Aerodynamic and Hydrodynamic Performance
design for Powerboats

"Customer service from AeroMarine Research is outstanding! Jim answers any questions quickly and was willing to discuss any of my design issues as I optimized performance using TBDP/VBDP software. Love the software and the great support from Jim!" [P. Wilson, FL, USA, Sept 2024]

Scream and Fly magazine Review of TBDP/VBDP Ver. 8
"...the very best and most comprehensive perform"...the very best and most comprehensive performance evaluation tool available."

I found Jim Russell from AeroMarine Research, the software is 'so good', and it helped me very, very much." [Ari Nurminen, Finland, Aug 2021]

VBDP© Ver 8.0 Powerboat & RIB magazine

See complete Feature List

Key Benefits  

• Trusted across commercial, recreational, and racing projects:
  -Widely trusted in the racing world, TBDP©/VBDP© are also used every day by commercial, government, and recreational designers.
  -TBDP©/VBDP© applies equally to patrol craft, ferries, workboats, pontoon boats and cruisers as it does to high-performance tunnels and vees, bass boats, high-speed yachts.
  -The same principles that predict trim, porpoising, or power curves of a race boat also predict the fuel efficiency of a patrol craft, stabliity of a work boat, or the spray drag of a fast ferry.

• Fast, Practical Results
  -TBDP©/VBDP© is grounded in validated research, including vital aero-hydro coupling effects. Unlike academic 'experiment codes', results are practical and immediately applicable in real design work.
  -CFD programs can make pretty animations of vortices and spray, but these don't automatically translate into usable performance numbers.
  -TBDP©/VBDP© is built to give accurate, validated performance predictions you can trust in design decisions - without consuming weeks of CPU time on flow pictures.
  -TBDP©/VBDP© gives on-screen optimization results. ("If you want art, use CFD; if you want design answers, use TBDP©/VBDP©”) 

• Complete Velocity Range Analysis:
  Analyze your hull’s performance across all operating speeds - no guesswork, not just single-speed results (because determining performance at only 1 velocity leaves much in question!)

• Advanced Parametric Hull Design:
  Model any hull type - vee, vee-pad with multiple steps, vee deadrise, cockpit arrangements, engine configurations, strakes, etc.

• Integrated Hydrodynamic & Aerodynamic Modelling:
  Unique inclusion of aerodynamic ground effects coupled with hydrodynamics for accurate lift, drag, stability, and porpoising predictions.

• AI-driven Performance Analysis Report Wizard:
  Intelligent assistant summarizes predicted performance, explains what the results mean in 'real-life' and offers optimization tips tailored to your design.

• Extensive Output:
  Easy to understand results with over  detailed data points and  graphs illustrating lift, drag, power requirements, trim angles, acceleration, elapsed time, center of pressures, spray modelling and more. 
  -No need to interpret complex flow distribution paths or decode pages of CFD numbers to see how your boat will behave.
  -TBDP reports accurately in Performance and Stability data tables and graphically in Performance Graphs; AND...
  -The AI-based Performance Analysis Report Wizard explains what the results mean in 'real-life'.

• OEM Engine Selection Wizard:
  Choose from specs of engines and integrate them seamlessly into performance predictions.

• Quick Design Wizard:
  Start fast by selecting from template types. Enter just key dimensions - the Wizard auto-generates all other inputs for your ready-to-analyze design.

• User-friendly Interface:
  Easy design input. No CAD experience needed with intuitive layout and fast computation - ideal for pros and first-timers alike.

• Proven Engineering Algorithms:
  Not based on simulation "factors". Uses first-principles engineering so it gives accurate, trustwothy predictions for all boat types and sizes.

• Research Validated Accuracy:
  AR® sustains the most advanced powerboat performance research program in the industry. Other fancy 3-D drawing aids software do not have the -'behind-the-scene' engineering analysis methods required to obtain realistic, reliable results.  Accuracy within in ±1%.

• Specialized Boat Design Software:
  VBDP® is built specifically for powerboat design and performance analysis - not a generic CFD engine adapted to simulate boats. Requires no external plugins, no CFD post-processors, and uses no estimating shortcuts. Everything is integrated, specialized, and optimized for accurate powerboat performance results.

