Stepped boat hull

Abstract

According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a boat hull that is an improvement over the state-of-the-art stepped hull. More particularly, in contrast to prior art designs, the instant steps are specifically constructed to have an opening/air passage situated on the side of each step. The air passage will be preferably placed on the side of the step closest to the surface of the water or farthest away from the keel of the boar. This feature tends to introduce more air under the boat, thereby reducing water drag on the hull and improving its overall performance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for reducing the drag between a hull of a vessel and the water through which the vessel is moving, said vessel having a bow end and a stern, said apparatus comprising:
 (a) at least one step positionable to be affixed to the hull of the vessel in an orientation that is transverse to a centerline of the boat, wherein
 (i) each of said at least one step extends at least partly across a width of said hull transverse to a center line of said hull, 
 (ii) each of said at least one step is substantially below the water line when the vessel is not in motion, and, 
 (iii) each of said at least one step step has
 (1) an internal void in fluid communication with the water through which the vessel moves, 
 (2) at least one side aperture on a side of said step furthest from a centerline of the vessel, and at least one side aperture within a stern-facing face of said step, said side aperture and said stern-facing aperture being in fluid communication with each other at least through said internal void, and 
 
 (iv) at least one of said at least one side aperture is above the water at least intermittently when the vessel is in motion. 
   
     
     
         2 . A stepped boat hull having at least one step forming at least a portion of a lower surface of said hull, said hull having at least a bow and a stern, each of said at least one step being oriented transverse to a longitudinal centerline of said hull and extending at least partially across a width of said hull, each of said at least one step being substantially below the waterline when said hull is at rest in the water and being above the waterline at least intermittently when the hull is moving through the water, at least one of said at least one step comprising;
 (a) a substantially solid lower surface, said lower surface forming at least a portion of a lower surface of said hull;   (b) a substantially solid upper surface internal to said step;   (c) a side remote from said hull center line, said side containing at least one aperture therein, said at least one aperture being situated to acquire air when the boat is in motion; and,   (d) a substantially vertical rearward facing wall, said wall having at least one aperture therein, said lower surface, said upper surface, said side and said rearward facing wall cooperating together to define an internal void in said step, said at least one aperture in said side and said at least one aperture in said rearward facing wall being in fluid communication with each other through said internal void.   
     
     
         3 . The stepped boat hull according to  claim 2 , wherein said substantially solid upper surface internal to said step is a lower surface of said hull. 
     
     
         4 . A stepped boat hull boat, comprising:
 (a) an inner hull, said inner hull being substantially impervious to the flow of water therethrough;   (b) an outer hull containing at least one air intake situated above a waterline when the boat is in motion in the water, said outer hull being spaced apart from said inner hull and containing at least one step formed therein, said inner hull and said outer hull cooperating together to create a void therebetween, at least one of said at least one step being in hydraulic communication with said at least one air intake, at least one of said at least one step comprising:
 (b1) a substantially solid lower surface, said lower surface forming at least a portion of a lower surface of said hull; 
 (b2) a side remote from said hull center line, said first side containing at least one aperture therein, said at least one aperture being situated to acquire air when the boat is in motion; and, 
 (b3) a substantially vertical rearward facing wall, said wall having at least one aperture therein, said lower surface, said side and said rearward facing wall cooperating together to define an internal void in said step, said at least one aperture in said side and said at least one aperture in said rearward facing wall being in fluid communication with each other through said internal void and said internal void being in hydraulic communication with said at least one air intake. 
   
     
     
         5 . The stepped boat hull boat according to  claim 4 , wherein said outer hull and said inner hull are maintained in a spaced apart configuration by a plurality of spacers. 
     
     
         6 . The stepped boat hull boat according to  claim 4 , wherein there are a plurality of air intakes, at least of one air intakes being proximate to a prow of the boat, and at least one of said air intakes being positioned apart from said at least one air intakes proximate to the prow of the boat.