The advantages of a displacement hull (Full Displacement Hull)
When Bering decided to build its first motor yacht, the company chose a 65-foot design from a Norwegian fishing trawler as its prototype. Vessels of this type have been used aggressively for decades and have proven themselves as safe and efficient fishing platforms. Bering left the yachts' hull form untouched and developed a superstructure and interior that improves accommodations for permanent living aboard and travel. The result of this collaboration is a bold, seaworthy passagemaker that not only meets stringent commercial safety standards, but also offers a comfortable and reassuring cruising experience on the high seas.
They say the ocean never changes, but we adapt around it. While designers use exotic materials and novel design concepts to search for the perfect hull shape that can finally somehow conquer Mother Nature's challenges, one fact remains, hydrodynamics never change. Decades of real-world experience show that a heavy, full displacement hull with a carefully designed buoyancy chamber and low center of gravity provides a very comfortable, stable and safe passage.
Bering trawlers are heavy displacement yachts with a hard-sided hull, which is the most common hull shape used in commercial shipping. Unlike vessels with rounded ribs, this hull shape helps minimize roll and increases the vessel's stability at anchor and while underway. Bering is proud to say that the boats are heavy and massive. The marketing campaigns of other manufacturers may lead you to believe that weight is an enemy of a properly designed boat. But again, it depends on what you are designing for. If the design criteria call for high design speeds and trailerability, then of course the lighter the better. But when we're talking about vessels that are going to sea for extended periods of time, exposed to potentially dangerous and uncomfortable sea conditions, weight quickly becomes your ally.
A properly balanced, heavy, displacement boat has a slower roll moment, among other advantages. A vessel that rises too quickly is one (if not the main) cause of seasickness. A "biting" or abrupt roll moment is not only uncomfortable for the crew, but also places additional dynamic stress on the vessel and its systems. The contents of the tanks slosh more violently, putting additional stress on the walls and covers. Heavy machinery and equipment such as engines and battery banks generate large moments of inertia when rolling momentum snaps and transmit additional forces to propulsion and steering systems, leading to excessive wear and premature failure.
A smooth ride is of paramount importance to ensure that both the crew and the vessel arrive at their destination safe and sound. A heavy boat, with or without stabilization, provides a level of passive stability that no lightweight vessel can offer.
