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MODIFIED VEE HULL If you don't think that a Deep Vee is the right choice for you, you have some other options. One thing to consider may be a Modified Vee hull, especially if the lake or river you plan to frequent has a lot of chop to it. The Modified Vee combines a Deep Vee at the bow but it becomes much shallower at the transom. This prevents the boat from drifting lazily across the lake, but still allows for a smooth ride while traveling at higher speeds. The shallower V deadrise enables the boat to plane quickly but steadies the craft while resting. A boat with this hull form can reach respectable speeds, which makes it a good choice for a family boat. One manufacturer who offers the modified Vee hull is Nautic Star. Its exclusive hull design has a shallow draft dead rise at the transom for stability while the boat is at rest. Forward there is a full Vee to give a softer ride in rougher waters. The hull also incorporates an air-assisted chine that releases water, helping the boat to plane quicker and lift higher. Both the engineers and craftsmen at NauticStar are rich in boat-building knowledge. They pride themselves on separating boats that what will simply work to making those that will work exceptionally well. DEEP VEE WITH REVERSE CHINE This hull is exactly how it sounds. It's a Deep Vee with a two-corner chine, which means before the bottom of the boat meets the side; it forms an upside- down V-shape which deflects spray away from the boat and offers greater stability at rest. When cruising around, the reverse chine helps with responsive turning at a higher speed. While most boaters appreciate the drier rider, there has been some complaint about the additional noise of the chine continuously hitting the water while the boat is at rest. Knowing that reverse chine hull designs are built for performance-enhancing lift, efficiency and agility might make a small noise setback worth it. EXTENDED V-PLANE HULL In 1965 when Chaparral boats began, it was a small fiberglass boating operation. Now they have over a million satisfied customers and countless boating awards. All of these things are due in no small part to the hands-on leadership of their company and their mission to always keep achieving better results in everything they do, including hull design. "We have been using our Extended V-Plane design for many years," said Chaparral representative Christopher Gates. "However, we are constantly improving the shape of the bottom to increase efficiency, speed and comfort." Extended V-Plane moves the propulsion point, where the stern drive meets the transom, forward of the aft running surface. This added length acts like a trim tab, allowing the boat to stay on plane at slower speeds with improved fuel economy. The longer running surface also bridges the waves better, which produces a softer ride in rough conditions and tracks better in tight turns. "You won't find a quicker planing V-bottom boat," said Gates. "No matter how many passengers are on our boats, you'll enjoy added stability while wakeboarding, diving, fishing or swimming." Quicker planning time is important for water sport activities. Extended V-Plane design allows the boat to plane quicker and stay on plane at slower speeds for an efficient ride when wakeboarding. Safety is also extremely important to Chaparral. Its hull bottoms are consistent in tight turns, making them dependable in the event you need to dodge an obstruction. MODIFIED DIHEDRAL VEE HULL Starcraft Marine began back in 1903 and is still run today by the same family. Founder Harold Schrock helped pioneer the boating industry with innovative designs in both aluminum fishing boats and fiberglass deck boats. One of their greatest engineering feats is their Modified Dihedral Vee Hull. This revolutionary deck boat hull design virtually eliminates rough ride and rocking motion, while air injection vents provide a smooth, dry and stable trip that any rider could appreciate. Dihedral in the planing hull world is a term used to describe a deeper Vee down the centerline with two outer sponsons with reversed chines. These work together to eliminate side-to-side rocking and tendency to tip. This hull was specifically designed for a smooth ride in rough water. While you throttle up, you will quickly climb onto plane and have essentially no bow rise restricting visibility at the helm. These vented chines assist with lift. 38 PDB Mag www.pdbmagazine.com