What is a Deep–V Planing Hull ?

• It is a hard chine hull form that maintains a fairly constant deadrise angle aft

• Deadrise is at least 18- 20 degrees, and as much as 24 degrees aft.

• Buttocks are generally straight aft.

• Most have strakes, or lift strips on the bottom.

• Most planing hulls on the market today are decendants of Ray’s original concept. Offshore raceboats, 40 years later are remarkably similar to the original!

How does a Deep-V work and why are they so good in rough water?

• Sharp entry forward keeps pounding to a minimum.

• Shallow forefoot resists bow steering and broaching.

• V- shape aft gives evenly distributed displacement and lateral plane

• Hull tends to go straight in all seas with moderate steering effort.

• High chine forward along with multiple spray strips knock down bow wave and spray, reduce wetted surface, cut drag and add lift.

• Result is more speed and/or economy and a dry ride.

• Flare in topsides deflects any spray getting by the chine and encloses substantial reserve bouyancy making it nearly impossible to bury the bow.

• Deep-V has more depth than flatter bottomed planing boats and acts more like a displacement hull when at rest.

• As it rolls displacement increases and resists the roll.

• At speed the hull gains stability from the lift forces acting on it.

• The Deep-V leans into a turn – not out.

• None of the above matters if the water is flat!