If you do your research you find that the speed diffrences really depend on the boats you compare, just take the 33 contender, very little diff in top speed granted there was one but subtle given the high level of expectations,
One other obsevation, I have noticed that for some reason load seems to affect the step more, I don t know why. Maybe someone else can explain this.
Love my stepped Intrepid. Have my 1 kilowatt transducer located centered between the step and the rear of the boat. I can read in 250' up to about 18 Mph.
Have a friend who has a stepped Donzi that has a 2 kilo mounted foward of the step and claims he can read the same depth at 30 Mph.
When I first mounted my motors I wasn't getting the rpms I wanted and noticed my cavitation plate about 1" under water at speed. I raised my motors(last hole) and got another 200 rpm. But it seems to me the boat was a lot more stable at WOT with the cav plates in the water.
fwiw
I wonder as the CC's get bigger & bigger, if some of these issues with the steps will disappear. The bigger, heavier, beamier hulls perhaps being more stable, will make any differences unnoticeable?
I think so...I have spent some time on the 38 fountain and it is a whole different animal from the smaller stepped boats.
Like prop said, the stepped hulls ride better at higher speeds...and the only time I think the non-stepped is better than the stepped is when it is so rough you have to go slower...I find that the non-stepped stays in the water a little better.
I wonder as the CC's get bigger & bigger, if some of these issues with the steps will disappear. The bigger, heavier, beamier hulls perhaps being more stable, will make any differences unnoticeable?
What issues? There are no issues, they are faster, more efficient and no they do not ride any worse than a deep v. I have owned them all and the stepped hull I have now is better than anything I have ever had.
Stepped Hulls
not sure what year '07-08?) Contender came out with their new stepped hull design in Miami. THe Owners took one out to test run it, not sure if the Owner or Co-Owner was driving but either way, they were doing 40mph+/- and they hook a sharp turn. boat drifted out and , sent 1 guy flying hit the T-Top with his head and broke his neck. This was kept very hush hush....not to hurt the stepped hull sales.
