The Captain - Innovision Boats Editorial - Issue 33

PLUMB CRAZY

“Even though the plumb bow is still an oddity in Australasian waters, Simon points out that in Europe, the design goes back to the late 19th century. “It lengthens the waterline of the boat so you can get a bit wider in the back, which increases the stability,” he says. “It fines up your entry so going into head chop, it cuts more into the wave and your hydrodynamic lift isn’t as great — so when you cut in you get that extra lift from the buoyancy, then the hydrodynamic lift and then the lift off the chines. With a conventional bow you get the buoyancy and hydrodynamic lift at the same time, which is why a raked bow lifts higher and comes down harder. With the plumb bow the pitch is a lot less.”