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What is the unique aspect of the seacraft hull design is that instead of spray strips to separate the flow at speed, the design uses a series of steps in the hull wedge. Most deep V's today have a chine like strip to separate and deflect the flow and this causes a positve presure region under the strip, and inturn tends to reduces the deadrise effectiveness. You need to separate the flow to reduce the wetted area and have a dry ride somehow and what seacraft did was have a inward longitudal step in the hull to obtain separation but without reducing the effectiveness of the V by putting a large spray strip or chine. The result was a very soft riding hull for its size. (Without a lines drawing of common V and a seacraft this is the best I can do to explain why it is better) Look at a seacaft bow on and any other boat, the seacraft hull looks inside out. (sortof)
As for the "old" vs the "new" hulls I think there is a lot of personal issues dealing with this as the lines of the hull and the design principles are the same. I prefer the new hulls as 1) they have no wood in them and 2) they are lighter 3) the resins today are better in seawater. Back in the 70's they used wood for various structual elements and this basically was a bad idea and most of them eventually rotted. I will take a 100% glass boat and if I want a "heaver" boat I will carry more fuel or payload. The weight adds to a softer ride in any boat. But you pay to carry weight around.
I think the cult following of the older boats has evolved because that you can pick them up pretty cheap, fix them up (with a lot of sweat equity) and have a good hull in the end. I think it is great to see the older boats around and I know the owners are proud of the design and their hard work.
Soundings or some other mag I get did a review a while back of the 10 best hull designs ever and seacraft was among them. ***For the size*** this hullform gives you an impressive ride. (its a little boat though, keep that in mind)
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