All About Powerboats: Understanding Design and Performance (Paperback)

by Roger Marshall (Author) "WHAT IS THE BEST hull shape for a powerboat?..." (more)
Key Phrases: centerline keel, chined hulls, deadrise angle, Wellcraft Marine, Mercury Marine, Miss Budweiser (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
What's the difference between a deep-vee hull and a modified vee? A planing hull and a displacement hull? Find the answers to these and scores of other frequently asked questions in All About Powerboats. Writing for any boater seeking a better understanding of modern powerboat design and handling, author Roger Marshall provides a well-illustrated, clear introduction to small powerboats (18 to 30 feet long) from the perspective of use. His practical advice on hull shape, engines, construction methods, steering systems, comfort, and safety gives today's boaters a thorough grounding in powerboat selection, use, and lore.

From the Back Cover
"Clear, insightful, easy to understand. This book is a must for powerboaters."--Bill Sisson, editor, Soundings

"Roger Marshall shares three decades of accumulated boating knowledge so you can cut years off your learning curve!"--Dean Clarke, executive editor, Sport Fishing

Your plain-language guide to powerboat design and performance

What's the difference between a modified-V and a deep-V hull? Or a planing hull and a displacement hull?

Why does boat A have flared topsides and not boat B?

How can I tell if a boat is adequately powered?

How do I judge a boat's seaworthiness just by looking at it?

What are the advantages or disadvantages of twin engines or a stern drive?

Get answers to these and all your questions about powerboat design and performance in All about Powerboats.

If you want to know what makes a boat fast, slow, stable, unstable, seaworthy, comfortable, or ideal for the things you want it to do, here's a perfect place to start. Longtime boat designer Roger Marshall tells you what you need to know about hull design, engines, drive trains, steering systems, comfort factors, safety features, and construction methods. He translates the jargon, explains the key concepts, and offers a wealth of insights into what makes powerboats tick.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (March 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071362045
• ISBN-13: 978-0071362047
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #467,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn how hull shapes affect performance, January 5, 2007

By	John S. Kasper (North Yorkshire ,UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are thinking about building a boat from plans, or even designing a boat on your own, it's important to understand how the shape of a hull moves through the water. This book gives an in depth, non-mathematical description of hull performance.

It covers many hull shapes and describes ideal conditions and speeds for each type. This is a must-have for anyone seriously thinking about building a boat. It will give you a better appreciation of the boat that is really right for you. And, for the price, you can't go wrong!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not for everyone ... a good thing, July 24, 2007

By	mark twain too "bookminder" (grinnell, iowa) - See all my reviews

this book is for serious, but not too serious, boaters. for me it opened the door to understanding why certain hull designs do diffeent things, why different marine engine technologies offer different advantages and disadvantages. I wish I had read it before I bought my first boat. But then again, now I know enough to appreciate the depth of understanding on the pages of this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very recommendable, March 20, 2006

By	Jorge G. Athie Alvedra "Jorge G Athie A" (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is a very interesting book, for people begining in the boat field.
Very easy to understand, without technical fireworks.
I strongly recommend it for beginers or not technical background persons