Re: DIY hydrofoil/stabilizer for small outboards on underpowered boats...... success!
Final choice = the Junior. Many know already I own 2 OB's an OMC 9.9 and a Force 15 hp. Mounted on a 14 footer fiber and with 2 passenger onboard the 9.9 will hardly plane an will labor keeping on plane with a head wind. The 15 hp cures all that but is a noisier motor and will not idle smooth with fishing. Now I installed the hydrofin Jr. on the 9.9 and the result is this: Takes the boat on plane almost as fast as the 15 hp, top speed has noticebly increased, and will keep the boat on plane with reduced trottle. Basicialy if behaves like the 15 hp. It is important to have the trim ajustement fully inward to get those results. I could not be happier. Cheers.
Nb: I know the post is not old, but thought my feedback could help those wondering about the impact of installing a hydrofoil on a smalll OB"
Awesome. Glad to see this worked out for you. Like many of the naysayers, I'm personally skeptical that a hydrofoil is all that useful on larger boats that have a much higher power-to-weight ratio, but on our smaller underpowered boats, which are also really light and a challenge to balance properly, I think they are great.
I actually just upgraded to a 7.5hp that I got for a steal (1983, used only as a kicker). It will plane the boat out if the situations are *just right* and hit 14mph, but I just put the fin on it today (It's the same motor foot, so it fit perfectly) and I'll be taking it out today for trials. I expect it to plane out much more predictably and possibly hit 17-20mph.
