Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

[Trav-is]

Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work and if so... were is the data to back up the claims of better fuel economy, faster hull shot and smother ride quality? I have done some research on the web and other than a few knuckle heads talking about there own personal experiences with the products, (no consistent claims of improved performance, these dudes are all over the road) there are no unbiased comprehensive reviews of the hydrofoils. There are two facts that I have excepted as most likely true: different hull designs, IE: v-hull vs flat bottom, yield different improvements/results from the foils and top end speed/ top end efficiency are reduced or adversely effected by the foils. I want the great claims boosted of fuel economy and performance at very affordable prices to rein true but anybody savvy in the boating industry knows there are a lot of products out there, that are a waist of time and money. Before I spend a hundred and fifty bucks and drill holes in my cavitation plate I would like to see some research and actual numbers to back up the claims. The makers of Hydrofoil stabilizers are making some very big claims I'm just not ready to take there word for it. Any help on the subject would be appreciated.
Thank you,
A Fellow Boater

 

[1979checkmate]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

:facepalm: try a search, this subject has been beat to death over and over and over again in this forum. The short answer, a properly setup boat performs fine without a foil, a foil is a band-aid in most cases for a poorly setup boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

what he said on ALL counts

I WILL add that if I could get $5 for every one that I took off and threw in the trash I'd have more than enough to buy a new one LOL

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

i got one on my boat and it make me plane quicker idk about the fuel my motors a pig.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

i got one on my boat and it make me plane quicker idk about the fuel my motors a pig.

Last I heard, you have not had your boat in the water yet?

 

[Trav-is]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Last I heard, you have not had your boat in the water yet?

Good point. I would be happy if somebody would post a Before and After result (with real numbers) after they tried the product, but maybe they are embarrassed of the results?

 

[Trav-is]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

:facepalm: try a search, this subject has been beat to death over and over and over again in this forum. The short answer, a properly setup boat performs fine without a foil, a foil is a band-aid in most cases for a poorly setup boat.

That sound like a reasonable answer to me. Perhaps this product is a quick fix to a complex problem. Could be very useful to somebody with a poor setup; at least a lot cheaper than buying a new boat. My guess is a high performance SS prop is the best performance up grade for the price.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I can give you a couple.....
1980 26' carver 2667 santa cruz mercruiser 260 I/O..... before (with the foil) would suddenly get VERY tippy and downright scary at certain trim and steering combinations.... after (removed the foil) It was very stable and predictable with no loss of performance or increase in fuel mileage.

1980 20' arrowglass siesta mercruiser 898 I/O (200 hp) 19p stainless prop 43 mph top speed without and 41 with ... fuel mileage not precisely measured but no real difference noticed.
The boat did seem to plane SLIGHTLY faster when loaded down with 6 people and full fuel but trim was much more touchy and it was harder to keep the boat from porpoising... when loaded normally the boat jumped up on plane with and without it although it was important to adjust trim immediately upon getting on plane with the foil or the bow would plow the water and the boat would get twitchy and feel unstable very quickly.

seriously just search.... there are a limited few people that have had positive results and for the most part they have underpowered boats and needed a bandaid to be able to use them at all

this has been covered sooooooo many times

 

[Trav-is]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Perhaps if we asked nicely the folks at marine-dynamics (makers of stingray hydrofoil) might throw some real numbers are way. Although, perhaps the "magical cure-all" is a better marketing approach.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

My guess is a high performance SS prop is the best performance up grade for the price.

A "high performance SS prop" will gain you VERY little over a properly selected aluminum prop... The stainless will perform better but design is more important than material especially if you are in the performance range that you would consider a $150 bolt on as an upgrade.... so in your words "best performance upgrade for the price" then no I'd say stainless since it costs much more than aluminum is not it.

Best performance upgrade "for the price" ditch extra weight anywhere you can... If your prop is not well matched to your boat/ engine then work on that..... next move..... make more HP.....

Now when you have multiple supercharged bigblocks and are trying to break into the 100 mph club then yeah stainless is an absolute must LOL

 

[Trav-is]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Gellette says I need a $50 razor with fifteen blade that doubles as a vibrator and I believe them whose to say that this product wont work. If iboats sent me one for free and I didn't have to drill my cavitation plate, I would come back to this thread with some real numbers based on fuel economy, time to plane and top speed; at least for my boat.

I believe that Forums can be better, with real answers to real questions. Empower the consumer.

 

[JB]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I have had positive results on 4 different boats with good (SE Sport) hydrofoils AFTER I rerigged the boat to fit.

