Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

[boatgrunt]

Don't know if I am using the correct term, but I had two fins or wing-looking devices mounted to my sterndrive. I must have hit something, because one of the fins and the metal that held it in place broke off. I've since taken the other fin off, and the boat appears to run fine. What are the pros/cons to the sterndrive fins?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Most view them as completely unnecessary and not helpful. Leave them off.

 

[etbill52]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Most view them as completely unnecessary and not helpful. Leave them off.

I agree, my boat had then, first thing I did was take it off,

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Grunt, They are used to provide lift to the stern of the boat to get on plane faster. Depending on your boat's size, weight and power, they may or may not help. Trim tabs are a much better product, but cost 8 times as much.

I know some folks who think the "fins" are a great product. I bought the trim tabs instead, since they have more flexibility.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

....Trim tabs are a much better product, but cost 8 times as much....

A st of Smart Tabs will only set you back $100-150 for a set.

 

[QC]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

A st of Smart Tabs will only set you back $100-150 for a set.

Yeah that's 8 times the cost of a POS Hydrofoil on eBay that a guy put up for auction after coming here and finding out it was a POS. Get rid of that thing and don't look back!!!

 

[jspringator]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

I have a short 21' (measured the old way) aft cabin cruiser (Bayliner Ciera 2150) that is extremely stern heavy. They helped me get on plane faster with less trim tab action. If your boat has some sort of problem, they can help. If your boat is properly set up, you don't need them.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

I think there are situations where they help. If I'm going where I know the water will be rough and am gonna have more than 4 people in my boat, I put mine on. It lets me get (and stay) on plane at a lower speed. Other than this instance, however, I never use it....but I don't consider it to be a useless piece of junk as most do.

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

I think there are situations where they help. If I'm going where I know the water will be rough and am gonna have more than 4 people in my boat, I put mine on. It lets me get (and stay) on plane at a lower speed. Other than this instance, however, I never use it....but I don't consider it to be a useless piece of junk as most do.

We used to install one when the kids were wanting to trick ski to allow the boat to stay on plane at a lower speed. It was kept with the trick skis and only used with them.
Like you say, not a useless piece of junk, but probably not really necessary if the boat is set up correctly and powered correctly.

 

[Don S]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Moving to Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)

 

[Firestar]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

They can be dangerous on certain boats, under certain conditions. I saw an older 16ft Baja with an outboard running wide open on a river veer hard right into the shore. There was about a forty foot tree laing on the shore. The boat went between two large branches that bifurcated from the main trunk. When the boat stopped it was crushed in the V where the branches met the trunk.
The driver told me the wheel pulled hard so hard it hurt his wrist as he was making a slight steering correction with the engine trimmed out for speed.

I gave them a ride back to the boat launch. They were all really rattled. It shook me just watching it happen. I thought someone would have major injuries. They were lucky.

As far as I'm concerned it's whale tails for the loss.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Shabah, I do not consider Smart Tabs to be equal to trim tabs. Smart Tabs may be superior to the "Whale Tails".

 

[180shabah]

Re: Sterndrive "fins" necessary?

Shabah, I do not consider Smart Tabs to be equal to trim tabs.

Neither does anybody else. Your implication was that he had to spend $600 plus dollars for a set of adjustable tabs, This just is not the case. For most owners of smaller boats, Smart Tabs are a viable solution and they are reletively inexpensive.