The Elements of Powerboat Design

"The Elements of Powerboat Design" makes available to the recreational boater the insight and methods of an accomplished naval architect. Roger Marshall walks the reader through the powerboat design process, from first choices such as hull type, to the subtle adjustments that create a comfortable interior or a beautiful hull. The organization of the book mirrors the design process itself. Chapter 1 addresses the fundamental question of how intended use dictates hull type. Powerboat hulls can be optimized for high speed through flat or rough water, for moderate speed with fuel efficiency, or for long-distance voyaging. Marshall explains what distinguishes a planning boat from a displacement boat, and examines the middle ground of semi-displacement hulls. Hull type leads directly to choices of engine and drive train (Chapters 2 and 3). These first determinations in turn influence building methods, performance, and the steering, mechanical, and electrical systems used aboard (Chapters 4-7). And together all of these elements contribute to - or detract from - the complex attributes known as safety, seaworthiness, performance, comfort, and beauty (Chapters 8-13).