The snout on Loco although fairly narrow low down becomes wide quite quickly due to the hull shape. This has the effect of slowing the boat down quickly in waves. If anything this was more of a cause for our many capsizes than a lack of bouyancy in having a dolphin striker to support the bow tube. On the other hand it also made for some very funny moments when the hull stopped and the rig and crew carried on at 14 knots.
Yep.
Hull shape flare is a bit different to a built in snout in terms of increasing pitching, and as Phil says there are other benefits to a snout.