...Are You A Pad Bottom Guy?...Or A Step Bottom Guy?

[Risco]

Let’s not forget not all steps are created equal. Basic principle is air bubbles remove water tension to reduce drag get more complicated on some race boats that have ram air ducts run to the steps to jam more air in. Honestly anything used in conditions other than flat calm will benefit from properly designed steps. Remember top speed isn’t the only way to judge if a hull works or not.

[bep078]

Also, the position, angle and height of the steps play a huge role in the running angle of the boat apart from just the venting. Stepped hulls seem to run more level when compared to non stepped hulls. When the twin step Chaudron 25 was made off the regular 25ft Chaudron, it was about 8-10 mph faster then the same hull without steps, when keeping power and weight the same. However the stepped boat can not turn as sharp as the orginal boat.

[TooStroked]

Also, the position, angle and height of the steps play a huge role in the running angle of the boat apart from just the venting. Stepped hulls seem to run more level when compared to non stepped hulls. When the twin step Chaudron 25 was made off the regular 25ft Chaudron, it was about 8-10 mph faster then the same hull without steps, when keeping power and weight the same. However the stepped boat can not turn as sharp as the original boat.

Remember too the real reason steps were added to many performance boats. To get every last MPH out of most pad bottom hulls, one had to trim the hell out of drive and balance the hull on the last few feet (or inches) of the hull. Not too many people could do this and what you ended up with was a top speed number that although true, was not attainable in anything but perfect conditions by a really experienced driver.

Step hulls do not require massive amounts of trim to attain top speed so they're much easier to drive by average folks - in a straight line. (Corners? Well, that requires a pro.) That's because the thrust angle of the prop shaft is almost parallel to the water - pushing the hull forward and not wasting any thrust trying to lift the bow up. So in a straight line, your real top speed number is easier to attain in almost any conditions. As has already been said though, a "straight" hull will out corner a stepped hull any day of the week.

[XstreamVking]

The "step" bottom was first patented in 1904. Been many variations patented since....Everything from seaplanes to PT boats have had "steps".

[Jimboat]

here's an article on steps.