In general they are like aspirin: If you don't have a headache they do no good at all. But if you do have a headache they work very well.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Do you really think that Merc/Johnson/evinrude, Whom ever, thought a whaletail/ hydrafoil would be a good idea on there motors?
The amount of Product Development dollars would show that. That is why they are not on outboard motors.
They are a bandad for improper boat /motor set ups

 

[dan t.]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Do they work? It depends on the boat and motor set up, if the manufacturer did not design the hull properly or mismatched the power package or if the boat is under powered they can help, sometimes a lot. My personal experience is limited to 2 different boats. The first one I tried was an Attwood hydro stabilizer on a 16 foot Sangster with an 80 hp Merc. It did get it on plane quicker and hold plane at lower speed but it also induced a starboard lean, trim tabs would have worked much better, I took it off after 1 season. The second one is on my current boat, a 92 Bayliner 2452. I run a Stingray and love it.I have tried at least 15 different props, I have Bennett trim tabs and I have tried just about every combination with and without it.Overall performance, handling and fuel mileage are all better with it on. You will never know unless you try it.

 

[BomerFett]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

The only positive I have seen from them is with SOME setups it allows the boat to stay on plane at lower speeds. In most cases I've seen them reduce performance rather than improve it. I think JB is right, if you don't have a headache, don't take asprin.

 

[Bartine]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

It worked very good on my Skeeter bass boat I had. I've never understood the hatred for them by some people. They will use the line, "if outboard/boat manufacturers thought they were needed they would have put them on from the factory." Then those same people will push for you to by Smart Tabs (didn't come from the boat manufacturer and you have to drill at least 16 holes in your transom).

BTW I used Smart Tabs with the trolling option on another boat, flipped them down for trolling. I absolutaly hated them. I lost all trim control from the motor and it was extremely difficult to flip the trolling levers down (I even cut the palm of my hand on one of the brackets doing so). I tried contacting Nauticus through an email with no response. I ended up tossing them in the trash

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Perhaps if we asked nicely the folks at marine-dynamics (makers of stingray hydrofoil) might throw some real numbers are way. Although, perhaps the "magical cure-all" is a better marketing approach.

Yes, beaten to death for sure. Either love em or hate em. I'm of the "can't live without em" and "best thing since sliced bread" opinion.

If you have an old wooden boat, they show no advantage. But if you have a FG cuddy or runabout that is stern heavy, they work wonders. If you have a tiller OB that is used with only 1 person aboard, they are a necessity. If your boat is overpowered, they are a necessity.

Oh, you want data do you? Every time I post the "data", that ends the thread because the naysayers don't have a comeback. Google the Trailer Boats Magazine shootout that compared all of the current models. and listed all the appropriate speed, rpm, gph, etc. data, plus intangible subjective opinions gleened from water skiiers and the boat drivers that rated the handling performance.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I've bought 4 different boats with fins on them and tossed every one after properly balancing the boat, prop and installing tabs. All 4 boats ranging from 18-26' handled very poorly at speed with fins, fuel economy was down, transom vibration was rediculous, planing was either on or off, they were a total joke. Each boat is different in how it's loaded and used, and the only truly adjustable load device are trim tabs.
Band-aid should be insulted, at least their product is useful.
And not to pick on Jim, but your boats are all under 20' with small motors. I don't think your comparisons work well for anyone with over 150 Hp, and I'd have to ask have you ever had tabs on any of your boats.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Last I heard, you have not had your boat in the water yet?

ive used my boat before

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work and if so... were is the data to back up the claims of better fuel economy, faster hull shot and smother ride quality? I have done some research on the web and other than a few knuckle heads talking about there own personal experiences with the products, (no consistent claims of improved performance, these dudes are all over the road) there are no unbiased comprehensive reviews of the hydrofoils. There are two facts that I have excepted as most likely true: different hull designs, IE: v-hull vs flat bottom, yield different improvements/results from the foils and top end speed/ top end efficiency are reduced or adversely effected by the foils. I want the great claims boosted of fuel economy and performance at very affordable prices to rein true but anybody savvy in the boating industry knows there are a lot of products out there, that are a waist of time and money. Before I spend a hundred and fifty bucks and drill holes in my cavitation plate I would like to see some research and actual numbers to back up the claims. The makers of Hydrofoil stabilizers are making some very big claims I'm just not ready to take there word for it. Any help on the subject would be appreciated.
Thank you,
A Fellow Boater

OMG $150 !!!! Visit the iboats store and take a look http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...048322--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

Keep in mind that claims made by the manufacturer are meant to improve SALES of their product!