Hard chines versus soft on scows

[Tim B]

I didn't want to hijack Will's post about the new scow design. Looking at it
got me wondering about how the hard chine affects performance compared to
the scows built with a round bilge. I don't know of any two designs that are similar
in all other ways except hard/soft bilge, so a direct comparison probably isn't possible.
Any comments?

[WWheeler]

Tim: Hijack away.

Hard chine is claimed to provide greater secondary stability, and provides a kind of secondary keel when heeled over. (The chine present a v-shape when the hull angle approaches 45 degrees). I'm not sure whether this has ever been tested - hard chine is easier to build in plywood, so the forgoing may be just a rationalization. On the other hand, sharpies and some Atkin designs were hard chined even before plywood. (I've seen an Atkin design built 1934 in these vintage.)