T&T: Downeast hull

[John Baker]

Jim,
   
       I honestly don't know what constitutes a "downeast hull" or if there is any particular formula for one.  I do have a Mainship Pilot 30 which Mainship claims to have been designed after the lobsterboat....but we all know what that may mean.  The general design is that it IS a semi-displacement/planing hull with a very deep fine bow entry with no lifting surface for at least the first half of the boat.  And then it flattens out to provide the lift needed to (semi)plane.
       The main advantage of this design is that if cuts thru the chop instead of going over it and pounding on the downside.  I cannot sit here and tell you I have had it out in "hairy conditions" but I do boat on Galveston Bay so in the short steep stuff it does very well.  I have never heard or felt it pound...because there are no flat surfaces on the front end of the hull.  It always provides a very soft landing and a very very decent ride.  That is the main reason people may choose this design versus a pure planing hull.
       The disadvatages:  it is a wet ride.  By definition, since you are generally going THROUGH the chop instead of OVER it, you are parting the water and throwing it off to the side.  If there is any sort of crosswind component, that water is thrown back across the boat.  The windshield wipers are not a luxury, they are a necessity and get used very much.  Another disadvantage is the hull has a tendency to bow steer in certain conditions...usually in a following sea.  Since the bow entry is so fine with no buoyancy while there is plenty of buoyancy in the stern, the bow has a tendency to sink and dig into the water.  Trim tabs help to alleviate this problem.  My boat has the 240hp Yanmar....many people have the 315hp one and have complainded of instability at higher speeds where the stern is lifting to a point where the bow starts to steer the boat(above about 18kts)....it just wobbles a bit.  Hope some of this helps.
   
  Trawler on,
  John

       
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