|
|
 |
Fine
Tuning For The Future
An
Evaluation of Aeromarine Research's Tunnel Boat Design Program
Article and Test by Greg Terzian and Helmut Freitag
Photos by Greg Terzian
With
winter fast approaching, boaters’ thoughts turn to winterizing and the dull,
boat-less months ahead. It is during these months that we take the time to
reevaluate our rigs, and think about changes for the next season. Many of
us think of ways to extract every last ounce of performance from our rigs as
we wait for the warmer weather.
 Fortunately,
if you own a tunnel boat,
Aeromarine Research
has a way to use this downtime very productively. Their Tunnel Boat Design
Software can turn the winter into the perfect time to optimize or design
your tunnel boat configuration, all without leaving your home. The Tunnel
Boat Design Software promises to help you optimize the performance of your
tunnel boat – off the water. Now, that’s a pretty impressive claim. So,
first we’ll look at how the software works, and then we’ll see how well its
results compare to real life performance. Even if you’re one of the lucky
few that lives in a climate that permits year-round boating, this software
will prove very valuable – after all, how else can you test such a huge
variety of performance enhancing features without breaking the bank?
Essentially, this software allows the tunnel boat enthusiast to alter a
‘virtual model’ of their current hull, or create an entirely new design and
see the results of your changes in real time as you alter each of the many
hull variables. The power of the PC can now be leveraged to offer insights
into your hull configuration never before possible with such ease and
accuracy.
 |
 |
 |
|
Test
Subject: Lightweight STV Euro / stock
Mercury EFI 260. Our test hull features
a non-stepped ski bottom. |
Aeromarine
Research’s Tunnel boat Design Software is used by professionals and
individual high performance enthusiasts worldwide to improve the performance
of their tunnel boats. The program uses three different methods of
optimization to generate predicted performance results: angle of attack
optimization, power optimization, and velocity prediction. After you input
the data on your boat, the program makes all the necessary calculations to
predict actual performance. As you optimize each factor, the remaining two
are set as constants. Optimizing for each factor will give you a huge
amount of critical information on everything from actual hull design to
high-speed stability. Normally, it would take an enormous amount of time
and dedication to acquire this information – even learning all the
background theoretical knowledge would take quite some time. Aeromarine has
taken their years of experience and knowledge and put them all together in
this program. The Tunnel Boat Design Program is used by pros and individual
enthusiasts alike - the program is very straightforward and includes a great
deal of support for all types of users.
 |
 |
 |
Left:
Where to
begin: The splash screen features help, the tutorial wizard, and
start.
Middle:
Design File
Selection screen, where you manage your designs.
Right:
Quick Start
Wizard walks you through the data input and analysis process. |
The program begins with its four “Design” screens. Each screen has a wealth
of parameters to assign and adjust in the quest for more speed. These are
the places where you can experiment with actual hull design, set up, and
much more to see which changes will result in better performance. Thanks to
Aeromarine Research, you no longer have to spend hours with complex
calculations and confusing formulas. You can also be spared costly “trial
and error” alterations that can damage your boat or result in more
downtime. After all, would you rather spend hours experimenting with and
testing motor height, for example, or spend just a few minutes entering data
so that the software can help you predict the optimum placement?
 |
 |
 |
Left:
Boat
Data Input screen - basic hull data goes here.
Middle:
Larger view
of illustration to aid in measurement accuracy.
Right:
Weight and
Measurements screen. |
The
first Design screen is the “Boat Data” screen. On this screen, you enter
figures for the hull design - tunnel and pad height and width, number of
steps and their length, and pod measurements. A note to non-North American
users: all measurements are Standard, so if your measurements are metric,
you’ll have to convert them. The screen also has a useful picture with the
different measurements labeled, so if you’re not sure what the “Pad Deadrise”
is, a glance at the picture will show you exactly what to measure. There is
also a detailed User Manual and on-line context-sensitive help manual that
explains each of these design parameters in detail.
The second Design screen is the “Weight/Measurement Data” screen. This is
where you’ll put in figures like total boat length, and motor length and
height. You’ll also assign values to boat weight, motor weight, fuel weight,
and even driver weight. Like the Boat Data screen, the Weight/Measurement
Data screen includes a diagram that shows the listed measurements
|
 |
|
Article Information |
| Aeromarine
Research presents the tunnel boat enthusiast, designer, and
racer with a software package designed to allow never before
possible design analysis of tunnel boat hulls. |
| |
|
Created: |
| September 23,
2001 |
| |
|
By: |
| Greg Terzian |
| Helmut Freitag |
| |
|
Category: |
|
Product Evaluations |
| |
|
Manufacturer Website |
|
aeromarineresearch.com |
|
|
|
 |
