Library › Boat design › Hull types ·

Stepped hull

How does a stepped hull make a boat faster? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: step hull, ventilated step, stepped bottom boat, rc stepped hull, hull steps, two step hull, stepped vee, stepped hull speed

Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.

sizes
3 in table

Notes

  • Steps break the planing bottom into several high-pressure leading edges, reducing wetted area and friction drag. Each step must be ventilated, or the step face stays wet and drag rises (BoatTest).
  • Steps can add roughly 8-12% performance but are not worthwhile at low planing speeds, about 35 knots for a 30 ft boat. Poor designs can hook in turns (BoatTest).
  • Twin steps tolerate CG variation better than a single step (BoatTest).
  • Used on: White Iveco (Fabio Buzzi, 1984).
  • The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Reference RC mono: 585 mm length and 20 deg transom deadrise (SV Design Stealthwake data); 181 mm is an unlabelled width in the same source's deadrise diagram.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.

Stepped hull size chart

parametervalue or rangesource
Performance gainroughly 8-12%BoatTest
Worthwhile above (30 ft boat)about 35 knotsBoatTest
Early hydro step75 mm step, 2/3 aftWikipedia (Hydroplane)

Where the files are

Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.

BoatTestWatch your step (stepped hulls)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts
WikipediaHydroplane (boat)webPublisher's page; dimensions are facts

Free files

★ Free files 1 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json

stepped-hull-hullstepped hull, 585 × 181 mm, deadrise 22°, 2 steps (sections illustrative, scale to your boat)STEP · STL
Let your AI pull this. Add https://xemstudio.com/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client (free, no account, one minute) and it can look up exact sizes, mating fits and free STEP/STL from every chat.
Set it up →

Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=stepped-hull

Stepped hull, isometric render of a generated part
Render of stepped-hull-hull from the free STEP; not to scale.

Fits with

Questions

Why must steps breathe?

Without air the step face creates suction and drag rises sharply (BoatTest).