feel the bottom

feel the bottom

[¦fēlthə ′bäd·əm] (navigation) The effect on a ship underway in shallow water which tends to reduce its speed, make it slow in answering the helm, and often make it sheer off course; the speed reduction is largely due to increased wave making resistance resulting from higher pressure differences due to restriction of flow around the hull; the increased velocity of the water flowing past the hull results in an increase in squat. Also known as smell the bottom.