Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

[rallyart]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Travis, you've got 5 posts to your name and they are all on this thread. You start off with trash talk and a misquote on price without any explanation as to why this is important to you.
You don't come across to me as someone looking for info as much as someone anonymous trying to make a point against a product. Why not make a post about ShamWow too?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

That was un-called for... guy asked a question..... Yeah they can be had cheaper but I'll bet you a couple dollars that I can find em for $150 somewhere.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

That was un-called for... guy asked a question..... Yeah they can be had cheaper but I'll bet you a couple dollars that I can find em for $150 somewhere.

The clip on one that seems to have a problem falling off... That sucker runs a bill fifty plus shipping on e bay..

I got some ol dowl fins... Makes my boat feel like it's dragging a plow.. How much are they worth?

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Instead of putting on one of those fins and hiding your real problem with a band aide, why don't you figure out what's really wrong with the boat?? most likely you have the wrong propellor for your application.

One thing in common I'm seeing in all the Hydrofoil discussions are that the owners are also Bayliner owners too. I don't really have to go any further. Lol.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

One thing in common I'm seeing in all the Hydrofoil discussions are that the owners are also Bayliner owners too. I don't really have to go any further. Lol.

OUCH

They are kinda like that thing the TORNADO.More worthless fins What is it with the fin obsession?:facepalm: .. What a useless P.O.S.:facepalm: Remember that thing? I guess it worked.. At making someone rich..Like most of the gimmicks.. If the packaging says it's good it must be.. BS

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

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.

The boats in my signature are the ones I currently own. My experience with hydrofoils goes beyond that, and includes boats owned by my boys and ones I owned in the past, and yes some over 150 HP, some OB and some IO.

Also yes to having owned tabs. And even further than that (believe it or not) the absolute BEST scenario was tabs AND a fin.....LOL.

You are absolutely correct in saying that prop selection and boat balancing are key components. If you do all that, the hydrofoild can add synergy to the operation! If you lose speed, have transom vibration and/or lose economy, something wasn't done right!

Disclaimer - I have only used Doel Fins.

 

[wbc1957]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I can't see any reason for using a hydrofoil on the leg of a boat, knowing it is supposed to plane out the whole weight of the boat. The leg and engine were not fitted or designed for this application. As an example, try carrying a full gallon of milk straight out in front of you for ten minutes versus down by your side. Sure, it can be done, but it wasn't meant to be carried that way, and you feel the stress. Smart tabs are cheap enough to overcome the issue of cost, also.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I can't see any reason for using a hydrofoil on the leg of a boat, knowing it is supposed to plane out the whole weight of the boat. The leg and engine were not fitted or designed for this application. As an example, try carrying a full gallon of milk straight out in front of you for ten minutes versus down by your side. Sure, it can be done, but it wasn't meant to be carried that way, and you feel the stress. Smart tabs are cheap enough to overcome the issue of cost, also.

Well I can see lots of reasons!

That's a common excuse cited by the doomsayers. In one of my cases I have been running a foil for 27 years with over 1200 engine hours, many of which are in heavy seas in Lake Erie. My cavitation plate is till intact, the foils haven't broken off yet, my transom hasn't cracked or rotted off. If there was any added stress, it hasen't manifested itself yet negatively!

For me, its not a matter of cost. If a fin cost double that of tabs, I'd buy it anyway. I'm just that satisfied. I'm not trashing tabs like some trash fins. Others can do as they please - I'm only documenting my results.

When I find a product that gives me an improvement, I am enthusiastic about it. And when it only costs $39, lasts 27 years, improves my speed and fuel economy, and doesn't require drilling 8 holes in my transom below the waterline, I consider those factors as added benefits.

 

[V153]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

If you're running an outboard & looking for top end? Then I highly recommend raising the motor a hole or two & bolting on a Bob's True Tracker. Perhaps the single best investment I ever made for my boat. Comes outa the hole quicker, stays on plane longer at less mph/rpm, is significantly more stable flat out. Also tamed the porpoising some but must admit it hasn't helped against chine walking as much as I'd hoped. My arch enemy.

I'm in the canvas & cushion business, not to mention an avid boater, and I see so many boats that have those freakin wings on em & don't need em it's ridiculous! I bid a Bimini job on a really nice Errickson blow boat just this afternoon. Danged if he didn't have a dulfin on his 9.9 kicker!? Aie carumba ...

Like fuzzy dice & dream catchers I reckon. Folks if yer draggin that wing below the keel it ain't doin ya no good.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I can't see any reason for using a hydrofoil on the leg of a boat, knowing it is supposed to plane out the whole weight of the boat.

You are operating under a misconception. They absolutely don't (and can't) take the whole weight of the boat. They are only able to provide a little boost, and sometimes that's all that a boat might need.

