What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

[DavidW2009]

Since joining this forum, I've not come across discussion of the tri-hull -vs- the traditional vee-hull design.

In the 70's and 80's, tri-hulls seemed to rule. Now it's vee-hulls. I'd like to know why the tri-hull was invented and why it is no longer as popular on new boats.

What are the advantages of each design?

 

[BLU LUNCH]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

I owned 2 tri-hulls and they are very stable but they just beat the **** out of your back in choppy water.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Typically, tri-hulls were bow rider runabouts and the only ones I have seen or know about were 17' or below. They are not very smooth riding boats as they have almost no deadrise at the Transom, once you get past the bow, they are almost as flat as say a Carolia Skiff, very rough ride in choppy water. I think that that combined with the popularity of larger boats (19-22') killed them.

I still see a few every now and then...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

There are several deck boats made today that use a version of the tri-hull. They are very stable when the water is calm, which makes them great for fishing since they don't rock back and forth or lean as much when you are walking around the deck. They are terrible for cutting waves or chop, so that is their downside. If you're on a small lake, then they're just fine.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

My Arrow Glass Tri has a good Vee all the way to the transom (my avatar shows pretty well) and does pretty good in a chop and provides a dry ride. However, at below plane speeds the concave section can jet water out in front and spray back.

Also at anchor, waves slap in the concaves. So I try to anchor on the quarter.

 

[jdlough]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Those 15' to 17' bow rider tri-hulls have a lot wider space in the bow, for such a small boat. So, they have more usable space than a V. They are much more stable at rest, or in glassy water - kind of like a boat with training wheels.

They do bang you around in the chop, though. They kind of force you to slow down in choppy water, so they're good boats for your teenage kids, if you don't want them to go too dang fast.

 

[DavidW2009]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

"They are much more stable at rest, or in glassy water - kind of like a boat with training wheels."

I see quite a few old tri-hulls around here, with windscreens removed, bass boat type seats installed and used for fishing. Poor man's bass boat. LOL.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

beats you to death is a pretty good summary! i've had two tri hulls, one with a fairly substantial V. The ONLY way to navigate in rough water is to point the hull up in the air and plow through the waves that way, half on plane.

Advantages... Stable, and most are fairly quick. A similar sized/powered trihull will usually be faster than a regular bowrider.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

I see quite a few old tri-hulls around here, with windscreens removed, bass boat type seats installed and used for fishing. Poor man's bass boat. LOL.

Edit: You're confused. They make excellent bass boats, and many were made just for that purpose. My grandfather had a 17' Newman TriHull bass boat when I was a kid. Had high gunwales so if you had to lean over or the waves started rocking the boat, you had something to support you body against. Shallow draft due to a lot of hull spread horizontally. They function just as well as the $60K Tritons, Champions, etc except they don't normally run 70+ across the lake. A good bass boat doesn't mean you have to get to the fishing hole at break-neck speed.

The last thing I want when I doing "real man's" fishing is to have a beautiful new expensive boat that gets run up on rocks or scratched up by tre brnaches when you're fishing. Not the poor-man's boat, it's the "smart man's boat".

Tri-hulls are very capable boats, and I don't think they take chop any worse than a similar size shallow-v (like most modern bass boats).

 

[skargo]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

You're confused. They make excellent bass boats, and many were made just for that purpose. My grandfather had a 17' Newman TriHull bass boat when I was a kid. Had high gunwales so if you had to lean over or the waves started rocking the boat, you had something to support you body against. Shallow draft due to a lot of hull spread horizontally. They function just as well as the $60K Tritons, Champions, etc except they don't normally run 70+ across the lake. A good bass boat doesn't mean you have to get to the fishing hole at break-neck speed.

The last thing I want when I doing "real man's" fishing is to have a beautiful new expensive boat that gets run up on rocks or scratched up by tre brnaches when you're fishing. Not the poor-man's boat, it's the "smart man's boat".

Tri-hulls are very capable boats, and I don't think they take chop any worse than a similar size shallow-v (like most modern bass boats).