What VBDP® Can Do for You  

• Run optimized performance analysis using any of four detailed analysis modes:
    1. Max Velocity/Test Velocity or
    2. Trim Angles at Full Power or
    3. Economy Mode (Lowest Power & Trim Angle) or
    4. Power Required for a specified Trim Angle. 
  Each mode provides results across the full velocity range.
• Optimize dynamic stability, porpoising and 'hump zone', steps loading, trim angle behaviors.
• Optimize 'Vee-Pad design'. Evaluate impact of Vee pad width, height, length;  Analyze 'Delta-pad' or 'Std'/rectangular shaped pad.  Even notched pad configuration. [see video "Vee Pad Modification" with VBDP©]
• Evaluate the impact of vee hull design changes: deadrise, vee width, step designs, vee-paddesign,, weight distribution, engine setback, spray rails, lifting strakes, cockpit designs, and more.....
• Adjust for environmental factors:Adjust for environmental factors: climate, altitude, and water type (fresh or salt).
• Improve all aspects of your hull performance - not just for going faster - better load carrying, mid-range performance testing, power requirements, optimize economy at any speed, stability at all speeds. So much more
• Of course, VBDP® will tell you accurately, how fast your boat will go, and help optimize top speed with best performance
• Compare base and modified designs side-by-side, with performance changes clearly shown through graphs across the full velocity range
• Explore design options for commercial, recreational, racing, utility, whitewater jets, bass boats, military hulls, and even RC performance models.
• More on What VBDP Can Do

Validation and Accuracy  

• VBDP® uses advanced engineering models that simultaneously incorporate aerodynamic forces and hydrodynamic forces, air/water interfaces
• VBDP® uses the same proven AR® Analysis methods featured in the acclaimed Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design (©2025) book. It applies engineering algorithms based on first principles - not estimations, simulation constants or correction factors.
• What sets VBDP® apart is its engineering approach that treats aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and stability effects as interdependent systems - not isolated results. This level of integrated analysis is essential for accurate powerboat performance prediction. No other software does this.
• Only software that accurately considers aerodynamic 'Ground Effects' analysis .
• Validated by full-scale real-world hull proving, wind tunnel and water channel testing.
• Accuracy in predictive performance is typically within ±1%.

User Support and Documentation: 

• Includes a detailed page printed User Manual
• On-screen context-sensitive help
• On-line Help Manual with quick-click shortcuts.
• Hover-over help tips
• Installation  via CD or USB.
• Extensive video tutorials
• Regular software updates - continuous updates and new features for 25+ years [check out newest updates here]
• Outstanding personal support directly from developer.
• Published design articles and white papers

Testimonials 

• “I just received my TBDP and I LOVE it! The new features are FANTASTIC!” - RJ, Australia
• “It saved me ten times the cost by allowing me to optimize before building.” - Glenn L., Florida
• “Easy for novices and powerful for experts. The help file is a goldmine of performance knowledge.” - Greg Terzian, Scream&Fly Magazine
• "I highly recommend the Tunnel Boat Design software. It allowed us to build a boat from the ground up, and test it without having to build a prototype first. .. it tested within 0.1 mph of the projected speed. - Mike Breslin, Sport C World Champion
• See More testimonials here

Who Uses VBDP®?

• Recreational tunnel and vee hulls
• Power Cats
• Patrol craft
• Ferries
• Work boats
• Pontoon/Tritoon boats
• Racing tunnel boats
• Racing Vee boats
• Vee and vee-pad hull owners/designers
• Commercial catamarans
• Modified tunnel (Mod-VP)
• Fishing boats
• Bass boats
• Offshore cats
• Circuit racing teams (F1/IOGP)
• Ocean racers (OPC)
• Whitewater jet boats,
• Military hulls
• Utility boats
• RC performance model builders
• Cruisers
• High speed yachts
• ...much more
  

Sept 2019 - "I just received my TBDP (Version 8.2), and I LOVE it!  The new features are FANTASTIC!  Thank you AeroMarine [RJ, Australia]