A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine includes at least
two hulls and a wing-like deck structure spanning the two hulls (a
floating wing). Port and starboard skirts combine with the deck structure
to form port and starboard planing channels. The deck structure includes
an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of
the deck structure in order to provide aerodynamic lift. Preferably, a
speed-responsive exhaust proportioning system vents exhaust at vertical
steps in planing surfaces on the hulls to reduce drag, increase lift, and
reduce thermal signature. One embodiment includes hinged laterally
extending deck extensions that an operator can raise to reduce vessel
breadth during docking, upwardly extending barriers on the deck
extensions that reduce the escape of wind laterally, and hinged flap
structures disposed rearwardly that enable an operator to adjust vessel
trim.