STARCO BOATS hull design features and benefits:
- proven stable, safe and seaworthy
- very fuel efficient for economical motoring
- virtually unsinkable, due to the self bailing deck and foam filled buoyancy compartments
- V-bow entry for cutting through the chop
- low draft allows running through shallows
- durable strong fibreglass construction
- delta planing pad for fast planing and beach landings
The original panga boat hull was designed to be a strong, durable, stable, seaworthy, fuel efficient craft that could carry heavy loads and run through shallow waters.
The STARCO boat is a modern improved version of the panga. the STARCO incorporates a V-bow entry, to cut through a chop while its narrow long length hull connects the chop with minimal resistance resulting in a smooth comfortable ride.
The V-entry transitions into a long narrow triangle shaped flat or concave planing pad . It is this planing pad, characteristic of the panga, called delta pad, that makes it such a fuel efficient and versatile boat.
The STARCO has a very shallow draft due to the low angle dead rise and the planing pad. This allows the STARCO to be launched and retrieved straight of the beach in water as shallow as 20 cm.
The STARCO panga boat is very stable at rest due to the low angle deadrise and wide reverse chines which run from the bow through to the stern.
The reverse chines at the bow are very pronounced. they ensure that the water the boat cuts through is deflected away from the boat to guarantee a dry ride.
Another great feature of the STARCO is its large functional non slip deck, that is self draining through side scuppers.
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A foam-filled box beam providing lateral strength and adding buoyancy
- foam-filled buoyancy compartment
- rigid strong box section for strength
- sheds the water away from the boat when cutting into steep chop
- with the seas from behind, as it planes into the back of a wave it sheds water away and lifts the bow, to ensure a dry ride even in rough seas
tHE DELtA PLANINg PAD
A deep forefoot transitions to a proprietary flat or concave planing surface, the delta pad - a flat triangle with its 30-40cm wide base at the transom, tapering to a 5cm width towards the bow.
- gives a unique ride with easy, fast, low friction, fuel efficient planing
- once the boat planes it rides on this pad and skips along the top of the waves using minimum power and getting maximum speed, riding on a rail
- combined with the low angle deadrise and the reverse chines make this boat very stable at rest
- a very low draft allows for running through shallows, and launching and retrieving in water as little as 20cm deep
- strong thick fibreglass pad for beach landings
the panga boat has a V-entry that cuts the chop, but the boat's length and the delta pad allows it to skip along the top of waves instead of plowing through them like a deep V-hull.
- sharp entry to the water reduces shock or pounding as the boat hits waves, and cuts through the chop
- in combination with the long length of the boat (bridging across the chop) and the delta pad, the V-entry provides a smooth comfortable ride
- cuts and planes over the chop with minimal hp required
Originally panga boat fishermen pulled up their nets while standing on the bow. The height of the bow prevents it from dipping to the waterline under the weight of heavy nets.
- provides a dry ride as in combination with the reverse chines
- with the seas from behind as the boat planes/surfs at high speed into the back of a wave, the height of the bow prevents it from diving into the wave.
The angle of the hull coming off the delta pad varies to suit different purposes
- panga boats intended for offshore use have a higher dead rise angle, like the 22 ft panga with a 22 degree angle for a more comfortable ride
- 14-19ft panga boats have a lower angle deadrise and combined with the planing pad are excellent for running and launching in shallows
LoNg NArroW HULL
the STARCO panga boat has an average length to beam ration of 4:1.1
- a very narrow beam to slice through the water
- at high speeds a long narrow boat has less frontal area to bang through waves than a shorter, wider boat
- at displacement (non-planing) speeds, a long narrow boat is faster than a short boat of the same capacity (displacement)
- A long, skinny boat like the starco rides better and will be more fuel efficient than a short wide boat of the same capacity and hull design
As well as deflecting water and spray from the hull the lifting strakes also provide dynamic lift - they physically help lift the hull higher out of the water to allow fast, low friction economical planing.
While many boat designs include this feature, our version is very pronounced and results in as dry a ride as you'll find.
- very pronounced reverse chines continuous over the whole length of the hull assists with planing
- the chines deflects water away from the bow rather then letting it rise up and be blown over the boat's occupants
- add to the stability of the boat in combination with the low dead rise and the planing pad when the boat is at rest or anchored