LOA vs. LWL: A design question

[shmorrell]

Hi all - relative newbie here, so forgive if this is a dumb question!

I'm looking at boats from the 80's, esp Morgan 38x designs.What is the point of designing a hull with a 38 foot LOA with a 30 foot waterline? Or to put it another way why not maximize the waterline to obtain a faster hull speed? Because really, who wouldn't rather go a little bit faster? (within reason)

Why design the stern to sit up out of the water, sacrificing waterline length, and also reducing interior volume? I imagine the answer has something to do with the motion of the boat in a seaway and/or heavy weather. But it seems to me that the overall shape of the hull is more relevant to this issue.

Also, can anyone recommend a book that discusses these elements of hull design?

Best to all,

Steve