[TexasGator]

"No, horse power can’t on a displacement vessel. At least not without sinking."

Hull Speed: 28 knots

Top Speed: 45 knots

[null and void]

Fantasque!

[Cold Heart]

This is where a good marine architect can shine by making a longer effective hull length as the speed increases.

[Magnum44]

My best recollection, being an aviator, not a surface guy, is that you are correct in that hull speed is like a knee in the curve of power vs speed. As you state, obviously you can go faster than hull speed, but at great expense in horsepower.