Colorado Boating

Basic Boating Information
Return to Table of Contents
1	Video
2	Boating Terms
3	Hull Designs
4	Boat Length
5	Propulsion
6	Capacity
7	Hull Identification Numbers
8	Homemade Boats
9	Recall Hotline
10	Theft Prevention
11	Loaning a Boat
12	Lines and Knots
13	Trailers and Trailering
14	Boat Ramps
15	Weather
16	Float Plans
17	Boat Maintenance
18	Fueling
19	Environmental Considerations
20	Chapter Summary
21	Chapter Review

HULL DESIGNS

There are two basic hull types – displacement and planing. The term displacement means the weight or volume of water displaced by a boat or ship. Planing is the ability of a boat to “get up on top” or “glide” on the water, creating less displacement. A planing hull boat at rest acts as a displacement hull.

Illustration	Type of Hull	Example	Advantage	Disadvantage
	Flat Bottom (Planing)	Jon Boat	Shallow draft, lightweight	Low freeboard, only for calm to light seas, rough ride
	"V" hull (Planing)	Cruiser	Stable, handles rough seas	Deep draft, heavy. Requires more power to move at same speed.
	Modified "V"	PWC	Stable when moving	Unstable at low or idle
	Multi-Hull	Catamaran Trimaran	Very stable, handles light to moderate seas well	Difficult to maneuver in tight areas
	Round Bottom (Displacement)	Tug, Sailboat	Plows through the water, provides a smooth ride	Rolls easily from side to side

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Basic Boating Information

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HULL DESIGNS