Thee difference is that the Willie has a varible hull. It has a 32 degree bow and a 20 degree entry and transitions to 8 degrees at the back. The steeper angle at the front is for cutting waves/chop and 8 degree is makes it stabler and troll flatter. Rumor has it, with the motors up it will float through 8" of water.
That all makes sense and sounds good on paper, but on the water, it plays out a little differently.
In the really rough stuff, most of us trim the bow up... WAY UP. This keeps the boat from taking as much water head on, and also "helps" to deflect water for our passengers.
The part of the hull with the sharpest V that's best able to slice thru the water is now high and dry. The entry is effectively transferred rearward to the hull's shallower V. The only way to smoothe the ride is to GO SLOWER.
For some boats, that's gonna mean a grinding gas-guzzling plow thru rough water. Try to go any faster, and your crew's gonna take a beating.
One thing I've discovered about the power/prop combination and weight distribution on my current barge is a perfect "sweet spot" at about 1/3 throttle that allows me to comfortably cruise in combined seas of up to 6-7 ft at about 13-15 knots in semi-plane. As the water flattens, the boat climbs onto a complete plane traveling at 20-23 knots without having to touch the throttle. Almost brainless, and quite fuel efficient.
_________________________
"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)
"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)
The Keen Eye MDLong Live the Kings!
Previous Topic
Index
