Characteristics Explained

[mike-the-cobra]

Looking for an explaination for the characteristics of my boat, mostly with deadrise, transom angle, freeboard, etc. Not sure on some of the meanings. Wondering what my boat charicteristics would be considered (deep V, good planning, etc) or compared with on other boats.

Boat weighs 2130lbs, has crankshaft HP of 130, prop HP 115

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Hello Mike..

If you need some eyes on advice let me know.. Im in clinton township .

YD.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Characteristics Explained

LOA: length overall

Beam: Width at the widest point

Keel to W/S Shelf: This is an odd measurement that FW includes. It is the height of the fiberglass portion of the boat. From the bottom of the V to the top of the cap excluding the windshield (W/S).

Total Height: Height with the windshield

Transom Angle: The transom is at an angle tipping away from the interior of the boat...that is the top of the transom if further from the inside than the bottom. Most boats have an angle of 15 degrees. This measurement will have some influence on how the boat handles following seas.

Deadrise: This is the angle of the hull bottom from horizontal at the transom. 18 degrees is on the shallow side. When you get up to 20-22, most people would call it a deep V.

Cockpit Height: This is a measurement from the deck/sole/floor to the top of the hull sides. Basically this is the depth of the boat inside. A higher number here will let you know that junior is less likely to fall overboard.

Freeboard: This is a measurment from the static water line to the top of the hull sides. Basically the higher the number the taller the sides of the boat. Some boats have a high freeboard and low cockpit height. This basically means that the deck/sole/floor is well above the water line. If the cockpit depth is greater than the freeboard, then you know your deck is lower than the water line. For self bailing cockpits this becomes a pretty important thing to know. Your boat is NOT self bailing.

That generation of Four Winns is a pretty nice boat. I think I have posted on some of your threads before. We had a 1990 version of your boat and I spent a ton of time with that boat in all sorts of situations. The boat is good for inland lakes. It isn't that great for use on the Great Lakes. In fact with the bow designed such that it has very little flair and has a downward angle when at rest, the boat is likely to take water over the bow...ask me how I know.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Your answers are as close as a simple google or yahoo search. scroll to the top of your browser page and to learn what "deadrise" means, simply type "boat deadrise". I did that as an example for you and there are many pages that explain the term. Much easier than having us give you short answers that probably still would not clearly define the term. You can do that for any term you don't understand.

http://www.answers.com/topic/deadrise

 

[QC]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Cool, so if I know how to use Google we can close the forum?

If I click the link above I learn that what on a planing hull is actually a lifting strake is incorrectly called a spray rail. On a displacement hull, maybe that diagram is correct. I'm thinking that's why discussion is still a good thing . . .

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Cool, so if I know how to use Google we can close the forum?

but but but where would I then be able to give condescending answers???

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Maybe this will help:

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=boat+terms+and+definitions

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Maybe this will help:

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=boat+terms+and+definitions

:facepalm:

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Cool, so if I know how to use Google we can close the forum?

If I click the link above I learn that what on a planing hull is actually a lifting strake is incorrectly called a spray rail. On a displacement hull, maybe that diagram is correct. I'm thinking that's why discussion is still a good thing . . .

Nope -- we still need the forum to tell people where to go to find a "more detailed" answer than one that might not be perfectly clear. Like in the example where on the hull deadrise is determined in that example. That example also pointed out what hull that was. Goodness me -- without this forum we could not discuss oil and ethanol But of course, every post on this forum is always 100% correct so maybe I am wrong in steering folks to alternate sources of information. Fact is, just because folks generally know about Google and Yahoo they have zero search skills. So having the tool available does no good if one doesn't know how to use it. Hence my "how to example". The prop forum is another example of how sending someone to a link can save everyone time. IBoats has prop primer and there is enough info regarding prop theory and application on the web to make your eyes bleeed. A long time ago I posted a procedure on this very forum about how to use the "search" feature because I tired of repeating the same gas gauge information over and over again. Many thought that was a good idea and it was posted as a sticky. Same with the "Read This First" sticky in the prop forum. That didn't work either and I was flamed for getting tired of answering identical questions when a simple search would have turned up the answer. In the case of fuel gauge wiring there was 53 posts and that was about a year ago. As they say -- you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Nope -- we still need the forum to tell people where to go to find a "more detailed" answer than one that might not be perfectly clear.

As they say -- you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

If you lead a boater to the bar, You probably won't have to... (Make'em drink)

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Characteristics Explained

Thanks for all the answers. I had a basic idea of what these all meant, I think I was more looking for (although I wasn't real clear) of how these numbers compare with other similar boats (yours?).

"In fact with the bow designed such that it has very little flair and has a downward angle when at rest, the boat is likely to take water over the bow...ask me how I know"

How do you know? LOL

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Characteristics Explained

If you lead a boater to the bar, You probably won't have to... (Make'em drink)

Only one problem -- they expect YOU to pay for the drinks and then sue you when they get drunk.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Characteristics Explained

It happened at least 3 times maybe more. Nothing like a boat full of water. Luckily in all circumstances is was a wake that caused it not continuous waves so it was easy to recover from.

Although, there were a few times where I was sure I was going to see blue water and got nothing more than a little splash.

As compared to my 1981, that has a ton of flare and a very tall bow it is night and day in rough water. I have been out it waves in my 81 that would have swamped your boat. Barely a splash made it up and over.

Your boat is a low freeboard, relatively shallow V, bowrider. It has a hull designed more for sport than utility. In a chop you boat will tend to pound unless the waves are spaced just right so that you stay right on the crests.

My 2004 rides smoother than your boat. I'm not sure why. It has the same deadrise and is the same basic length. The hull is deeper at the front and I think it may have a sharper V that transitions quicker to 18degrees at the transom than your boat. Oh, and I haven't stuffed the bow yet on the 04. I have had plenty of opportunity, it is just harder than I thought....I guess that is a good thing.