The following is excerpted from Bruce Roberts book CHOOSING A CRUISING POWERBOAT.
HULL TYPES:
Power boat hulls are divided into three main types namely, Displacement, Semi-displacement and Planing hulls. Each hull type can have many sub-types which are closer to one or other end of the spectrum. Considering each hull configuration in detail will reveal its benefits and disadvantages. Your choice will be influenced by your intended usage and the size of your wallet.
The size of your intended power boat will also be a factor in your choice of hull type; for instance if you are considering a large power boat (large is a relative term) then you will be less likely to choose a full planing hull. Large fast planing hulls require large expensive engines and use large amounts of fuel and operating costs are high. Below are the outlines of the qualities of the various types of power boat hulls.
Starting at the Displacement end of the range, these were the first to be developed and to go back to the beginning of time; the original log canoe and even the ark (as far as we know) were all displacement hulls.
Read further by selecting from the options below....
HEAVY DISPLACEMENT | MEDIUM DISPLACEMENT | SEMI-DISPLACEMENT or SEMI-PLANING HULLS | PLANING HULLS
PLANING FLATS AND STRAKES | ROUND BILGE | RADIUS CHINE BUILDING TECHNIQUES | POWER CATAMARANS