A tunnel hull design uses two parallel hulls with a solid center section that traps air, creating lift and speed. It is used in powerboat racing and some kayaks. The design is stable and streamlined but can cause dangerous rollover accidents. Racing teams rely on onboard oxygen systems and have a driver and throttle operator.
A tunnel hull is a type of ship hull design that uses two separate sponges or hulls, located closely parallel to each other with a solid center section that traps air between the two hulls. This tunnel hull design is widely used in powerboat racing due to the amount of aerodynamic lift and speed associated with the hull design. The catamaran is often misidentified as a tunnel hull, however the catamaran has widely spaced hulls with a commonly open center section. The tunnel hull design is also used in the construction of some kayaks, creating a much more stable platform for beginners.
By placing two hulls parallel to each other and slightly apart, the tunnel hull creates a stable design that moves in a smaller amount of water than a comparably sized V-hull design. In power racing, the tunnel hull is used to create a lift force by trapping air under the center section of the boat’s hull. This allows the boat to move through the water easier than other hull designs, resulting in a faster boat in most cases. By enclosing the cockpits in each hull, the craft becomes much more streamlined than an open cockpit style of craft.
Commonly using one motor in each hull, the tunnel hull is capable of top speeds that can create dangerous rollover accidents. A capsize occurs when the front of the boat begins to rise up and out of the water on a cushion of air trapped between the twin hulls. If the throttle is not picked up, allowing the hull to drop back into the water, you may eventually continue past the point of no return. When this condition occurs, the boat will capsize completely and typically land upside down in the water.
Many racing teams that use a tunnel hull rely on an onboard oxygen system to provide breathing air for the crew when the boat capsizes. Oxygen tanks pumped into the crew’s helmets can help sustain life until a rescue boat arrives at the scene of the accident. Most tunnel hull teams put a driver on one side of the boat and a throttle on the other. The driver steers the boat and is responsible for locating turning buoys and staying on course. The throttle is responsible for speeding up and slowing down engines, as well as controlling critical engine function such as oil pressure and temperature.
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