Aerodynamic and Hydrodynamic Performance
design for Powerboats

"The best performance powerboat optimization software available to builders, designers , owners, drivers."

Our Methods are accurate and representative for all style, sizes, configurations....

Performance powerboat hulls derive their lifts (and drags) from a complex, ever-changing mixture of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic, planing and free-fluid flow forces. Traditional analysis methods are neither complete or sufficiently accurate.

Combined hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces at play with tunnel hulls is somewhat unique in the relational dependance on total dynamic stability.  As aerodynamic lift increases, the necessary hydrodynamic lift to balance hull weight is reduced, which decreases hydrodynamic drags and wetted surfaces.  The linked dynamic analysis of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic forces is key to accurate performance prediction.  Some hull computer softwares try to calculate hyrodynamic drags, others attempt to simulate aerodymamic forces - but only AR® analysis techniques used in TBDP©/VBDP© software simulaneously solve for both aero and hydro forces, dynamically, throughout the velocity range.

Some Hydrodynamics and powerboat performance analysis software try to "tune" their correction factors used in powerboat performance analysis, but these remain "largely inaccurate and inflexible because of the wide variation of total resistance with hull-form, trim, draft and speed."

Using 'typing coefficients' or 'correction factors' to coerce a general formula into predicting true performance of a complex tunnel hull or vee hull design is a faulty engineering approach. These approaches use a 'general' formula to calculate simple forces and attempt to 'correct' the result using 'factors' for different hull styles.  This usually ignores many of the hull design details that influence hull performance and the dynamic interaction of contributing forces at varying speeds.

AR® design and performance methods use non dimensional engineering algorithms for each of the many lift, drag and stability contributors to hull performance. Our approach does not require or use 'correction factors', or hull 'type' coefficients, or 'speed/length' adjustment factors.  Thus, AR® results are accurate for all sizes, powers, types, velocities. AR® performance analysis is based on advanced research and proven procedures that are developed specifically for performance tunnel hulls and vee hulls.

Validation of results to 'real-world' performance is key.  TBDP/VBDP software algorithms are tested to real full-sized boats under real-time operating conditions. While some CFD software may present coloured 'flow streams', the connection to real results is difficult - or non-existant. ("What do i do with the results?"  TBDP/VBDP has proven accuracy to practical results in terms that users can understand.  ["Fantastic design software. This is so much better than the CFD software that we were using before. TBDP gives extremely accurate results for all of our hull configurations.    Our CFD modelling required much more preparation and computer time, and while showing us fancy flow patterns, was unable to accurately relate the results to real performance simulation." - Shawn L. - MI, USA]

Custom software development - TBDP/VBDP is expressly prepared for tunnel hulls, catamarains, vee hulls and vee-pad hull designs. By custom-writing all our TBDP/VBDP software, we eliminate the need to use generic calculation models typically used in conventional software, such as CFD add-ons. This approach ensures that each contributing force is more accurately reflected in your hull performance analysis results. We can precisely account for ‘ground effect’ forces, rather than relying on generic fluid-dynamic odels.  Our models account for local influences of multi-steps, lift strakes, spray rails and trim tabs - not just 'factorized' from basic results. The interdependence of lift and drag forces from hydrodynamic surfaces, aerodynamic components, drive appendages, and cockpit designs is carefully balanced and linked to the overall hull performance, resulting in more accurate performance and dynamic stability predictions. 

Dynamic relationships in TBDP©/VBDP© software generate specifically calculated Lift, Drag, Thrust, Stability and Moments for each source of design and operating contributing forces, including sponsons/vee planing surfaces, multiple complex steps, centerpod/vee-pad lifting surfaces, aerodynamic surfaces, cockpit configuration drag, lower unit/drives.  The complex inter-dependence of these contributing forces on each other is balanced by TBDP©/VBDP© software programs to determine the real-life performance measures for each hull design. All other performance analysis software, including CFD software, do not include the influence of these contributors to overall performance.  (Generalized formulae with 'correction factors' or 'type factors' or 'adjustments' (eg: based on Froude number) are not used, since they are largely inaccurate for most applications).

TBDP©/VBDP© deciphers the complex balance of dynamic forces in any configuration of planing hull. This is the most advanced technology available for performance hull analysis & design.  The unique AR® research-proven relationship of combined hydrodynamics and aerodynamics - particularly from the "ground effect" of a high-performance hull - are derived to show accurate effects on the performance and dynamic stability of the hull design, setup and application environment.

Configure for Multiple Steps, CenterPod, any engine/lower unit, any sponson type/width/deadrise, any tunnel width/height/angle/shape/aerofoil, any tunnel angle (more/less "lift"), spray rails/lifting strakes, trim tabs, any cockpit/cowling design, any deck shape/area, any weight distributions, any lower unit/drive design, single or multiple drive configuration/spacing, any engine setback.  Even account for climate, air temperature, humidity, altitude, water temp & type (salt/fresh).

It doesn’t matter what style or size or speed or type of hull is analyzed - our methods give extraordinarily accurate predictions of performance characteristics.

Methods are proven with full scale hull (real boats) validation testing, wind tunnel testing, water channel testing, unique engineering research for all types of hulls. Accurate for all types of hulls, because TBDP/VBDP software does not use 'correction factors' or 'hull type coefficients'.  Predictive results have been shown to be +/- 1% or better! 

AR® methods are effective for tunnel hull, modified tunnel (center-pod), catamaran, vee hulls, vee-pad hulls.

Results are derived throughout the full operating velocity range, so that your are getting the full picture of performance. 

Advanced Research developed through practical simulation in wind tunnel and water channel experimental facilities.  From these leading-edge results, over years of development and full-scale (race hull) testing, advanced marine technology produced engineering relationships and proprietary algorithms that accurately define the unique interaction of hydrodynamic forces with aerodynamic forces of high-performance tunnel hulls, power catamarans, and vee hulls.

See who uses TBDP©/VBDP© and types of hulls applicable here

See what TBDP©/VBDP© can do here

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(Apr2015) - "Aeromarine Research's Tunnel Boat/Vee Boat Design Software is the very best and most comprehensive performance evaluation tool available." [S&Fly Review TBDP Ver8.4 Apr2015]

(Jan 2021) - "I’ve tried other hydrodynamic analysis programs, even CFD modelling software, and TBDP/VBDP is best performance software I’ve found. TBDP is flexible, handles any hull configuration, amazing accuracy, outstanding customer service. My favourite by far!" [Jan 2021 - Shawn - MI, USA]

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See it all in Comparative Graphic Trend Charts, or Detailed Data Reports, or Printed Performance Reports