Ship Hull Formulas

Hull Speed Formula

Determines the theoretical boat speed for a displacement hull shape. This formula assumes that there is no
current or wind resistance and the hull is clean and free of objects that could cause excess drag.

Hull Speed = (1.34) * (LWL) 0.5

Example : (1.34) * (4.062) = 5.4 knots = (1.34) * (4.062) = 5.4 knots
Please note that the above calculation uses a notation of LWL to the POWER of 0.5. This is the same as the
square root of the quantity.

Horsepower Required for Hull Speed

Determines the theoretical horsepower required for a displacement hull shape to reach hull speed. This formula
assumes that there is no current or wind resistance and the hull is clean and free of objects that could cause
excess drag.

Horsepower = Displacement / ((150)2 / (Hull Speed)2)

Example : 2500 / (22500 / 29.16) = 3.24
As can be seen from this equation doubling the speed requires 4 times the horsepower so, if you set the speed
down one half of hull speed (2.7 knots), the energy required will be reduced to just a little more than 3/4
horsepower. For my purposes, this tradeoff in speed would be well worth the experiment with an electric motor.

Maximum Boat Speed for a Propeller

As a propeller turns, it's pitch determines how far it travels through the water. No propeller is 100% efficient so
that in reality it "slips" by moving water aside rather than straight backward. For a planing hull shape, this
propeller slip can be as low as 10%. For a displacement hull shape with a high speed propeller, this slip is
usually around 45%.
This means that the maximum vessel speed is a function of the shaft speed in revolutions per minute, the pitch of
the propeller, and the amount of propeller slip.
The Honda outboard motor described above will generate 5 HP at the engine shaft at 5,000 rpm which results in
2381 rpm at the propeller. Assuming no propeller slip, the maximum boat speed will be:

Boat Speed = (RPM * 60 * Pitch) / 72913.2 Knots

Example : (2381* 60 * 7.5) / 72913.2 = 14.7 Knots

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If the propeller slip is 45% then the propeller's forward motion is 55% utilized so the maximum speed for this
combination would be:

14.7 * 0.55 = 8.1 knots

However, since the maximum boat speed is 5.4 knots, the propeller will function with an inefficient 63% slip. As
this shows, the pitch of the propeller must be decreased to between 5 and 5.5 inches to achieve a more normal
propeller slip of 45%. In this case, the propeller diameter must also be increased in order to prevent the motor
from speeding up beyond 5,000 rpm. As a general rule, if you purchase a typical outboard motor for use on a
sailboat, you should instruct the dealer to provide the lowest pitch and largest diameter propeller possible
consistent with the motor's designed operating speed and horsepower. The "standard" propellers provided with
these motors will just not be efficient with a small sailboat. Either you will be running at 1/2 throttle and
therefore never use all the available horsepower, or you will be running at full throttle and wasting the energy in
propeller slip.

Hull Slip Formula

Ideas for Use

The most commonly calculated value is BOAT SPEED, based on the other four parameters.
Set the SLIP value to zero to see what the maximum speed could be. A typical actual value for
SLIP would be in the range of 6-10 percent if the propellor is in good condition and running
near the maximum speed at which it was designed to operate.
If accurate observations of boat speed versus engine speed have been made, the propeller
SLIP can be deduced. This will allow analysis of the propeller performance. Typically values
of SLIP will be at least 6% at wide-open-throttle speeds. At lower speeds slip can be much
higher, often 50% or more. Generally SLIP decreases as SPEED increases, typically tapering
to less than 10 %. If a negative value for SLIP is calculated, the propeller PITCH was
understated. Add one-inch to the PITCH for any propeller with cupped blades.
If the PITCH of the prop is not known, it may be deduced by observing the other parameters
and using various values for SLIP in the anticipated range. Probably the best assumptions
about SLIP can be made at wide-open-throttle speeds, where it will probably be as low as
10% or lower.
Your engine manual will contain information on the GEAR ratio. Usually it is around 2:1, but
it varies with horsepower. For 200-HP engines a ratio of 1.86:1 is common. For smaller
horsepower engines, higher ratios are used, more like 2.33:1.
For more information on the relationship between these parameters, read my articles on
propellers in the Reference section.

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Foundation
The calculator is based on the following relationship:
RPM
----- X
RATIO

SPEED =

PITCH
----- X [ 1- (SLIP/100) ]
C

Where:
RPM a positive number; the crankcase speed in revolutions-per-minute.
RATIO a positive number; lower unit gear reduction ratio; the number of revolutions
of the crankshaft to produce one revolution of the prop shaft.
PITCH a positive number; blade pitch of prop in inches.
SLIP a percentage, 0-100; index of propeller performance.
SPEED a positive number; the boat speed.
C a constant to convert inches-per-minute of revolution to boat speed; for miles-perhour, 1056; for nautical-miles-per-hour, 1215.2; for kilometers-per-hour, 656. (See
below for derivation.)

By manipulating the elements using algebra, any of them can be computed if the others are
known. Hence:
SPEED X RATIO X C
SLIP = 100 X [ 1 - (-------------------) ]
RPM X PITCH

PITCH =

SPEED X RATIO X C
-------------------------RPM X [ 1 - (SLIP/100) ]

RATIO =

RPM X PITCH X [ 1 - (SLIP/100) ]

---------------------------------SPEED x C

RPM

SPEED X RATIO X C
---------------------------- )
PITCH X [ 1 - (SLIP/100) ]

The constant C is derived from the analysis of the dimensions involved in the calculations.
The propeller advance is generally given in INCHES/REVOLUTION and the speed of the
propeller rotation is generally given in REVOLUTIONS/MINUTE. The speed of the boat
would then be calculated in units of INCHES/MINUTE, an unusual dimension which needs to
be converted into something more commonly used for boat speed.
The most common conversion is to MILES/HOUR (MPH), which is derived below:

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1 HOUR
12 INCH
------- X ------60 MIN
1 FOOT

5280 FOOT
X --------1 MILE

1056 HOUR INCH

= -------------1 MIN MILE

Similarly, if the results are desired in NAUTICAL MILES/HOUR (KN):

1 HOUR
12 INCH
6076 FOOT
------- X ------- X ----------60 MIN
1 FOOT
1 NAUT-MILE

1215.2 HOUR INCH

= ----------------1 MIN NAUT-MILE

And if results are desired in KILOMETERS/HOUR (KPH):

1 HOUR
12 INCH
3.28 FOOT
1000 M
656 HOUR INCH
------- X ------- X --------- X ------ = -------------60 MIN
1 FOOT
1 METER
1 KM
1 MIN KM

Comments or questions about the prop calculator can be posted in a message thread in the
forum reserved for that purpose.

Acknowledgements
The propeller calculator was inspired by a JavaScript version that was created by Gary
Polson.

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