1. What is Hull Speed?

Hull speed is the theoretical maximum speed a displacement hull can achieve without planing. It's determined by the waterline length of the boat and represents the point where the boat's bow wave equals the length of the boat.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the hull speed formula:

Where:

• \( Length \) — Waterline length of the boat in feet
• 1.34 — Empirical coefficient for displacement hulls

Explanation: The formula calculates the speed at which the wavelength of the boat's bow wave equals the boat's waterline length, creating increased drag.

3. Importance of Hull Speed Calculation

Details: Knowing your boat's hull speed helps in understanding its performance limitations and energy requirements. Exceeding hull speed requires significantly more power as the boat begins to climb its own bow wave.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the waterline length of your RC boat in feet. The waterline length is the length of the boat that's actually in the water when it's floating at rest.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this apply to all RC boats?
A: No, this only applies to displacement hulls. Planing hulls can exceed this speed with sufficient power.

Q2: How accurate is this for small RC boats?
A: The formula works reasonably well for scale models, though small boats may see slightly different performance due to scale effects.

Q3: Can you exceed hull speed?
A: Yes, but it requires significantly more power and typically requires a planing or semi-planing hull design.

Q4: Does hull shape affect the calculation?
A: The basic formula assumes a typical displacement hull. Extreme hull shapes may vary slightly from this calculation.

Q5: Why is the coefficient 1.34?
A: This empirical value comes from observations of wave-making resistance characteristics of displacement hulls.