what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

[bgtruk21]

I made a mistake last weekend and took my wife flats fishing for the first time. while I was trying to fish and she was watching dolphins she said I should get a bigger boat. now I am just fine with my 16' alumacraft that I have made into a fine little flats boat she thought it just wasnt big enough. so with that in mind I figured that would give me a chance to fish every weekend if she came. I guess I have to get a new boat.

my question is I have been looking online at a few flats boats and there is a boat by bay craft. nice boat in my price range. they offer a regular bottom and a tunnel hull. what advantage or disadvantage does a tunnel hull have. I know it will run more shallow but will it handle better or worse it rough water, is it a wetter boat

that brings me to another question exactly what do trim tabs do? I have been on my fatger in laws boat and the only thing I could tell it helped is on a full tank of gas I could make the boat sit up streight while driving. but what else do they do?

thanks for any input

 

[capt sam]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

a tunnel hull is gonna get you in shallow water but without a jackplate it's not living up to it's full potential, it will beat you in a chop and slide in turns, they have a sole purpose, fishing skinny. If your wife is going with you, I'd look at a v or modified v hull. The ride will be better and drier and she'll be alot happier. Trim tabs level the boat and help get it on plane by pushing the bow down, once you have them you wonder how you survived without them.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

From what I see on the pics from their web site the tunnel is only in the rear of the hull.

Pretty much have to be just for running in skinny water and letting the motor get some cooling water when combined with the jack plate.

Their web page sure doesn't tell you much.

Trim tabs first and foremost let you get up on plane faster and stay there at slower speeds. If you adjust them down before taking of they will push the back of the boat up.

Where did you fish Browns bay or Mosquito lagoon?

 

[marquette]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

i have searched some of the other posts on this subject because i am thinking of getting my 1st flats boat. if i have it right from the other post a tunnel hull runs shalower on plane but sits lower when stopped. a flat bottom like a Carolina Skiff runs deeper on plane but floats higher when stopped. am i correct? if so that could be a factor in whether to choose a tunnel hull or another style hull. try seaching "tunnel hull" here in the forums and read the differant posts. then you will be just as confused as i am as to the pros and cons.

 

[kandil]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

I think that a true tunnel hull is faster with less HP and I disagree with capt sam about it will beat you in a chop and slide in turns that is not true it is very stable boat and a blast to ride a tunnel hull and you also save on fuel.

 

[KLINDWW]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

The tunnel hull boat is specialty boat, I do agree whit capt sam. If you are going to fish skinny and only skinny they are good boats. Yes, a true tunnel hull will run in less water than what it will sit in, there in lies another problem. If you ever run them aground, you are pretty much thru, you are not going to push them off. Oh, and by the way they are loud. You can tell a tunnel hull from two or three miles away, just by the noise.

 

[Always Broke]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

I was kind of curious about hull designs myself and when I asked questions these are some of the answers I got. There are exceptions to the rules with different variations on designs these are just examples of the basics. On a tunnel hull even if the tunnel is just near the rear of the boat on the best designs it is tapered narrower towards the stern making a ?hill? of water were the prop rides. Another words you can run with your prop above (or close to it) the bottom of the boat when your using a jack plate. The more boat you have in the water while sitting still (considering the boats weigh and measure the same) the less draft you?ll have so a flat bottom can float in less water then a tunnel. There are usually sacrifices in one area of performance in order to gain in another. Flat bottoms ride ruff compared the V bottoms, the more angle on the V the nicer the ride and deeper the draft. With the same weight and power a flatter bottom is faster then a V (without a pad) but at speed the V will dig in on a turn and the flatter bottoms and tunnels like to skid sideways. I think you get the picture. I have a semi-V boat that keeps going in a strait line if I try to turn at full throttle, it looks kind of silly going through the water sideways, It?s kind of scary too! I think I may have that one over powered a little ;o)

 

[capt sam]

Re: what differance does a tunnel hull have over a reg. v-bottom have

I think that a true tunnel hull is faster with less HP and I disagree with capt sam about it will beat you in a chop and slide in turns that is not true it is very stable boat and a blast to ride a tunnel hull and you also save on fuel.

I disagree with your disagreement, I've owned a tunnel hull, I know of what I speak.