jamesjermain
Well-Known Member
Very good analysis, Robin. I'd only add one point which others have not mentioned and which is a bit of a hobbyhorse of mine (sorry about the pun), and that is depth of forefoot.
Slamming only occurs if the forward section of the bow becomes airborn. If your bow is deep and v-shaped and remains in the water it won't slam. The softest ride of any boat I can remember was the Najad 370 of the early 90s, if I remember correctly. It had a very deep, gently curved bow with deep foresections. I drove that boat into the most appaling seas off Ramsgate and she took it all in her stride with the gentlest of nodding. A decent bit of displacement helps as does keeping the weight central.
There is actually another attribute that can cause slamming without the forefoot clearing the water and that is the flat bow panels of designs such as the Contessa 32 and my old Pioneer 10. Even if the bow remains emersed, solid water crashing into the leeward panel as the boat comes off the top of a wave can be quite alarming - and on the Pioneer, the reinforcing in that area was not brilliant
Slamming only occurs if the forward section of the bow becomes airborn. If your bow is deep and v-shaped and remains in the water it won't slam. The softest ride of any boat I can remember was the Najad 370 of the early 90s, if I remember correctly. It had a very deep, gently curved bow with deep foresections. I drove that boat into the most appaling seas off Ramsgate and she took it all in her stride with the gentlest of nodding. A decent bit of displacement helps as does keeping the weight central.
There is actually another attribute that can cause slamming without the forefoot clearing the water and that is the flat bow panels of designs such as the Contessa 32 and my old Pioneer 10. Even if the bow remains emersed, solid water crashing into the leeward panel as the boat comes off the top of a wave can be quite alarming - and on the Pioneer, the reinforcing in that area was not brilliant
