I am a new owner and am questioning the "Max Hull Speed" for my H23 Racer. I have read that statistically the max speed is 5.9 KTS. I am preparing to take the boat out for the first time. However, I am wondering what kind of speed can I expect. 6 KTS seems very slow. Thanks!
Max Hull Speed
- Thread starter Grant C.
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It depends.
A theorical hull speed of 5.9 knots is very impressive for a 23 feet boat. I worked the formula "square root of the waterline length of 20 feet which is 4.47 x 1.34 = 5.9898. The factor of 1.34 is applied to all boats with different hull configurations and although it probably will not be an exact representation of your boat it will yield a close enough figure. The boat can exceed this speed when surfing down a wave. Mind that we are talking about speed over the water as speed over land is a different consideration. You ask what speed can you expect and I would guess that with winds of 10-15 and seas of 2-4 you could probably do 5.5 knots which would be very respectable. You can beat larger boats in light air and they will leave you in their wake in heavy air. If you are cruising towards a destination you can use currents to your advantage. A following two knots current will give you a speed over land of 2+ your speed over water, so if you are doing 5.5 over water you could be doing 7.5 towards your destination. The inverse would be a speed of 3.5 if you are sailing against the current. Don't despair because when you are sailing upwind on a brisk breeze it will feel like you are flying. Welcome to sailboats.
A theorical hull speed of 5.9 knots is very impressive for a 23 feet boat. I worked the formula "square root of the waterline length of 20 feet which is 4.47 x 1.34 = 5.9898. The factor of 1.34 is applied to all boats with different hull configurations and although it probably will not be an exact representation of your boat it will yield a close enough figure. The boat can exceed this speed when surfing down a wave. Mind that we are talking about speed over the water as speed over land is a different consideration. You ask what speed can you expect and I would guess that with winds of 10-15 and seas of 2-4 you could probably do 5.5 knots which would be very respectable. You can beat larger boats in light air and they will leave you in their wake in heavy air. If you are cruising towards a destination you can use currents to your advantage. A following two knots current will give you a speed over land of 2+ your speed over water, so if you are doing 5.5 over water you could be doing 7.5 towards your destination. The inverse would be a speed of 3.5 if you are sailing against the current. Don't despair because when you are sailing upwind on a brisk breeze it will feel like you are flying. Welcome to sailboats.
The basic formula...
...for calculating hull speed is: 1.34 * SQR(LWL) This is a very close approximation of hull speed.
...for calculating hull speed is: 1.34 * SQR(LWL) This is a very close approximation of hull speed.
You want speed?
Buy a Cigarette boat. Going 6 kts in a small sail boat, with the rail down, is a rush for me.
Buy a Cigarette boat. Going 6 kts in a small sail boat, with the rail down, is a rush for me.
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