Filters
Close

A Quick Guide to Boat Hull Shapes

A Guide to Hull Shapes

Are you new to the boating scene and in the market for a boat? Then you’ve probably heard that you need to consider the types of boat hulls. All boat hulls can either ride on top of the water or displace it while traveling. However,ย there’s more to them than simply how they move vessels on the water. Whenย making a decisionย to buyย a boat, you canย choose fromย many different shapes that all have their own advantages.

Learn more about the different types of hulls on a boat with this quick guide and how to choose the best one for your needs.

Most Common Types of Hulls

Theย differentย boatย hullย types willย determine the amount of available storage on board, the way the boat handles the water and the boatโ€™s speed and stability.ย Boat hulls can be divided into three main categories:

  1. Displacement hulls:ย A displacement hull is any hull thatย helps boats cut and move through the water by pushing it aside. The weight of the boat is its displacement in the water, making thoseย with displacementย hulls slowย but steady whileย being able toย carry a lot of weight.ย Boats with displacement hullsย include large ships, like cruiseย ships andย sailboats.
  2. Planing hulls:ย A planing hull is designed to rise up and ride on top of the water rather than push through it like displacement hulls. It allows vessels to glide smoothly over the water surface, enabling them to reach higher speeds. This hull shape is typically found in speedboats and powerboats.
  3. Semi-displacement hulls:ย This type of hull gives the boat the advantages of both a displacement and planingย hull. Aย semi-displacement hull has both round and flat sections. The round sections allow for additional storage while the flat areas raise the boatโ€™s bow out of the water, reducing drag at higher speeds. Some cruising motor yachts have hulls likeย this andย they typically require aย high-poweredย engine.

Below are the most common hull shapes and how they affect performance.ย They may fit into one or a combination of the three categories.

Round-Bottom Hulls

Hulls with a round bottom are a type of displacement hull. They are designed to roll with the waves. Canoesย have round-bottom hulls, as do most sailboats.ย The rounded shape creates little resistance, allowing boats toย move smoothly throughย calm and roughย waterย at slower speeds. However, they can be unstableย andย easilyย roll over.

Flat-Bottom Hulls

A flat-bottom hull is a type of planing hull, which means it can glide on top of the water. Water vessels with this boat hull design are very stable and only need a small engine to start planing. However, they are very rough in inclement weather and choppy waves โ€” they are best for calm waters likeย lakes, ponds and shallow rivers.

Multihulls

Multihulls are recognizable as two or more distinct separate hulls on one boat. These hull types fall within the displacement or planing hull category depending on their shape and the size of their engines. Because of its wide beams, multihull boats like catamarans and some sailboats are faster and more stable than monohull types. Although they handle rough water well, they have a large turning radius.

Most Common Types of Hulls

V-Shapedย Hulls

V-shaped or V-bottom hulls fall within the planing category. They’re a common hull design for speed boats, especially those meant for recreational activities. V-shaped hulls allow for smooth rides at high speeds and perform well in rough or choppy water conditions. These boats do require larger engines and are less fuel-efficient than other hull designs.

People have modified V-shaped hulls to compensate for their instability while floating:

  • Modified-V hulls:ย The modified design provides more stability without losing too much speed. It combines the best characteristics of the deep V-shaped hull with a flat-bottom section toward the stern.
  • Stepped hulls:ย Theseย contain steps or indentationsย that force water flow to separate from the hull. This design reduces water surface contact the faster it goes, creating less drag.

Pontoon

Pontoon boatsย float andย ride on long buoyant tubes that usually consist of aluminum.ย Sometimes considered a multihull type, these planingย boat hullย shapes maximizeย the available deckย space.ย Pontoon boats are stable andย operate at low speeds on calm water.ย However, they have a large turning radius, like other multihull boats.

Choosing the Right Hull Shape

It’s important to match the hull shape to your next boat’s purpose and preferences. Here are some questions to consider:

  • What type of planing hull handles rough water the best?ย V-shaped hull boats are the best for navigating smoothly through rough water conditions.
  • What type of boat is most cost-effective for fuel?ย Boats with flatter hulls are more fuel-efficient at lower speeds, making them suitable for long-distance cruising.
  • Which hull type will give me the most speed?ย V-shaped hull boats are best for the waves and rough waters out on the ocean, while flat-bottom boats work well on calm water bodies.
  • What boat type is best for any type of water?ย Boats with V-shaped hulls offer the most versatility and practicality.ย 

EZ Dock Boat Docks Can Make Docking Any Watercraft Easy

Make Docking Watercraft Easy

You can dock any boat easily by usingย one of our EZ BoatPortsย โ€” whether for recreational or business purposes. Our floating docks are durable, slip-resistant andย modular and requireย little to no maintenance.ย Theย Optimus BoatPort is customizableย to fit different boats and can easily accommodate stepped hull boats with our optional Stepped Hull EZ Slide.

Request a quote onlineย for details on the products youโ€™re interested in. Not sure what is best for you? Our dock experts can help you find a configuration that fits your needs and budget.

Share: