Hydrofoil

[kar5383]

I know there is alot of threads on this but could not find any to help me. I have a 17' center conslole and was wondering if anyone was running a 60hp 4 stroke with a hydrofoil. If so did it help? What brand? And will it mess up the motor at all? The boat is kinda slow out of the hole so just looking to plane out a little quicker. Thanks for any advice.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Hydrofoil

Here we go again!

If you haven't done so already, try redistributing the weight more forward in your boat...also make sure passengers move forward while trying to plane off.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Hydrofoil

You're underpowered. Smart tabs may help.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Hydrofoil

I am not a fan of any brand "foil" as I see to many broken cavatation plates and some handling issues with them. Best bet is a set of tabs...

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Hydrofoil

I am not a fan of any brand "foil" as I see to many broken cavatation plates and some handling issues with them. Best bet is a set of tabs...

I tried one and it produced too much drag and slowed me down..took it off. Anything that produces lift also produces drag.

 

[cribber]

Re: Hydrofoil

You're underpowered. Smart tabs may help.

What EZ said ^^^ or possibly good down an inch in pitch on your prop and that's explained in the sticky under the Prop thread.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Hydrofoil

Yep, those are your fixes. Spend $3000 on a new engine, or $230 on Smart Tabs, or $200 on a prop, or maybe $50 on a small Stingray hydrofoil. (Perhaps you could find any of these used for 1/2 price)

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Hydrofoil

Smart tabs, probably less than $150.00 for your size boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Hydrofoil

or a prop less than 150 new or maybe 50 used..... personally, I will NEVER put a foil on anything.... while it may do some good there are better solutions out there without the potential side effects

I've had a foil on 4 different boats.... one, an underpowered 12' tinny was mildly better with it and the other 3 had odd handling issues and on one 20' with a v8 mercruiser alpha my anti-cav plate did get broken by it... I have since pulled and tossed any that come into my possession on boats without even testing them

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Hydrofoil

I tried one and it produced too much drag and slowed me down..took it off. Anything that produces lift also produces drag.

That's not necessarily true. They can actually increase your top speed, although they can reduce it as well. Some people are just against foils, period. Most people I know who have used them like them. I personally have never seen or heard first hand of anyone who had a broken ventilation plate because of one. If you can't afford a bigger engine, have your motor set-up properly, and still desire to get on plane quicker, and are tight for cash a foil is definitely worth a try. A foil can create chine walking if it creates too much lift, but not always or even usually. You can get a foil for anywhere from $25-$130. You can get smart-tabs around $100-$130 unless you find some used ones.
The short answer is that it very well may help, and it will not harm your motor or your transom. There are even attachment devices available that you do not have to drill your ventilation plate, however you are then approaching the price of smart-tabs.

I agree that smart-tabs are a better answer, but don't discount the foils if the tabs are not possible for you right now.

 

[TMALEGA]

Re: Hydrofoil

Ok as a person who just got done talking to nauticas. And no i dont work for them lol. Anyways i was told about the new sx series from them and have them on the way for 120 shipping included. I have a 16 ft with a 85 hp motor and the guy at nauticas swears they will be so much better then the foil i almost put on it. I have also been told by many many many local places that smart tabs are by far a better option for smaller boats then the foil since they will allow the motor to do what it is designed to do a lot easier. True or not it seems to be a very popular opinion out there. If you want i plan on putting them on tomorrow night and going to the lake saturday i will post how i like them or not on here for you. Not the same boats but it may be close enough to help out on your decision.

 

[gregk9]

Re: Hydrofoil

Yep, those are your fixes. Spend $3000 on a new engine, or $230 on Smart Tabs, or $200 on a prop, or maybe $50 on a small Stingray hydrofoil. (Perhaps you could find any of these used for 1/2 price)

60 bucks spent on a SE Sport 300 Hydrofoil was the best money I ever spent on my boat. MUCH better whole shot. Significantly lower planing speed and less proposing.

 

[QC]

Re: Hydrofoil

less proposing

Now that right there might get me to change my opinion on foils. My wife costs me $60 just waking up in the morning. Less proposing could be a huge savings . . .

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Hydrofoil

60 bucks spent on a SE Sport 300 Hydrofoil was the best money I ever spent on my boat. MUCH better whole shot. Significantly lower planing speed and less proposing.

When I got my rig..used, it had one of those on it.......
I read all the threads on the new smart tabs at the time (about 3 years ago).
Like the stress it puts on the outdrive and transom to lift the arse of the boat up....
Decided to try the smart tabs.......WILL NEVER LOOK BACK!
They do the same thing only better. and they don't stress the outdrive or transom plus.....
They inproved top end by 3 mph. Little to no drag!

 

[rallyart]

Re: Hydrofoil

The best part about the internet is:
If you ask enough people for their opinion you are going to find someone to tell you to do exactly what you wanted to do in the first place.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Hydrofoil

The best part about the internet is:
If you ask enough people for their opinion you are going to find someone to tell you to do exactly what you wanted to do in the first place.

Absolutely! But in my instance, I actually changed my mind to try the smart tabs, mostly because I was offered the right ones for my boat, used, at a great savings. I've used a foil before and it worked great for me in that instance and only cost $25. I'm stoked to try out the smart tabs when they arrive.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Hydrofoil

I don't know why I even click on these threads....but here goes.

Is a foil the correct product for your situation, probably not, other solutions like tabs might (would probably) be better.

I had a discussion with John from Nauticus about foils and tabs and it's documented in one of the thousands of other threads on this subject. And even he admitted that tabs and foils aren't designed to do the same thing, but that foils are frequently misused and it's why so many people "think" they are of no value. He said yes, a properly set up foil can improve performance. He uses all of the incorrect and misuse experiences to advertise with though. Nothing against him or the product, it works well, it?s just that he isn?t going to say anything good about a product that people ?think? does the same thing as his (foils don?t though) and he therefore needs to compete against.

If the OP actually did a search for ?foil? on this site he would be reading for days on the subject.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Hydrofoil

Ive used 4 different foils on 3 different boats... they worked well.... smart tabs/sx on current rig and absolutely LOVE them, best $130.00 i ever spent on a boat. No bow rise, almost instant on plane, says on plane at much lower speed, no affect on top end, better handling.

 

[kar5383]

Re: Hydrofoil

Thanks for all the info. I think i will prob go with the tabs more people seem to like them better and also i need to get a new prop and ive heard that will help too. And I def. will not be getting a new engine this one is brand new(40hrs to be exact)lol but the max for the boat is only a 75hp. I think it also has alot to do with the fact that its a 4stroke. Ive talked to people with bigger flats boats with bigger 4 strokes and say the thing. Now i have started using the original gas tank which is in the floor in the center of boat and seemed like that helped a little. Now my next question is what are a good brand and how do i know what size to use? Thanks again.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: Hydrofoil

Thanks for all the info. I think i will prob go with the tabs more people seem to like them better and also i need to get a new prop and ive heard that will help too. And I def. will not be getting a new engine this one is brand new(40hrs to be exact)lol but the max for the boat is only a 75hp. I think it also has alot to do with the fact that its a 4stroke. Ive talked to people with bigger flats boats with bigger 4 strokes and say the thing. Now i have started using the original gas tank which is in the floor in the center of boat and seemed like that helped a little. Now my next question is what are a good brand and how do i know what size to use? Thanks again.

nauticus smart tabs. Call them and tell them what you have and they'll tell you what you need.

www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabs.htm