Edit: please simply hit the "Report Post" button above and the "Awesome Mods" will take care of it . . . QC

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

You've pretty much summed up all the points..... a tri hull is stable, and much like a stone skipping on top of the water, the tri hull works best on flat/calm waters.... usually will draw a little less draft, as it's weight is displaced over more surface area..

The V hull has that cutting edge, that can slice through chop... It's going to be a little less stable at rest.... if you go fishing on a v hull and walk from starboard to port, you'll feel it list much more than the trihull will.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[esobofh]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Edit: please simply hit the "Report Post" button above and the "Awesome Mods" will take care of it . . . QC

Tri-hulls are very capable boats, and I don't think they take chop any worse than a similar size shallow-v (like most modern bass boats).

Have you owned one? They suck in chop - I'd take a classic v over a tri (cathedral) hull anyday.

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Tri-hulls are very capable boats, and I don't think they take chop any worse than a similar size shallow-v (like most modern bass boats).

Not all trihull's are the same, I understand that. For the most part, they do ride like crap thru the chop. I haven?t ridden in all the different makes of trihull?s but, all the ones I have ridden on were not comparable to a new bass boat. Bass boats are not known for being a good rough water boat but I think they easily ride better than trihull's. Trihull?s are definitely more stable at rest than a bass boat but, not at speed.

 

[marine4003]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Why are you calling him names?

He's an aspiring student of mine....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Have you owned one? They suck in chop - I'd take a classic v over a tri (cathedral) hull anyday.

Modern bass boats are not what I call a "classic V". They are extremely shallow V's which don't cut chop well at all, in my opinion not much better than a tri-hull. I have owned 2 bass boats, both of the modern style shallow-v, and ridden in two "bass boat" tri-hulls of 80's vintage many times. They both have their pros/cons, but a poor man's bass boat is not what I think a tri-hull resembles.

 

[skargo]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

He's an aspiring student of mine....

Oh come on, you'd never do that

Just seems funny he can call a guy Edit: confused in a boat forum, but in the off topic threads get locked for no apparent reasons. Just confusing, not a criticism of the awesome mods and this awesome message board.

 

[Bronc Rider]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Modern bass boats are not what I call a "classic V". They are extremely shallow V's wow, I never noticed that before which don't cut chop well at all, in my opinion IMO you're not informed and you're rude. not much better than a tri-hull. I have owned 2 bass boats, both of the modern style shallow-v, and ridden in two "bass boat" tri-hulls of 80's vintage many times. They both have their pros/cons, but a poor man's bass boat is not what I think a tri-hull resembles.

So you tested four boats and based off of that you called someone Edit: confused? I guess Edit: that explains it (now you guys are testing my ability to maintain the intent of a post while removing the testosterone QC)

 

[QC]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Just seems funny he can call a guy (Edit: confused) in a boat forum, but in the off topic threads get locked for no apparent reasons. Just confusing, not a criticism of the awesome mods and this awesome message board.

The simple answer is that we watch Dockside more closely, and it is impossible, regardless of our "Awesome"ness, to read everything. I found this thread because I like discussing hull designs with idio . . . errr . . . confused people. That was only an attempt at humor to diffuse the potential disaster cause by name calling AND responding endlessly to name calling, annnndd I don't think the "poor man's bass boat" guy to be either challenged or confused . . .

I am breaking a cardinal rule here which is that we do not discuss moderation on the boards. To cover me arse and to remind all of our policies and how the system works: Please PM mods when you are concerned about moderating style. And Please use the funny red triangle button in the upper right corner of each post to report those posts that you think need attention. Good or bad. I am guessing posts that require modulation are reported more often than us finding them ourselves . . .

 

[skargo]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

Edit . . . LOL, you guys are making it hard to keep up, maybe that's why we lock threads instead of edit them

And there you go!

p.s. Thanks QC

 

[skargo]

Re: What are the Merits of the Tri-hull -vs- Vee-Hull?

It's all good, you guys truly are awesome for the most part, no malice or sarcasm was meant by my use of the word awesome.