REASON #1: Tideline’s non-stepped hull provides superior handling characteristics and less handling quirks than its stepped hull counterparts. Tideline has a non-stepped, fully planing, symmetrical, catamaran hull. Stepped hull cats (not Tideline) ride differently at lower speeds than they do at faster speeds. Tideline’s hulls ride the same across all speeds, all sea conditions, and all sea angles making them much easier to operate and much more user friendly than the stepped hull cats. Stepped hull cats (not Tideline) ride differently in slick calm water than they ride in rough or choppy conditions. Tidelines ride the same in all sea conditions and sea angles and do not require constant changes in trim angles and throttle adjustments. Stepped hull cats (not Tideline) tend to “chine walk” (a side to side rocking) in calm water because they are designed to achieve high speeds by reducing wetted surface area, which inherently compromises lateral stability. The hull often balances on a very narrow pad at high speeds, and the introduction of air by the steps, combined with motor torque, leads to instability.

REASON #2: Tideline’s non-stepped hull provides a smoother, more comfortable, more predictable ride in all sea conditions than a stepped hull. There are tradeoffs with all hull design variations. The benefit of the stepped hulls (not Tidelines) is faster top end speed and superior fuel efficiency when going fast enough for the steps to be a factor. One tradeoff for the increased speed and efficiency of a stepped hull is less wetted surface area and a reduced ability to cushion the ride in rougher seas and chop. Stepped hull boats (not Tideline) are inherently less stable than non-stepped hulls (Tideline).

If you wish to go 80 miles per hour, then Tideline is probably not the boat for you. If you wish to have the smoothest, most comfortable ride possible, then Tideline probably is the boat for you.

(Note that the Tideline 365 has a cruise of 1.5 miles per gallon at 40-42 miles per hour with twin 425 HP Mercury engines or 1.1 miles per gallon at 40 miles per hour with quad 300 HP Mercury engines. The fuel efficiency of the Tideline 365 is at least as good, if not better than most other non-stepped cat hulls in this size class. The Tideline 365 with twin 425 Mercs has a top speed around 60 miles per hour. The Tideline 365 with quad 300 Mercs has a top speed close to 70 miles per hour.)

REASON #3: The Tideline 365 can plane on a single engine, most all stepped hull cats cannot. The Tideline 365 rigged with twin Mercury 425 engines can plane on a single engine and achieve speeds of 25-30 mph. This is a great benefit and safety feature for offshore fisherman. If you’re 60 miles offshore and engine goes down, you don’t want to have to creep home at 8 miles per hour.

REASON #4: The Tideline 365 can plane at speeds as low as 12 miles per hour. This is a great benefit when the weather turns nasty and you need slog through really rough seas. Stepped hull cats (not Tideline), do not ride nearly as well as slower speeds and most will not plane at speeds as low as 12 miles per hour. Stepped hull cats (not-Tideline) perform poorly, exhibit sluggish handling, and suffer from increased drag and reduced fuel efficiency in the 10 to 20 miles per hour range because they are operating outside of their designed efficiency envelope. At these speeds, the steps are filled with water and cannot draw in air. The ride of stepped hull cats (not Tideline) flattens out and efficiency improves when speeds reach 25-30 mph. Another benefit of the slow planing speed is for high speed trolling. Tidelines are extremely stable while trolling and at both slower and higher trolling speeds.

REASON #5: Transducers perform much better on Tideline’s non-stepped hulls than they do on a stepped hull catamaran. Transducers struggle on stepped hull cats (not Tideline) due to high levels of aeration, bubbles, and turbulence created by the steps, which break the sonar signal. If transducers are placed near the transom, behind the steps, the aeration caused by the steps will interfere with the sonar signal. If transducers are placed forward of the steps, meaning they are placed midship or forward of midship, the hull bottom this far forward does not reliably stay in the water in rough conditions, which will also disrupt the sonal signal.

REASON #6: Tideline’s bow height allows for use of a 6-foot gaff, even at the bow. Most of the other catamarans in 365 size class require 8+ foot gaffs in order to effectively reach the water. A 6-foot gaff is generally considered to be the best all-around gaff for offshore fishing and is easier to handle and control than longer gaffs. Even though the ride of the Tideline 365 is smooth and dry, the bow height is lower off of the water than most of the other big catamarans. Due to the higher gunwale heights and bow heights of most of the other offshore catamarans, 8+ foot gaffs are required on these boats in order to reach the water effectively.

REASON #7: Tideline’s Carolina Flare provides a purpose and is more than just for looks. One of the trademarks of Tideline Boats is our Carolina Flare. While many think the purpose of the flare is primarily for aesthetics or to deflect spray, the real purpose is to improve bow entry and prevent bow stuffing. The bow flare on a Tideline enables our boats to have a very fine, sharp entry, which allows them to cut through seas for a smoother ride, while the wide “spoon” of the bow flare widens rapidly, which increases buoyancy. This helps the bow rise up over the waves and prevents it from stuffing down into them.