Here is a basic introduction to the concept of deadrise. We will speak in generalities as there are always exceptions to the rules, but if you stick through to the end you’ll have a pretty good, high-level, grasp of deadrise and how it’ll affect your next boat or fishing trip. Enjoy.
Ramblin's
When I was in grad school at the University of Florida, I got invited to help chaperone a group of teenagers on a trip to the Florida Keys to go lobstering. There is a magical time in July of every year called the Mini-Season where Average Joe’s like you and me get a jump-start on the lobster season a few days before the commercial season begins. The boat I ended up going out on was a 26′ walk-around with a cuddy cabin. I was a little suspicious when I noticed that the boat had been repowered with a comically large 200hp Honda outboard. When they repowered the boat, they hung the new motor on a bracket instead of the cut-out transom where the original one had been. Then they ran chains, yes, actual chains, from the bracket up to big eye bolts that ran through the transom. It was almost like they weren’t quite sure the bracket would hold the outboard. I ended up as the captain of that boat for two days and I can tell you that something was just off about the balance of the boat. It had a deep-vee hull and was the tippy-est boat that I have ever been on. At one point someone saw a shark and everyone hustled to one side to try to see it and I thought we were going to capsize. I’ve never been happier to be off the water than when we put that boat back on the trailer. Deadrise has a lot to do with a boat’s stability and horsepower requirements, which I lived first-hand and we will dive into below.
Intro: Deadrise 101
When it comes to shopping for the perfect boat, fishermen often find themselves navigating the intricate waters of technical jargon and design specifications (Kinda like this sentence). One key element that plays a crucial role in a boat’s performance is the deadrise. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of deadrise, exploring its impact on different types of boats, from jon boats all of the way to offshore fishing boats, with flats boats and bay boats in between. By understanding how deadrise affects draft, horsepower requirements, stability, and more, you’ll be better equipped to make an informed decision when selecting your next vessel.
The Basics of Deadrise
Deadrise refers to the angle of a boat’s hull bottom in relation to a horizontal plane. It’s typically measured in degrees, with a higher degree indicating a steeper V-shape. Different boat types have varying deadrise angles, each tailored to provide optimal performance in specific environments. See our rudimentary illustration below. Each of the different colors represents a different degree of deadrise.
Jon Boats, Air Boats, Bateaus: Shallow Waters, Wide Appeal
These boats, generally renowned for their simplicity and versatility, are characterized by a flat bottom and low deadrise. With a minimal deadrise angle, usually around 0-6 degrees, jon boats, air boats, bateaus, and the locally famous North Carolina Harker’s Island Skiff are ideal for shallow waters, making them popular choices for fishing in creeks, inland bays, and calm rivers. The shallow draft allows for easy navigation through tight spaces, making these boats suitable for anglers seeking elusive fishing spots.
Flats Boats: Navigating Shallow Flats with Ease
Flats boats are designed for shallow-water fishing in saltwater environments. Their hulls typically feature a moderate deadrise, ranging from 6-18 degrees. This deadrise angle strikes a balance between stability and shallow-water performance, allowing anglers to navigate the flats with ease while still enjoying a smooth ride. Often, rounded chines helps to reduce slapping sounds coming from the sides of the hull. With anglers standing on poling and casting platforms, the center of gravity is raised and too much deadrise results in a tippy boat. It is a balance between shallow draft, a smooth ride, and quiet poling. The modern flats boat straddles the line of doing all of these things fairly well.
Bay Boats: Versatility in Coastal Waters
Bay boats are known for their adaptability to both inshore and nearshore environments. Featuring deadrise angles ranging from 15-20 degrees, these vessels offer a compromise between shallow-water performance and offshore capabilities. Bay boats provide a stable platform for fishing in coastal areas while still accommodating a modest offshore adventure. We are now seeing bay boats with 300hp and even 400hp motors as those engines become more prevalent. There is definitely a push for bigger and faster in this world. With the higher deadrise, you get a smoother ride in those runs offshore, but the trade off is the need for those bigger engines/fuel capacities/budgets. Whereas a bay boat used to be in the 20-24 foot range, we are now seeing this design grow into a new category called a “Hybrid” bay boat which is crossing the line up into the offshore fishing boat category and pushing up into the 28′ range.
Offshore Fishing Boats: Conquering the Open Sea
Offshore fishing boats demand a design that can handle the challenging conditions of open water. These high-performance vessels boast deep V-hulls with deadrise angles exceeding 20 degrees, often reaching 24 degrees or more. The steep deadrise provides excellent wave-cutting capabilities, ensuring a smoother ride in rough seas. Higher deadrise angles also contribute to increased stability at high speeds, a critical factor in offshore fishing. By their nature, they require multiple high-horsepower engines to push the deep-vee hull quickly. They tend to be prone to rocking violently in a cross-sea and we’ve seen the rise of catamarans like the Freeman and the use of gyroscopic stabilizers like the Seakeeper to counteract the rocking.
Conclusion & Shameless Plug
Understanding the impact of deadrise on boats is crucial for selecting the right vessel for your needs. Whether you’re a casual angler seeking tranquil fishing spots or an adrenaline junkie craving the thrill of offshore fishing, the deadrise of a boat’s hull can make all the difference. Consider your preferred boating environment, desired features, and performance expectations to make an informed decision and set sail with confidence on your next aquatic adventure.
The Atlas Boatworks 23F is a non-traditional bay boat. With a 3-degree deadrise it falls on the far-low side of the deadrise spectrum. That means that it is stable, economical to run, planes at a slow speed, requires less horsepower, and runs in extremely shallow water. It also slides more in turns and can pound more in a stiff chop than its deeper-vee counterparts. We’ve added a full-length keel and reverse chines to help with those compromises and feel like we’ve landed on a great choice for those looking in the flats and bay boat categories.