outboard hydro foil?

[jacoboregon]

I have a bombard C3 with a 40hp that I'm thinking about putting a stabilizer on. I hear and read LOTS of pros/cons, but would like to hear from actual users, no antidotal thoughts. I'm at the max hp for my boat. It gets on plane quickly, but with tremendous bow rise. It then takes off and I have to quickly throttle down. Not too bad, but I'd like to get on plane without as much bow rise and be able to cruise slower while on plane. Lastly, does anyone have any idea where to find used ones, rather than spend the money for a new if it's not what I decide to keep.
Thanks

 

[Syzygy]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

Hi Jacob,

For what you are looking to accomplish, I would go with the Smart Tabs by Nauticus. Have used them on several boats and they do the job perfectly. They also stabilize at high speed, not something that you asked for, but not uncommon with lighter loads, in particular.

Their biggest benefit is lower bow rise out of the hole to get on plane, while also being able to maintain plane position without being at higher throttle.

Check them out on their website http://www.nauticusinc.com/

I swear by them and know many others who do as well.

I have tried many Doel-Fins and StingRay planing tabs and the Smart Tabs win over, in every application tested ove the years.

S-

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

Bow rise is an issue typically experinced when boating solo, will need to distribute your weight forward or place a mate up front, if not, try with one trim hole less from actual setting and check if sib planes faster. Trim Tabs are good alternatives to doel fins, in some world locations doel fins can turn into garbagge collectors of kelp, plastics, amen!!

Happy Boating

 

[steelespike]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

I would suspect that being an inflateable there isn't any place for tabs.
I don't like foils.but I have had them on 2 comepleytely different boats.A 18 ft glass I/O and a 15ft aluminum outboard.The foils did very well. However if the setup isn't right they can cause strange handling lower speed and wasted fuel.
If its a tiller I like a tiller extension better. Also a 4 blade prop should help it get up easier with less bow rise,it should stay flatter at reduced throttle.
Usually the 4bld will be slightly slower.If you raise the motor on the transom it may help slightly.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

I would suspect that being an inflateable there isn't any place for tabs.

You can place trim tabs on any inlatable, just buy the correcy size, are screwed to lower transom side tubes. Agreed with you, personally deslike foils, any boat will plane much faster if well trimmed and weight properly distributed inside deck to achieve correct ballance.

Happy Boating

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

You can place trim tabs on any inlatable, just buy the correcy size, are screwed to lower transom side tubes. Agreed with you, personally deslike foils, any boat will plane much faster if well trimmed and weight properly distributed inside deck to achieve correct ballance.

Happy Boating

I guess that's the problem with sib's, isn't it.... trying to "balance the load" when you're the only one aboard with minimal gear. I agree any boat will plane faster when set-up correctly. However, even a correctly set-up sib will have significant bow-rise on take-off even if it planes quickly. Thus the use of hydrofoils and trim tabs.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

I guess that's the problem with sib's, isn't it.... trying to "balance the load" when you're the only one aboard with minimal gear. I agree any boat will plane faster when set-up correctly. However, even a correctly set-up sib will have significant bow-rise on take-off even if it planes quickly. Thus the use of hydrofoils and trim tabs.

Yes, most inflatables are very light in the front end. More weight in the back. Smart tabs is the way to go imo. They make some specifically for inflatables.

 

[likalar]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

My 14' Gregor (aluminum) boat was set up with a 20hp tiller 4-stroke, and I wanted nearly the entire normal load at the rear of the boat. That includes me, the dog, 2 batteries, 3-6 gallons fuel, storage bags, etc....I wanted to keep the front 2/3 of the boat as uncluttered as possible. First time out, the boat was difficult to get on plane. The bow rose up high, and stayed there. Some rearrangement solved the problem, but I was not too keen on moving the fuel or batteries permanently to the front, so I ponied up for a Doelfin. Instant success! The boat gets on plane in just seconds, the bow never gets very high, and it tops out at nearly 24mph. I'm sure the fin has a slight speed penalty, but it's worth it. Tabs may have done the job just as well, and maybe with less speed penalty. So, I'm an actual user of a Doelfin, and couldn't be happier. Good luck!

Larry

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

I want to thank everyone for their input. I am going to go ahead and try the smart tabs, and make a launch-cart for those times I don't have good access to a ramp. I'll update my experience when I get them and try them out.

 

[MEK]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

I've always considered a hydrofoil stabilizer a must on any inflatable boat. In my experience the stabilizers do put the boats on plane much faster with less bow rise. And they keep it there at lower speeds and make the boat much less affected by weight distribution. As for the claims of increased top end and better fuel mileage I'd say thats probably marketing. I'll always run one.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: outboard hydro foil?

Well, I bought the tabs suggested by nauticus, however used and not from them. They are not working out as I hoped. However, Nauticus is being very gracious and working with me to see if we can get them to work. Worse comes to worse I should be able to sell them for what I paid, and only be out the time I've spent to earn an education!