Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Myth

Belkin · 05-02-2007, 07:50 PM

I am still a little confused as to what myth they are trying to bust:

That a boat could split on a channel marker?

Or

That a boat could split on a channel marker while only going 25 knots?

One thing that is clearly missing is the affect of the water. Hulls are designed to go straight through the water and not sideways. Even if the boat did not hit the channel marker perfectly head on, the flow of the water would prevent it from moving off to the side quickly enough to avoid penetrating the hull. Testing it without having the boat moving through the water is just the wrong approach. If you assume that the boat was moving 25 knots and you also assume that the point of the boat comes to a 60 degree double angle (30 degrees off the center line), the boat would have to pivot and / or slide sideways at 12.5 knots (i.e. sine of 30 degrees = 0.5). Trying to instantly pull the front of boat going forward through the water at 12.5 knots would require a lot of force. Quite possibly, more force than the hull could withstand. Or, I could be all wet.

05-02-2007, 07:50 PM	#33
Belkin Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 33 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	What myth is busted? I am still a little confused as to what myth they are trying to bust: That a boat could split on a channel marker? Or That a boat could split on a channel marker while only going 25 knots? One thing that is clearly missing is the affect of the water. Hulls are designed to go straight through the water and not sideways. Even if the boat did not hit the channel marker perfectly head on, the flow of the water would prevent it from moving off to the side quickly enough to avoid penetrating the hull. Testing it without having the boat moving through the water is just the wrong approach. If you assume that the boat was moving 25 knots and you also assume that the point of the boat comes to a 60 degree double angle (30 degrees off the center line), the boat would have to pivot and / or slide sideways at 12.5 knots (i.e. sine of 30 degrees = 0.5). Trying to instantly pull the front of boat going forward through the water at 12.5 knots would require a lot of force. Quite possibly, more force than the hull could withstand. Or, I could be all wet.