Changes

A well designed hull has a stable self-righting form. It incorporates passive stabilizers like radius chines and bilge keels. A flared bow optimizes performance underway. A double hull, if affordable, offers extra security against penetration by floating objects. A bulbous bow reduces the horsepower and fuel required for a given speed, and slightly increases the top speed in displacement boats of more than 45 ft, while providing a mount for a bow thruster and forward-looking sonar. Active stabilizers are effective but expensive and work better on a round bilge.

Hulls can be rounded (round bilge) or designed with a hard chine. A chine is the line of intersection between the sides and bottom of a flat-bottomed boat. A radius chine has a V-bottom, rising to a second chine that starts the sides, yielding a shape closer to a rounded bilge. A rounded hull looks nicer than a slab side, and intuitively should sit better in the water.