Is Semi-Displacement Hull better than Deep V Hull ?

Boater On Thames

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Saw a Trader 50 has a semi displacement hull. Then I remember read an old thread about an old member who sold his Fairline Squadron 59 Drumbeat to buy a Trader just because he wants the semi-displacement hull. That makes me ask: is the Semi Displacement hull better than the Deep V hull? Thanks.

Edit: Let's say for cruising at sea and coastal area cruising.
 
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That; semi-d generally offers a softer ride in extreme conditions at a cost of more rolling, less hull volume and greater drag, deep vee gives the opposite. This is a generalisation though.

What about a Semi-D with a Seakeeper?

Although very expensive would that would counter the roll issue?

?
 
Having owned eight planing boats and two semi displacements and enjoyed them all, I reflect that I now prefer semi displacement, particularly when fitted with stabilisers. They also have the benefit of lower fuel costs compared with planing boats at their designed cruising speed.

Having said that, I came across semi displacement late in my boating life when life was generally more sedate. I did enjoy haring around in sports cruisers in my boating youth.
 
For leisure boats, I found almost all the popular brands are using Deep V, such as Princess, Fairline, Sunseeker, Sealine, Jeanneau, etc. But only a few brands are using semi displacements, such as Trader and Grand Banks. Why?
 
For leisure boats, I found almost all the popular brands are using Deep V, such as Princess, Fairline, Sunseeker, Sealine, Jeanneau, etc. But only a few brands are using semi displacements, such as Trader and Grand Banks. Why?

There are dozens of motorcycle manufacturers making sports bikes, but only Harley Davidson making Harley Davidsons...Not better, not worse, just appealing to a smaller target audience who prefer slow & steady.
 
For leisure boats, I found almost all the popular brands are using Deep V, such as Princess, Fairline, Sunseeker, Sealine, Jeanneau, etc. But only a few brands are using semi displacements, such as Trader and Grand Banks. Why?

Yeah it does seem to limit the market but i guess it better to focus on what your good at instead of being a jack of all trades. Someone told me that Semi-D is the best of both worlds

I do think that more boat manufacturers will start doing Semi-D boats because of the advancement of engines and technology etc

Sunseeker are currently building the Semi-D Ocean range of superyachts

Absolute yachts are probably the only company that does a Deep-V & Semi-D version of all their boats

Absolute Yachts, the Italian company specializing in building luxury yachts.

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Because it is not sexy if you can only do 14 knots.
I don't know about not sexy but if a 42 trader needs say 800hp to cruise at 14knts a 42 ft deep vee will be doing 25knts, admittedly not in the same conditions but with more speed you will be safely tucked up in a berth while the Semi-d is still out there slugging it out.
 
I don't know about not sexy but if a 42 trader needs say 800hp to cruise at 14knts a 42 ft deep vee will be doing 25knts, admittedly not in the same conditions but with more speed you will be safely tucked up in a berth while the Semi-d is still out there slugging it out.
Confirms exactly what I said. A lot of people need to be able to do 25 knots.
 
Confirms exactly what I said. A lot of people need to be able to do 25 knots.

When i was assessing what sort of boat i wanted i did it (wrongly or rightly) by how long i wanted to spend on a boat.

Planing Hull = 1-2 days
Semi-Displacement = Week +
Displacement = Month +

As i wanted to spend longer than a weekend on my boat but still wanted a bit of performance and comfort then i opted for a Semi-Displacement

I wouldve bought an Absolute ❤ by now but they use IPS engines and where i will be using my boat can have a lot of large logs and debris after hurricane season so its a bit of a risk.

The lovely people on this board warned me of the dangers and i took it into account.

So im still undecided. I'll probably get a V-Hull Flybridge (Shafts Drive/V-Drive) for a few years while i gain experience and then get a Semi-D later on

(y)
 
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Saw a Trader 50 has a semi displacement hull. Then I remember read an old thread about an old member who sold his Fairline Squadron 59 Drumbeat to buy a Trader just because he wants the semi-displacement hull. That makes me ask: is the Semi Displacement hull better than the Deep V hull? Thanks.

Edit: Let's say for cruising at sea and coastal area cruising.
Its like asking "what's better, a Rolls Royce or a Porsche?".

It depends entirely what you plan on using the boat for.

Just bear in mind that travelling long distances by motor cruiser isn't a particularly enjoyable experience and that's why most people probably have a cruising that's no more than 100 miles of their home base.
 
Its like asking "what's better, a Rolls Royce or a Porsche?".

It depends entirely what you plan on using the boat for.

Just bear in mind that travelling long distances by motor cruiser isn't a particularly enjoyable experience and that's why most people probably have a cruising that's no more than 100 miles of their home base.
Agree .
Just a point of order a “ deep V “ in those that know is over 20 degrees dead rise .
Lets not confuse Sunseekers , Priny s , FL s fly bridges .They are planing but not deep V or semi D .
They are medium V s .

Adding from experience , we have spent 3 weeks + stints on a planing boat both a normal medium v sports boat Sunseeker and my current deep V .
Stability running is gained by speed , no rolly polly wet ride .Speed = dryness as the splash is outrun it lands on the rear aspect not in the middle where pax are sat comfortable .

