Tri-hull verus V-hull

[Stumpys]

Which is better for performance, getting on plane, turning, and speed? I have heard so many different stories that a v-hull is better to have. <br /><br />Mine of course is a tri-hull, which does do a great job for fishing, but I would like your opinion.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Tri-hulls are more stable, but rougher ride in choppy water. V hulls cut wake and choppy water better, but you have a little more roll as in pitch-n-roll. My aging legs prefer a more stable platform. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Depends on the individual tri-hull. Some manufacturers built their tri-hulls Boston Whaler style, with not much in the way of deadrise in the center portion of the hull. This made for a slappy ride. Other manufacturers built huge deadrise in the center section, so the boat rides like a V hull when planing, but is stable at rest. Click my link and look at my project. My hull is an almost extreme version with 24 degrees deadrise at the transom. It rides as well if not better than a V hull, still banks in turns, but at rest it is very stable.<br /><br />Also, a tri-hull is heavier, so you won't break any speed records, but they can be quite durable and for their length they offer much more room. If you find the right hull, you will be happy.

 

[Stumpys]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

It's just that all boats I see sold here in KC are all V-hulls, so I asked the dealers why and they said that tri-hulls just aren't as good as V-hulls<br /><br />As you say, mine is very rough in choppy water, but when fishing, it's also stable in wakes. My 65hp does good job, but I still prefer speed.<br /><br />Huh, I seem to want the best of both worlds...<br /><br />Thanks for your input...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Go with a Mod-V and have the best of both worlds

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

With a few exceptions you don't see tri-hulls being made any more. There are deck boats being made that despite what they call it, in the end they are tri-hulls, as well as a few ski/wakeboard boats that have a vauge tri-hull-iness about them. A well made tri-hull can be as good as a V hull, but the thing is that they are not as sexy as a V hull. When most people think of a tri-hull, they think of their uncles avacado green 16 footer with matching avacado interior. People want the new sexy thing. You would have to look for used boats to get a tri-hull. Mod-V is also quite uncomfortable, I would choose that format last unless used in mostly calm waters. Boats are being made wider now-a-days, and that adds greatly to stability despite being V hulls. Its the skinny V hulls that are tippy as all getout.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

I have had both. What is best for you depends on the kind of water you typically boat in and what you want a boat to do for you. If you live on the coast as I do and frequently go in moderate to rough water the V hull will ride better and allow you to be up on plane when the cathederal hull will be pounding you silly. On the other hand if you boat in lakes that are relatively calm then the cathederal hull might be the one for you.

 

[2MADAKAT]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

I had a 15' Aquarian bowrider with a trihull that<br />had a main V at front and two side ones set back.<br />This boat handled rough water amazingly well and<br />was very stable.<br />I also had a 16' Tempest bowrider with the "W"<br />type trihull. This boat was great for fishing inland lakes as it had a very wide bow area. The downside was it rode hard in even as little as a 1' chop. And it also "shoveled" water into the bow if I had people riding up front in wavy water.<br />You have to decide what your primary use of the boat is, and where you are planning on using it.<br />Also keep in mind that it is MUCH harder to sell the trihull in comparison to a V-hull.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Mod-V is also quite uncomfortable, I would choose that format last unless used in mostly calm waters.

Seems funny given that the mod-V is the hull of choice for most of the "Carolina" built inshore boats.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Mod-V is the choice because it gives a shallow draft so they can slide into very shallow water. They can trim the motor up and literaly draw a few inches of water. They suck up the poor ride for the benefits of a shallow draft.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Both Parker and Grady White make extensive use of the mod-V in their boats becouse of the stabilty it brings while slow trolling and at drift. The Cheaspeake Bay and the surrounding waterways are filled with mod-v hulls for just this reason. V2 hull

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Those are nice, but they are not mod-v hulls. A mod-v is flat or near flat at transom and graduates to a sharpened entry at the bow with increasing amounts of deadrise from keel to chines as you move from transom to bow. That is why they can be uncomfortable to ride in while encountering chop, but they are much more stable than a true V hull (which starts at around 18-ish degrees of deadrise at transom), and they plane out much more quickly and require less horsepower than a true V hull.

 

[Stumpys]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

Thanks for all the feed back on this! <br /><br />I understand about how everyone now has to have the V hull due to looks, but other than finding it hard to plane out and riding rough, it is perfect for fishing out of even though it is classified as a fish & ski. <br /><br />Smithville lake here in Kansas City seems to be everyone's choice for boating, so it gets really busy and makes it for a really rough ride when you want to just putt around or fish. I really hate to get rid of her cause she is a really nice boat for a 1980, but I just hate going out on the water whe it is really busy.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Tri-hull verus V-hull

I feel your pain. My previous boat, an early 60s 'glass runabout was a mod-v with near flatness at the transom. Unless the water was flat calm or 6 inch or less chop, it was miserable to get anywhere in. Now I can blow through heavy chop, confused water, and boat wakes at whatever speed I want. I catch air off the really big stuff, but that is something I do rarely.