strakes ??

[river critter]

New to pontoons have seen alot of posts about them have searched it and not found what I'm looking for so.
WHAT ARE THEY ?
Anybody got pictures? .

 

[Cuttymcgavin]

Re: strakes ??

Lifting strakes are flat aluminum fins that run along the pontoon logs. They are anywhere from 2-6 inches wide. They usually run almost full length on the inside and outside portions of the log. They create a flatter surface and if enough power is involve will help get the pontoon up on plane more like a boat with a hull. When up on more of a plan, the boat goes faster, turns better and is more fuel effecient. There is also a product called the waterglide that does the same thing only it acts also like a 3rd toon and adds about another 700lbs of bouyancy. I have been trying to figure out which way to go on mine, even maybe just a 3rd toon.

 

[river critter]

Re: strakes ??

Thanks for the pictures mcgavin now I understand them .

 

[Cuttymcgavin]

Re: strakes ??

no problem, if you ever get them let me know how u like them, I am probably going to sit on my decision until next season on the 3rd toon, waterglide or lifting strakes.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: strakes ??

Cuttymcgavin: Thanks for the pics. I found it interesting that those strakes are closed. I forget which now, and I tried to find it but couldn't, but one companie's strake design was a bunch of small tubes, bundle together and sheathed, but still open on at least the stern end. I would imagine they were closed on the bow end, and now I appreciate that design. While I suspect it takes more material, is more expensive to build, at least it is not a hollow cavity. If I ever find the manufacturer, I'll post back.

[update] Found it:

http://www.allianceboating.com/boatpics/178ttFdf40.jpeg

 

[5150abf]

Re: strakes ??

I have seen many many different variations on the foil-chine, alot of it is because of patents, some of them are pretty goofy looking but hydrodynamics are kinda funny, just because it looks like it won't work doesn't mean it won't.

I am with Bennington and we use both sealed foils and open chines, R&D did alot of tinkering to get them to work right.

The thing wiht chines is you need a fair amount of power to get them to work right, on a 22 for instance 90 is about minimum and ti is sort of hard ot just add chines to a boat and get it right the first time.

If you are going to add them to yours and the company that built your boat doesn't offer them I woudl go long and cut them down till they work like you want.