Boat design and hull shapes

Hull speed

Also: boat speed

Hull speed is the speed a displacement boat can reach with reasonable effort. It depends mainly on the length of the waterline.

Packrafts are short and therefore slower than kayaks. Depending on boat, fitness and technique, about 3 to 5 km/h are realistic over longer periods, without current and wind. That matters for trip planning: 10 kilometres of lake crossing can take two to three hours.

Sources and further reading

Research as of 13 Nov 2026. We have marked manufacturer information as such.

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