Local weather + climatic conditions are worth investigating where you wanna boat .
Eg in the AM in the Med there is often a calm window of a 2/3 hrs before the wind gets up .But to do 100 miles in 3 hrs is a a nice imho option .

As far as semi D and planing , it’s down to Hp .You need a lot of Hp to cruise in the 30-40 knot range .
This costs in terms of boat space and buying the things in + ancillaries like tanks + strainers+ shafts , props to match them .

Out running weather is a nice option as well .Unless you have done it’s hard to explain but essentially opens up more passage planning options .
We were once anchored up Porquerolles way ( Bouba stamping ground when his boats actually in the water :D )
Nice dsy etc but mistral started to blow up from the W .No issues as we were under a lee cliff .
6 pm geny on evening meal prepping etc etc .All eaten and packed up by 7-30 pm ( Mid June ) waves in the bay getting bigger huge white horses washing down E .
Our boat starting to swing on anchor with the inevitable buffeting and yachties arriving anchoring a bit close as “ room at the inn “ was running out .
Oh 8ugger it we are off .
Up anchor and 8 pm set off albeit down wind to do 60 + miles back to Cannes .
Wind and waves such you dissapeared in the troughs and went up steep crests etc .
30 knots and surfed it back for 10 pm just in time to turn the nav lights on .The weather increasing to F8 behind us .
Far better to be port bound next day with a hire car and a Hollie blowing out @ sea , than stuck swinging about praying a yachie is not gonna drag into you or a midnight arrival does not smack into you shiny polished gel coat .

You just could not do that in a 14 knot D semi planer without the large risk of a broach , .The mountainous sea running faster and a crest picking up the round stern and turning it .
 
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Agree .
Just a point of order a “ deep V “ in those that know is over 20 degrees dead rise .
Lets not confuse Sunseekers , Priny s , FL s fly bridges .They are planing but not deep V or semi D .
They are medium V s .

Adding from experience , we have spent 3 weeks + stints on a planing boat both a normal medium v sports boat Sunseeker and my current deep V .
Stability running is gained by speed , no rolly polly wet ride .Speed = dryness as the splash is outrun it lands on the rear aspect not in the middle where pax are sat comfortable .

Local weather + climatic conditions are worth investigating where you wanna boat .
Eg in the AM in the Med there is often a calm window of a 2/3 hrs before the wind gets up .But to do 100 miles in 3 hrs is a a nice imho option .

As far as semi D and planing , it’s down to Hp .You need a lot of Hp to cruise in the 30-40 knot range .
This costs in terms of boat space and buying the things in + ancillaries like tanks + strainers+ shafts , props to match them .

Out running weather is a nice option as well .Unless you have done it’s hard to explain but essentially opens up more passage planning options .
We were once anchored up Porquerolles way ( Bouba stamping ground when his boats actually in the water :D )
Nice dsy etc but mistral started to blow up from the W .No issues as we were under a lee cliff .
6 pm geny on evening meal prepping etc etc .All eaten and packed up by 7-30 pm ( Mid June ) waves in the bay getting bigger huge white horses washing down E .
Our boat starting to swing on anchor with the inevitable buffeting and yachties arriving anchoring a bit close as “ room at the inn “ was running out .
Oh 8ugger it we are off .
Up anchor and 8 pm set off albeit down wind to do 60 + miles back to Cannes .
Wind and waves such you dissapeared in the troughs and went up steep crests etc .
30 knots and surfed it back for 10 pm just in time to turn the nav lights back .The weather increasing to F8 behind us .
Far better to be port bound next day with a hire car and a Hollie blowing out @ sea , than stuck swinging about praying a yachie is not gonna drag into you or a midnight arrival does not smack into you shiny polished gel coat .

You just could not do that in a 14 knot D semi planer without the large risk of a broach , .The mountainous sea running faster and a crest picking up the round stern and turning it .
I have a diesel leak that I’m busy trying to trace......hopefully it will be an early season start for me???
 
Yeah it does seem to limit the market but i guess it better to focus on what your good at instead of being a jack of all trades. Someone told me that Semi-D is the best of both worlds

I do think that more boat manufacturers will start doing Semi-D boats because of the advancement of engines and technology etc

Sunseeker are currently building the Semi-D Ocean range of superyachts

Absolute yachts are probably the only company that does a Deep-V & Semi-D version of all their boats

Absolute Yachts, the Italian company specializing in building luxury yachts.

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Er Nope no deep V ^^^^ .
More like low V not even medium.
Theres no info i could find in the two trials of the 58 .Every other number except dead rise .
But the big marketing BS alarm is the IPS ….it’s gotta be flat at the back , the mounting pads for the pods .
Otherwise if you were to rip out my motors in my 23 degree deadrise and install VP IPS on that degree of V the thrust vectors when turning would roll the boat ….badly .Marina manoeuvres , parking it would tip everything off a table and open lockers etc .
You know the ECU / joystick decides just to swing one pod and give it revs , say the wind blows etc .

Sticking pods on deep V or more accurately a medium v ( below 20*degrees ) facing straight Fwds works .
But once you start the fancy parking malarky the steep inclined plane of un toward thrust vectors takes over .

Aside the gear boxes would lean inwards and nut each other in the ER in any other than a pretty shallow dead rise.Low V .

Floating apartments is a more accurate term .NOT deep V that’s a hilariously term .
 
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