And you're saying that the power curve of a boat "at or near hull speed"
does not have an asymptote?


Meindert Sprang wrote:
No.

I mean JAXAsshby. Sorry, I was trying to goad him into one of his
classic explanations of hull speed, which are always good for comic relief.

... As I have always learned it and according to the mathematic literature,
an asymptote will NEVER reach or cross it's associated curve.

My understanding is that it might intersect (usually doesn't) but will
never cross.

... So if the
power curve of a boat would be an asymptote, the boat would never be able to
reach hull speed, which is not true. If you apply enough power, the speed
WILL get higher than hull speed.

Sure. "Hull Speed" is not a hard limit. But in some cases the boat will
sink under her stern wave, in other cases you're looking at trying to
apply tens of thousands of KW to gain a knot.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King