VSV hulls have lower overall power requirements than comparable Deep “V” planing hulls. This leads to reduced engine size and increased range. 

Traditional Deep “V” hulls have two modes of operation; low speed displacement mode, and a high speed planing mode. The vessel may operate only at displacement speed or planing speed. The VSV hull, by comparison, exhivits no discernable planing “hump”. The vessel can maintain any speed within its performance envelope, returning full command to the driver. 

When traditional Deep “V” boats travel at speed in rough conditions, they jump from wave to wave and land with high vertical acceleration or ‘G’ force. As the speed of the vessel increases or the sea gets rougher, the G force on landing increases. Peak readings regularly exceed 20G which is sufficient to cause injury to the personnel and damage to the vessel at its equipment. 

Deep “V” hulls are the traditional solution for travelling at high speeds offshore. By their nature they are planing craft and spend their time on the surface of the water. They are therefore, on occasion, subject to extreme vertical accelerations created by waves. Wave piercers are not completely novel as designers have been developing slim sharp fronted boats for years that are encouraged to cut through the waves rather than bouncing over them. The VSV applies these principles to high-speed patrol vessels to enable crews to travel at high speeds in adverse conditions in relative comfort and safety.