The hydrodynamic characteristics of cambered plates were investigated in free stream and near the bottom. Five cambered plates of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% camber ratios with the same aspect ratio (λ=1.5) were used in the experiment. Three hydrodynamic components of these plates in free stream and near the bottom were measured in a circulating water tank. The differences in the maximum lift coefficient between those in free stream and those near the bottom were only slight. This means that the bottom has little effect on the hydrodynamic characteristics of cambered plates. Moreover, the maximum lift coefficient of the plate of CR=15% was maintained at approximately 1.6 near the bottom in the range of an attack angle from 15° to 27°, which is wider than the range from 18° to 27° in free stream.