Beam vs. Ride

I have a quick question.
In all of my boating years, I have always found that the wider the beam of a boat (sportfishermen), the better it rode (ie. pounded less) better than an equally LOA baot with a narrower beam. has anyone else experienced this? and is there a mathmatical or physical property that supports this?
Blue heron

In my 67 years I have found just the opposite. How can a designer ever build us ( you and I ) the perfect boat?

[intrepid71]

Originally Posted by Blue heron

I have a quick question.
In all of my boating years, I have always found that the wider the beam of a boat (sportfishermen), the better it rode (ie. pounded less) better than an equally LOA baot with a narrower beam. has anyone else experienced this? and is there a mathmatical or physical property that supports this?
Blue heron

I'm afraid the theory and mathematics would suggest the opposite, with all other characteristics being equal, the narrow hull should ride better than the wide hull. Since it would be a very rare thing to have two boats with everything identical except the beam it is very difficult to make an accurate assement of the relationship of beam to seakeeping based on one's boating experience. The only way to do it is with models in a towing tank, where a fair and accurate comparison can be made. My guess is that the wider boats that you have ridden on have also been heavier boats than the narrow ones. The increased weight will likely trump an increase in beam when it comes to harsh pounding.

Best ride in rough water is still a nuke submarine. Storms, dive a little. I know, no excitement left.

[Tim B]

someone's ignoring the subtleties of the hull-shape, particularly the bow-sections, Also. Intrepid is correct, weight will have a bearing on the subject.

Cheers,

Tim B.

[ChrisF]

I'm with Tim on the hull-shape subtleties thing. To get adequate lift to plane well, narrow hulls tend to need flatter slammier sections, while soft-landing deep deadrise hulls benefit from beam.

[Raggi_Thor]

The wider boats that "Blue Heron" experienced may have been much heavier than the narrower ones. A heavy boat has a softer ride than a light one.

[B. Hamm]

Dive alot, storms are not just on the surface of the ocean.

Bill H.

[AlaskaFisherman]

In my 55 years of life and in geeneral everyday/ all kinds of use boating - I will say wider is always better if you have the turning room.