I've got a 21' bayliner CC with the mercruiser alpha 1 stern drive setup. Has anyone used a hydrofoil? Are they worth 200 bucks or are they just a waste of money. I'd appreciate any input.
Experience speaks volumes in these matters. I've run hydrofoils on all my boats and would not do without. I had a 25' Sundancer with tabs and with a foil. The foil did make a difference but not as much as they did/do on my smaller boats. I would put tabs on your boat before a foil. Foils are definately cheap investment in case you dont like it. I dont know where you ger $200. I bought mine for less than 50 CDN at the time.
Where are you getting a Hydrofoil for $200? I've seen them on Overton's web site for like 50 bucks: Overton's Hydrofoil Search<br /><br />For $50 or $60, I think it's worth a try. I put one on my 18' bowrider with a 3.0L and it really helped the hole shot and I was able to stay on plane at lower speeds.
This topic has been covered here no less than 200 times. Use the search function for "hydrofoil" and you can read for weeks. <br /><br />I put a Stingray foil on my 18 foot 3.0 runabout. Absolutely hated what it did to my steering and sold it on Ebay. I agree with others, price is closer to $50, not $200. If $200 is your budget, get Smart Tabs. A far superior product, IMO.
Smart Tabs....Hands down a far better product. The hydrofoil should be out of the water by the time you are on plane. Smart Tabs work before, during, and after planing.
OK, I ordered the smart tabs today. What I'm looking to do is keep the bow down during acceleration. The hydrofoils for 200 bucks were permatrims, but if after I install the tabs I still want a hydrofoil I will be buying from overtons. Thanks
Don't fit both, the tabs will work wonders for your boat but if you fit the hydrofoil as well it will mess up the handling, I had a foil and removed it to fit the tabs. I loved the way it transformed the boat, I put the foil back on to see what would happen and the result was a very 'wooden' steering feel and the foil actually works against the tabs and upsets the handling.
Paulie0735;<br /><br />I am pleased that you provided that input. I am sure when I tell people not to use both they think I am biased. That may be true but using both product has always created poor handling characteristics when we tested. Once the boat is on plane the amount of stern lift should be limited, otherwise you will drive the bow down and cause bow steering etc.
Hear is a quick story about hydrofoil that i had on my boat. When i bought this boat it had hydrofoil on it and the boat could get up on plan perfectly fine. the boat is a 16' tri-hull with a 25hp on it that dry weight about 1500lb with all the gear and gas live well ect it weight about 2200lb. With the hydrofoil on the boat i thought it was lifting too high on the front and was not picking up speed the way it should. I would cruise the lake at about 20-21mph. Well last weekend i took the boat out to the lake and took the hydrofoil off just to try and see what the boat would do. What a difference, the boat came on plan evenly, not the big front end lift. The ride was much much smother with out the hydrofoil on it and the top end speed i was reaching was 25-27mph. So guess it is time to fill in the holes where the hydrofoil bolted on. Now in my situation i think hydrofoil was a waste of money and decrees my performance. But you guy are talk about larger boats and i just wanted to express my experience with you. So i hope it all made since and hope whatever you try work out for you.
Wow! 2200lbs 25hp = 25-27mph.....Was this in a anti gravity environment? Call Guinness!!!<br />Hydrofoils work great in some situations and not in others. They were a great option to have before the invention of smart tabs.<br />Just go with Smart Tabs, I did and believe me...there worth it!
No kidding! I was about to express the same awe. I'm surprised 25hp will even lift a 2200 lb onto the plane. A buddy of mine had a 16' Ebbtide tri-hull with a 60 hp that wouldnt reach 30. My boat is maybe 1700 with 90 hp and there are times under heavy load that I CANT get on a plane without the hydrofoil. <br />I am also surprised the hyrdofoil can be that detrimental to performance. I could beleive at least non benefitial. Is it possible to mount them upside down?
No way 16ft 25-27mph. I have a 16ft trihull thats wieghs exactly the same. It came with a 50hp and barely made 25mph at wot. Put a 85hp on it now I cruise at 25-27 and top end at 33-35 depending on load Im sorry Jonnjr but you have hp wrong there is no posible way. Or you live in a lesser gravity enviroment..
I put a hydrofoil on my stern drive Sea Ray 175 with a 4.3 Merc. I took it off ten minutes later. The boat listed to the side pretty badly from the get go. Changed the boat to the point it didn't feel stable. I turned around, and took it off without ever leaving the water. In my case it was horrible
I have one on my 25 ft aquasport walk around it made a big change. as far as the 200 bucks thing not that high about 50 bone new check ebay they always have them under sting ray hydrofoils . i got mine for 20 bucks
Dang Johnjr18, I need to get that 25 horse from ya. I have 125 horses of perfect running Merc power on a boat that weighs a good 1800+ pounds and I feel pretty darn happy when I get to about 38 mph.<br /><br />I put a foil on my rig and what it allowed me to do was trim the motor out (no power trim) so I have a better top end than before, and a better holeshot than before. You do have to tweek your trim and motor height when you put a foil on, you don't just stick it on and go. I do want to get some Smart Tabs (I say it every year), but in all honesty my boat works fine (could alwys be better), and by the time I remember I want them the season is over..
Dang Johnjr18, I need to get that 25 horse from ya. I have 125 horses of perfect running Merc power on a boat that weighs a good 1800+ pounds and I feel pretty darn happy when I get to about 38 mph.<br /><br />I put a foil on my rig and what it allowed me to do was trim the motor out (no power trim) so I have a better top end than before, and a better holeshot than before. You do have to tweek your trim and motor height when you put a foil on, you don't just stick it on and go. I do want to get some Smart Tabs (I say it every year), but in all honesty my boat works fine (could alwys be better), and by the time I remember I want them the season is over..
