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Old 12-28-2012, 06:43 AM   #6
RickB
Scraping Paint
 
City: Fort Lauderdale
Vessel Model: CHB 48 Zodiac YL 4.2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,804
A bulb is only effective for efficiency enhancement within a very narrow speed range, outside that range it only creates drag and you lose more than you gain by having it.

Maersk, the world's largest containership operator is making drastic modifications on the bulbs fitted to their ships because they discovered this after instituting what the industry calls "slow steaming" to save fuel.

They look cool though and everyone who sees the bulb will be impressed and it may add some bouyancy but is is worth it? You won't know until you either tank test your hull before and after or find out by experience.
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