Should I get a hyrofoil?

[causeofhim]

I have a 20.5ft Seaswirl with a 175 Merc. Would I improve my boats performance and handling by adding a Stingray Hydrofoil?

 

[DJ]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

IMHO-----NO!

There are a lot of other things to be done before you resort to that.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

um... no

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

Chances are slim.

Do you have a problem that needs attention, or something in mind you want to improve?

 

[causeofhim]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

IMHO-----NO!

There are a lot of other things to be done before you resort to that.

Like what?

 

[causeofhim]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

Chances are slim.

Do you have a problem that needs attention, or something in mind you want to improve?

No major problem. I was just reading their sales pitch; planing out sooner, better hole shot, and improved gas milage sounds great!

 

[SeanT]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

I think in general you do plane out a bit sooner with a foil, but I don't think the hole shot is much better or the mileage.

A better way to get those is smart tabs. Foils are really cheap though and easy to try and see if there's a difference. Don't just put one on thinking it'll help though. Try it and decide for yourself.

 

[causeofhim]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

I think in general you do plane out a bit sooner with a foil, but I don't think the hole shot is much better or the mileage.

A better way to get those is smart tabs. Foils are really cheap though and easy to try and see if there's a difference. Don't just put one on thinking it'll help though. Try it and decide for yourself.

I looked into the smart tabs, but they seem like they would be in the way of the ladder and getting on and off the boat (in and out of the water). The boat is used for watersports the majority of the time.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

Yep, installation of smart tabs is more invasive than a foil. My message was mainly to say don't believe the hype. There's lots of debate on these boards about them.

I had one on my last IO (the boat before the one I have now), and I thought it was fine. I think smart tabs would have been better though, but I never got around to it.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Should I get a hyrofoil?

What prop are you running - you would be better spending money here than on the wing....