[brian eiland]

This unusual hull configuration just came across my computer from a passagemaking forum. Thought it might be of interest here.


http://www.aviadesign.com/powerkeel/

[KCook]

Ok, I'm confused. We usually see hard chimes and a nearly flat bottom on planing hulls. But the added surface area of the keel would fight planing? No?

Kelly Cook

[brian eiland]

To quote from their website, "To summarize the results, the PowerKeel version had less resistance at all speeds below 15 knots (on a 36' boat) with the best improvement between 9 and 12 knots. The wake at 9 knots is impressively flat. This hull ideally suits a long range trawler which would like to cruise efficiently at speeds higher than standard displacement speeds."

[KCook]

Got it. Not really fully up on plane. Real world tests should be interesting.

Kelly