RE: Texture on the bottom of a float?
The fastest boats on the water are the unlimited hydroplanes. At 200 MPH they are fast and stable, without using the orange peel effect. What they use is a flat running surface or a series of mini-steps along the bottom of the sponsons. They also use SHARP EDGES on the running surfaces to prevent the hull from being sucked down by the water. I think their design would be better for aircraft floats than the dimpled surface of a slow moving sail boat