The hull, or the body of the boat, helps determine the performance of a motorboat. Flat-bottom boats, designed for shallow water, can have less stability than other designs. Vee-bottom boats cut through the water smoothly, but require high-power engines. Round-bottom boats move through the water with minimal propulsion, but do present a risk of rolling. Multi-hull boats combine elements of other hull types to create a wider stance in the water.
One of three engine designs propels a motorboat. Outboard motors are removable, and boaters can attach multiple outboards to a boat to increase speed. Inboard motors and inboard/outboard motors come framed into the design on the boat. Inboard motors fit completely within the hull, while inboard/outboard motors sit half within the hull and half out.
Motorboat development started in the early 1900s, with narrow, round-bottom hulls and bulky engines. Improvements to the gas engine led to better hull design, and people began experimenting with different combinations of engines and hulls. The performance limits of each of these combinations led to a wide range of uses for motorboats. Conceived by Charles Raymond Hunt in 1963, the vee hull design was possibly the most important advancements to the motorboat, according to The Yacht Market, because it combined speed and stability, allowing boaters to travel safer and faster through rough waters.
People use motorboats for different recreational activities, choosing flat-bottom boats for hunting and fishing in lakes and rivers, while vee-bottom boats work better for racing and water-skiing. Boaters often use round-bottom boats on the ocean for deep-sea fishing, and multi-hull boats commonly serve as pleasure crafts or houseboats.
According to America's Boating Course website, almost all U.S. states now require a boating license to operate a motorboat. The site also recommends boaters always wear a life jacket, never sail while under the influence of alcohol, and have their vessel checked before taking it out. Boaters should also carry signal flares, a fire extinguisher and a Type IV throw ring.
