Chief powerboat aerated step

[fireboat]

I'm just curious about this as I have never seen a step like this where above deck vent tubes feed down into the aft face of the step to aerate the water flow. Has anyone seen a setup like this before? I'm assuming it didn't work too well as it sure isn't a popular innovation.

I'm not into offshore racers so I don't know much about Chief Powerboats but I know they have been in and out of business and Bob Saccenti (from Apache Powerbosts) now runs it I think.

Here is a link to it from Craigslist. Go down to about the 7th to 10th picture. I also attached a pic of it.

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/2111423350.html

[stevek185]

Found this online:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/powerboats/ram-air-stepped-hull-22777.html

Can't tell you anything else...

[Jassman]

Found this online:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/powerboats/ram-air-stepped-hull-22777.html

Can't tell you anything else...

OuterLimits, Mike Fiore does this also on a few or at least his 42 version that I have seen, and been on. Forces air right before the step, air-rates bottom and supposedely adds speed. All their boats are fast and stable..one of the finest in the industry. Jeff

[Kamper]

Air offers less resistance to water. That system allows the boat to use air bubbles as roller bearings.