Which boat hull is the most efficient at different water
speeds?
Slide 3
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the most
efficient boat hull.
Slide 4
There are six main hull shapes in use today: Flat Bottom
Catamaran V Bottom Tri Hull Pontoon Barge
Slide 5
The most efficient boat hull at any speed is the tri-hull
because the air tunnels reduce drag.
Slide 6
Wood Water pump Dual Force Sensor Wooden trough Band saw, table
saw, drill, sander Eye hooks (4) String Copper pipe Tygon tubing
Ball valve Pipe clamps
Slide 7
1. Draw outlines of top view and side view of boat 2. Cut wood
3. Sand and finalize shape 4. Attach force sensor to one end of
trough 5. Attach eye hooks to bow of boat, connect string from boat
to sensor 6. Fill trough with water, controlling the speed of water
with ball valve 7. Allow water speed to reach 0.0318 m /sec, place
first boat in trough and record sensor reading for ten seconds.
Repeat two more times. 8. Repeat with other three boats, do not
change water speed 9. Change the water speed to 0.0477 m / sec and
measure the force on all four boats with sensor 10. Repeat at
0.0636 m/sec
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Hull Bottoms
Slide 11
Boat Hull Tops
Slide 12
Independent Variables Water speed Hull shape Dependent
Variables Force on hulls Control Raft Constants Pump Water Trough
Sensor Water speeds
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
Slide 16
HighRaftBargeV BottomTri Hull Trial 10.36980.1780.10050.08993
Trial20.27850.18220.10180.08416 Trial 30.40340.19220.10710.07907
Averages0.35060.18410.10310.08440 T-Tests RB0.04263 BVB0.0007465
VBTH0.06600 RVB0.001349 BTH0.005291 RTH0.01992 Data High Speed
The hypothesis was supported as the Tri-Hull consistently had
the least amount of resistance at any speed of water. The V-bottom
was a close second as the best hull as it had significantly less
resistance than the flat bottom and raft. There is almost no
significant difference between the V bottom and Tri-Hull.
Slide 20
This experiment was significant because it contributed to the
idea that not every hull is suitable for every activity. The
experiment demonstrated that certain hulls would be more efficient
and effective for activities at lower water speeds while some hulls
were better for high speed activities.
Slide 21
Zidock Jr, A. (1999, July/August). Boat Hull Design. Retrieved
September/ October, 2010, from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fish
and Boat Commission website: http://
www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/1999/julaug99/boathull.htm