THE MIDNIGHT RIDE
Legendary MIDNIGHT Hull
OPTI-STEP Drag Reduction System
MONOCOQUE Construction
PRECISION INTERLOCK Stringer System
MAXI-BOND Transom
SEA COMMAND Console
AEROLINE Tops
TOTAL ACCESS Systems
UNEQUALED Quality
HEAD TURNING Style
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As a hull moves it displaces a significant amount of water. The displaced water has to move out of the way. At the stern of the boat the displaced water immediately rises. The rising, displaced water creates a kinetic UPWARD force. In a similar way, the placement of steps in the running surface of a hull creates an area where this upward kinetic force occurs. This resultant upward force then lifts the boat to significantly reduce drag. The reduced drag has marked effects on speed and fuel efficiency. Properly designed steps can create significant forces. The proper design of steps requires considerable engineering expertise, testing and expense. This is especially true of the more effective multi-stepped hulls since the introduction of more than one step requires significantly more design expertise and expensive testing. However, the benefits of multi-stepped hulls far outweighs those of single stepped hulls. A single-step has the disadvantage of producing less lift. Of even more concern is that a single-step hull creates a see-saw effect that results in significant reduction in hull stability, especially in rough or confused seas. Narrower boats can often achieve this lift and drag reduction via the design of the hull curvature and the proper use of lifting strakes. In cases where wider beams are desired, the use of steps becomes increasingly important. Many manufacturers forgo the use of steps because of the extensive expertise, testing and expense required to properly execute this design feature. Other manufacturers use steps that are very shallow in depth, thereby creating the illusion of a stepped hull without creating significant lift, thus losing the true benefit of a stepped hull design. Still other manufacturers use a single step to reduce the need for extensive design and testing. However, these single step hulls are less efficient and tend to be unstable in a variety of sea conditions. Even with multi-step hulls, the positioning, spacing and angle of the steps is crucial to create optimal lift along with a stable platform in a variety of sea conditions. Midnight Express has engineered and extensively tested the Opti-STEP System to create a modern high performance, fuel efficient hull design. Our designs maximize step placement, spacing and angle to create an incredibly efficient design that offers extraordinary stability in a broad range of sea conditions. The exceptional performance that results from our Opti-STEP System is yet another Midnight Advantage. |
