Indiana Boating

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

Basic Boating Information

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HULL DESIGNS