Tank Test

The hull of a yacht is a very complicated hydrodynamic result. Unlike airplanes that involve only one element - air, yachts have to deal with water, air and their interface. The phenomenon is so complicated that no mathematical solution or computer simulation can analyze or predict it. The only realistic way to understand a yacht hull's performance is putting it in water and testing it.

A towing tank test, comparable to a wind tunnel for aerospace and automobile, is a downscaled test run of the designed yacht. A 1:8 to 1:12 scaled model is made and towed along a long tank (up to 300m.) A towing cart equipped with many sensors, processors and computers onboard is used to tow the model and collect/analyze the results on the fly. This is the most realistic and efficient way to fine-tune the hull.

Horizon has performed many tank tests cooperating with many famous international test tanks like SSPA, HSVA and many local academies like USDDC, NTU, NCKU, and NTOU. The recently performed test is a 85' hull with innovative concave bottom. The tank test was held in SSPA, sweden. Besides regular resistance test, a wave-encountering test was also performed to prove good seakeeping of the hull.