Can someone explain hull speed to me? I thought I understood it but a thought occured to me as I was talking over a "Dark and Stormy" that caused me to question my understanding.
Does hull speed mean the maximum speed a boat (displacement hull) can travel while under power or the max speed under sail?
My 32' boat motors about 5.5 to 6 knots full power from it's 18 horse aux, but I've seen higher speeds (even touching 8 knots for a second)on the knot meter while sailing and the KM speed was consistent with my
GPS.
I'm thinking when I hear the term "hull speed" it applies to the theoretical max speed while under power and not heeled over resulting in a longer water
line allowing a higher speed.