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Radio Control Boats - Styles of Hulls

By: Brad Banion

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The next substantial decision is which kind of radio controlled boat hull to select. If you're setting up a scale project, your preference will apparently be determined by the full-size boat you would like to model. But sport, racing and sailing boat hull types show very unusual personality. In general, there are two hull classifications: monoplane and hydroplane.

MONOPLANES
Monoplane hulls contain one continuous surface in contact with the water. Monoplane hulls can be separated into 2 subcategories: deep-V's and shallow-V's.

Deep-V's. A large amount monoplane hulls are deep-V's. This traditional design brings the keel to a sharp point well below the surface of the water. The underside of the boat is angled upward steeply toward the hull's sides, resulting in a radio controlled boat that knifes through the water with a comparatively large wetted surface area. This style of hull is stable at all speeds and provides sharper steering reaction. The downside is that the additional hull surface that contacts the water causes drag that limits top speed. Still, as well as the right power system and proper fine-tuning, these radio controlled boats are plenty fast—especially for the beginner.

Shallow-V's are the faster of the two monoplane types because they operate with a lesser amount of surface area in contact with the water. The shallower keel vee-angle produces a flatter bottom that causes less drag. The downside is that not as much of contact with the water means a reduced amount of stability, so they are more challenging to control and require more accurate trimming. Shallow-vees are very popular for entry-level racing, the so-called Crackerboxes being the most common.

HYDROPLANES
Hydroplanes possess more than one surface in contact with the water. They include tunnel hulls, catamarans, outriggers and stepped hydros.

Tunnelhulls are most often associated with full-size racing boats. They get their designation from the raised center part of the hull. Two outer sections (sponsons) sit in the water with a “tunnel” between them. As the boat gains momentum, air builds up in this tunnel and raises the boat higher out of the water; this reduces the surface area that contacts the water. This means less drag and higher speeds, while the relatively wide spacing of the sponsons maintains stability. This design provides a superior balance of speed and handling for beginners.

Catamarans (cats) work on the similar principle as tunnelhulls and fluctuate only in profile . They have more steeply angled sponsons—much like deep-vee monos with a tunnel along the center. A catamarns tunnel tends to be taller and narrower than a tunnelhull's, so it takes longer to preserve stability. These also, are a good beginner model.

Outriggers are at the top of the performance ladder; their sponsons and main hull are separate pieces. This improves the airflow at high speeds, so outriggers are the fastest radio controlled boats; a number of even run at more than 90 mph! The disadvantage is that they're designed to work best at full throttle. At slow speeds, they sit too low in the water and don't handle well. Also, they are the least forgiving when it comes to setting the trim.

Stepped hydroplane hulls have notches perpendicular to the centerline that separate the wetted surface into two or more sections. These notches get the radio controlled boat up on step quicker, and that improves performance. At speed, these notches decrease the wetted area, reducing drag. This hull type includes a diverse group, from plain deep-vees with small steps in the hull, to three-point hydro racers such as the full-size Miss Budweiser turbine-powered, unlimited hydroplane. At full speed, three-point hydros travel on 2 tiny areas of the forward sponsons and the centrally located propeller at the back.

Any way you look at it radio controlled boats are a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Take the time to enjoy the hobby and spend time with your family and friends.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

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