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
| parameter | value or range | source |
|---|---|---|
| Performance gain | roughly 8-12% | BoatTest |
| Worthwhile above (30 ft boat) | about 35 knots | BoatTest |
| Early hydro step | 75 mm step, 2/3 aft | Wikipedia (Hydroplane) |
Where the files are
Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.
| BoatTest | Watch your step (stepped hulls) | web | Publisher's page; dimensions are facts |
| Wikipedia | Hydroplane (boat) | web | Publisher'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-hull | stepped hull, 585 × 181 mm, deadrise 22°, 2 steps (sections illustrative, scale to your boat) | STEP · STL |
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.Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=stepped-hull

Fits with
Questions
Why must steps breathe?
Without air the step face creates suction and drag rises sharply (BoatTest).





