The paper presents a method for the determination of the critical minimum scantlings for small high-speed vessels. Particular attention is given to the shell plating strength for hydrodynamic impact loads. The suggested method uses an integrated approach involving assumed loads, suggested safety factors, and preferred stress-analysis method. The stress analysis uses plastic theory based partly on the works of J. Clarkson and Thein Wah. Included in the paper is a comparison of the relative structural strength of several commercial, military, and experimental hydrofoil vessels along with a few planing boats and a seaplane hull. This shows the variation of existing vessel structures and compares them to the results obtained by the suggested method. Most commercial, military, and recreational vessels exceed the minimum scantlings of the suggested method. The most significant deviation is the hull of the seaplane:
