What purpose does step hulls serve?

[Cane Pole]

I don't see any purpose for them (except to pee people off). What's the deal here?

[Crappie Stalker]

Hey Tom,
Are you are talking about the back of the boat were the hull bottom stops short a few inches and then steps up before reaching the transom?
This creates a built in engine setback, helping performance. When a boat is on plane the hull pad acts like a fulcrum, Balancing the nose weight to the engine weight/power. By moving the engine farther back from this pad,this helps with bow lift and helps performance.
I know why you asked,They are a pain when you are trying to install transducers on the back, Because they have to be mounted on the step or you will lose the bottom when you get on plane and the transducer rises out of the water. A regular hull design can just have a jackplate installed to add setback and would be easier for mounting cool stuff!

[TeeJay]

these?

ive noticed em before and figured it got it planed up faster. dunno though.

[Cane Pole]

Hey Tom,
Are you are talking about the back of the boat were the hull bottom stops short a few inches and then steps up before reaching the transom?
This creates a built in engine setback, helping performance. When a boat is on plane the hull pad acts like a fulcrum, Balancing the nose weight to the engine weight/power. By moving the engine farther back from this pad,this helps with bow lift and helps performance.
I know why you asked,They are a pain when you are trying to install transducers on the back, Because they have to be mounted on the step or you will lose the bottom when you get on plane and the transducer rises out of the water. A regular hull design can just have a jackplate installed to add setback and would be easier for mounting cool stuff!

Does your express have the step hull design? I don't know crap about boat hull designs.

[Ronnie]

My Ranger has that type hull and at about 40 mph you actually feel the boat lift itself up higher on top of the water. I suddenly get power steering and the speed increases. That's about all I know.

[jaxsprat]

With stepped hulls you will most likely need to install 2 transducers. The SI ducer on back for idle/slow speeds, at hi speed its out of water, so you need a downward ducer-shoot thru hull- for depth at hi speeds. If you have a jackplate thats usually a good place to mount the SI ducer.

[Cane Pole]

With stepped hulls you will most likely need to install 2 transducers. The SI ducer on back for idle/slow speeds, at hi speed its out of water, so you need a downward ducer-shoot thru hull- for depth at hi speeds. If you have a jackplate thats usually a good place to mount the SI ducer.

Somebody needs to advertise this step situation. They all know and we pay for not knowing. A little honesty goes a long way. Nobody said crap to me about any of this. Anybody else get any advice about the "step child"?

[Crappie Stalker]

Tom,
Neither of our Xpress boats have had a step hull, Our 21 footer did have a 10" jackplate though.
Our 18' Vision bass boat had the step hull on it. The transducer was a shoot thru the hull design on it.

[Cane Pole]

Tom,
Neither of our Xpress boats have had a step hull, Our 21 footer did have a 10" jackplate though.
Our 18' Vision bass boat had the step hull on it. The transducer was a shoot thru the hull design on it.

Ok. Thanks Paul. I need to get an Express...I like them

I guess I should have asked more questions about the hull, but when you are ignorant of things you don't ask the right questions or you don't want to show your ignorance about something. I guess I fall somewhere in this category.

At least I admit my ignorance about some things and don't hide the fact. ha

Tom

[Cane Pole]

Why does Tracker call their hull a step hull then?