How Thick Are Super Yacht Hulls?

This guide to superyacht hull design provides an in-depth analysis of the pros and cons of different hull shapes, including displacement, semi-displacement, and planing hull types. The hulls are typically built super-thick of solid glass fiber, particularly around the keels and high stress areas. The bulkheads are also made of glass. A yacht with a waterline length of 150 feet (45.14 meters) will have a theoretical hull speed of root 150 x 1.34, or 16.4 knots. Thickness affects the distance from the neutral axis in the direction of deflection, and bending strength varies with the square of the distance from the neutral axis (second moment of area).

The primary hull structure and arrangement are compared, with primary hull strength being 44 and design pressures being 57. Displacement yachts have a high buttock angle in the aft half of the hull, which limits them to displacement speeds. Sailboats or tugboats with deep bilges utilize one of these five basic hull types.

The thickness of the hull can vary from an eighth of an inch (plywood) to an inch depending on the intended function of the boat. For example, a Dehler 39 built in 2006 has a thickness of 23mm, located at the very aft end of the forward bunk.

The metal contacting rogue containers, trees, earth, or ice is now a monumental 49mm (circa 2 inches) thick when considering both the hull and the metal contacting rogue containers, trees, earth, or ice. Some naval architects prefer lighter hull designs and rely on more ribsframing to create the necessary support.