Abstract: The present invention over-comes the prior art deficiencies by, in part, defining a hull bottom that decreases the total resistance and thereby reduces the propulsion power needed to propel a boat of a certain weight to a given speed. The invention separates the functions of the planing process resulting in a hull with staged longitudinal steps wherein each step consists of a fully defined hull underbody with a chine and bow and stern. Each intermediate chine describes a supplemental planing surface which is designed to lift the hull dynamically and to position the hull on the next narrower step that supports the weight of the boat and creates the forces needed to further lift the hull to the next narrower chine in two or more stages depending upon the size and weight of the boat to lift the hull to the central planing surface to achieve the desired top speed. The hull for each step is described by its chine, hull bottom, deadrise angle, bow and stern dimensions optimized to the “ideal beam”(Ref.

Abstract: A boat that can be rowed, sailed and motor driven, and has a pair of parallel elongated pontoons and a normally above-water boxlike structure which serves to connect the pontoons, to provide a cockpit for the crew, and to provide a third hull for supplemental flotation when needed. A pair of parallel structural panels form opposite sidewalls of the cockpit and each extends down through the middle of the adjacent pontoon to its keel. The cockpit deck structure connects the panels and covers the part of each pontoon between the panels. The part of each pontoon on the other side of the adjacent panel forms a ledge along the outer side of the boat which is helpful in climbing out of the water into the boat.