Aerodynamic and Hydrodynamic Performance
design for Powerboats

"I’ve tried other hydrodynamic analysis programs, even CFD modelling software, and TBDP/VBDP is best performance software I’ve found. TBDP is flexible, handles any hull configuration, amazing accuracy, outstanding customer service. My favourite by far!" [Jan 2021 - Shawn - MI, USA]

TBDP© reviewed by Scream & Fly magazine. 

Check out the review (Ver 7) at the S&F site, or download your own copy.

"Jim Russell is the best there is and Helmut and I have always been guided by his knowledge and experience". [Greg Terzian, S&F magazine]

Tunnel Boat/Vee Boat Design Program (TBDP©/VBDP©) accurately predicts how your boat will perform, optimizes performance, economy, top speed and dynamic stability.

Regular Updates - [check out newest updates here]

TBDP©/VBDP© is a Windows™ based software that employs advanced 'parametric hull design' to complete performance and design analysis for all types of tunnel hulls, power catamarans, modified tunnels, vee hulls and vee-pad hulls.  Any size of boat - big or small, any hp - huge or little, any configuration. (See also VBDP©)

Simple User-interface makes design input and performance analysis a quick, simple task. Check out all the Features.

Improve all aspects of your hull performance - it's not just for going faster - better load carrying, mid-range performance testing, power requirements, optimize economy at any speed, stability at all speeds - and of course, it'll help achieve top speed with best performance! Check out videos to see examples of what TBDP/VBDP can do.

How It Works - quick look at how TBDP©/VBDP© works.

Most comprehensive, complete Performance Reports information through on-screen Performance Reports and Printed Reports, including full velocity range predictive Performance data, Performance Graphs, AND unique 'intelligent' Performance Report narrative with key observations and recommendations.

Help/User Manual - TBDP©/VBDP© includes a detailled  page User Manual, on-line context-sensitive HELP features, and installation CD or USB drive.

Check out why AR software?...

How fast will my boat go? When will it become unstable?  Will my boat porpoise?  How can  I optimize my powercat? Can a center-pad make my vee hull faster? What if I change the deadrise of the bottoms?  Dozens of design and performance questions answered with the TBDP©/VBDP© intellegent report wizard and over  performance data measurments and  performance graphs.

Proven analysis methods - For all planing hulls.  Based on leading edge aerodynamic and hydrodynamic research, AR® developed complex algorithms, verified by full-size boat performance testing, that accurately represent hull designs, setups and performance results through the full velocity range (because determining performance at only 1 velocity leaves much still in question!)  TBDP©/VBDP© software does all the work for you with the click of a button to get highly accurate performance prediction of your boat. [click here to see how it works]

What can TBDP©/VBDP© do?

TBDP©/VBDP© is the BEST!  TBDP©/VBDP© allows you to optimize hull hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, improve performance-to-weight ratios, increase overall performance. AR® sustains the most advanced powerboat performance research programs in the industry. Other software that are just fancy 3-D drawing aids just do not have the engineering complexities used by TBDP©/VBDP© algorithms, or the analysis methods required to obtain the most realistic and accurate performance results.  TBDP©/VBDP© is developed with leading-edge research and verified by full-scale boat testing and race proving!

Easy Results Interpretation - TBDP©/VBDP© Performance Results are easy to understand - there's no need to interpret flow distribution paths or translate pages of CFD numbers to see how your boat behaves in real life. Accurate Performance and Stability data are shown for dozens of meaningful measures throughout the entire operating velecity range; and Performance Graphs showing easy-to-read Performance results; and a unique AI-based narrative Optimizaton Report w/Recomendations and tips that are specific to your unique design & setup.

What's new 02/16/25
Released!
(Windows 11/10/8//7/XP)

* Dozens of NEW features
* See Version 8 New Features Summary
* Includes NEW Motor Wizard with over OEM engine choices!
* NOW INCLUDES VEE HULL DESIGN

Contact Jimboat for support, help or questions

Test your hull: with Steps, CenterPod, any engine/lower unit, any sponson type/width/deadrise, any tunnel width/height/angle/shape/aerofoil, any tunnel angle (more/less "lift"), spray rails/lifting strakes, any cockpit/cowling design, any deck shape/area, any weight distributions, any engine setback.  Even account for climate, air temperature, humidity, altitude, water temp & type (salt/fresh).

What if I modify...?: Making changes (major or minor) can be a tedious, time-consumng and costly effort when implemented on a boat/setup, without knowing whether the resulting performance is going to be as expected or not. TBDP©/VBDP© can complete the performance analysis of design changes or 'mods' and display the predicted performance results of the 'design modifications' - compared to the 'base design'.  The 'Performance Report Wizard' even analyzes the changes for you, predicting how your performance will change.

Proven with full scale hull (real boats) testing, wind tunnel testing, water channel testing, unique engineering research for all types of hulls.  Predictive results shown to be +/- 1% or better! 

What can TBDP do?

• What will the performance of my hull be?  Is my boat design stable at 50mph? 
• How much power do I need for my hull?  How fast will my boat go? 
• Will my vee hull porpoise?
• What is the best size of center-pad for my vee hull conversion?
• What is my best acceleration time?
• What's the optimum tunnel height for my hull? How much faster will it go if I reduce tunnel height?  how about tunnel width? 
• When will my boat start to porpoise?  What can I change to avoid porpoising? When does my hull become unstable? 
• How does hull deadrise affect my hull speed and performance?
• Will Steps help my boat's performance?
• Will a center-pod help my performance? 
• What happens if I shift weight in my setup?  What is the dynamic stability of my boat?
• At what speed does my hull experience the "hump zone"? 
• What difference in performance is my hull if I increase HP of my engine?
• What happens to my performance if I raise my engine by 1/2 inch?
• Does engine setback change my hull performance?
• Is my boat faster with....wider sponsons?  more trim?  less deadrise? smaller tunnel depth?  add a step? 
• What happens to my speed if I close in my boat's cockpit?  What is my acceleration/elapsed time in 1000ft?
• How fast will my boat go with "X" HP?  How much HP do I need to go "Y" mph? 
• How much speed do I gain if I reduce hull weight by "Z" pounds? -

Any or ALL of these queries are easy to answer with TBDP/VBDP.

The User can quickly: predict maximum speed and hull performance for the complete hull velocity range; optimize hull design and setup for specific operating expectations; test hull modifications with the software for expected performance BEFORE changing the boat; design new hulls for optimum performance; analyze performance characteristics in detail, including dynamic balance, all hydrodynamic and aerodynamic Lifts & Drags, HP requirements, trim angles - even porpoising analysis; compare performance of old design with new design with on-screen graphics. TBDP© takes the dramatic costs and expensive time delays out of traditional "trial-and-error" design processes.

And it all works for vee hulls and vee-pad hulls too!