 

[v_fourmax]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I have owned boats where the addition of a "doel fin"" was a fairly inexpensive to correct a problem area or enhance getting the boat up on plane quicker than what the boat and load would do without it.
One such application was on a 15' glass bass rig that had a 70 hp Mercury on it. A good friend of mine that I enjoyed fishing with was a large fellow tipping the scales at probably 325lbs. With his weight on the boat it really struggled and I mean struggled to get on plane. I am talking 6 or 7 football fields in length of struggling. I installed a doel fin and in this application it performed as advertised. With him in the boat it would get on plane like normal as it did with just me in the boat without the fin.

Granted there were other fixes that could have been made, the boat could have been repowered with a maximum of 90 horsepower that the boat was rated for, could have been repropped with a lower pitch or 4 blade prop which would have cost top end speed in all conditions and boat loads, he could go on a diet and shed 125 or so lbs but in the end the fin solved the problem and at a very reasonable cost.

I did not see any loss of top end speed, never paid attention to fuel usage but yes the boat would pop up on plane qicker and remain on plane bow down at much slower speeds which I found to be a plus.

I also ran one on a tiller john boat with a 25 hp motor and when I was in the boat alone it was nice to pop up on plane almost immediately when you hit the gas even though the weight was canted heavily to the rear of the boat.

So yes I think there are applications where the "doel fins" have merit and do what they are intended to do. There are a lot of boats that have adequate but slightly underpowered horsepower for the intended use and are powered below the max ratings but with a little help give their owners the performance to satisfy them without needing to repower their boat to accomplish such. If a person owns a boat that spending a 100.00 bucks or less to get the boat to do what they want or need works rather than spend many times that amount to get the same basic results they are seeking then perhaps the doel fin will do what they need and will be money well spent.

Not everyone has the resources available to buy a new boat with max horsepower installed and needs to work with what they have on a budget.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Hey, you're pretty smart guy for a newbie, v-fourmax.
Welcome to iboats!

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

One thing in common I'm seeing in all the Hydrofoil discussions are that the owners are also Bayliner owners too. I don't really have to go any further. Lol.

Hehe...

 

[dan t.]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Hey cut the Bayliner bashing ,this thread is about hydrofoils. Btw I would like to see your little skiboose out in some 8ft waves with a 6ft swell and 20 knots blowing from the southeast, my Bayliner takes it with no trouble.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

yikes 6 ft swell No thanks.....

 

[v_fourmax]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Hey, you're pretty smart guy for a newbie, v-fourmax.
Welcome to iboats!

My mom used to say I was a pretty smart fella or was it a fart smeller, I can't rightly remember these days! But I do thank you for the welcome!

Been around and a member of the boards for a few years just not posting anything. Learned a lot of from a lot of smart people here on the boards though.

I have also learned that just because someone may choose a different path than I would for a particuliar performance issue or even choose a brand of boat or even engine that I may not personally prefer as a top choice does not make their choice wrong or foolish as many would have you believe.

Just like the Bayliner bashing that you hear everywhere, no it would not be my personal first choice but I can honestly say that I have seen many 20+ year old bayliner boats that looked very nice and you could tell they were well cared for by their owners and I would rather be the owner of one of those well cared for boats than the owner of a more well thought of brand that had been neglected and abused.

Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread but just like the doel fin, if you put one on that did not require drilling the cavitation plate and tried it then what do you have to lose if it does not work or give you the desired results? The price you paid for the fin but if it does give the results you desired then you have made your boating experience much happier with a minimum of cash outlay.

As said earlier that my experience is with a marginally powered boat they will help get you up on plane easier in a lot of cases for a minimal cash outlay. Not a magic bullet grant you but they pretty much do as they advertise and are not just worthless decorations.

 

[infideltarget]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

I have also learned that just because someone may choose a different path than I would for a particuliar performance issue or even choose a brand of boat or even engine that I may not personally prefer as a top choice does not make their choice wrong or foolish as many would have you believe.
.

Sorry bro, but I have to disagree. If you do not like what I like, or do as I say you should do, then you are obviously wrong. Period.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Bartine;
I am sorry that you were dissatisfied with your Smart Tabs ProToller series, and I would like to address these performance issues first:
1) it appears that you may have been using the ProTroller's incorrectly (?) by leaving them in the Brake (down) position when running the boat at cruising speeds. This would not allow the Tabs to retract completly. If you did retract the tabs to the Trim Tab position and still experienced too much stern lift, and a problem with the use of your motor trim, then It appears you may have the adjustment for pressure set too high or you purchased a set with actuators that were more than needed for your boat. With the propper set you would not have had any issues with motor trim.
2) If the "trolling levers" were too stiff it simply meant that the self locking nut on the pivot point was too tight. The installation instructions say "snug".
3) It is unfortunate that you tossed the set as we have a "Money Back Performance Guaranteed" on all of our products.
4) I am sorry that you did not get an email response, and that was likely because our web site server was hacked, however we have a toll free 800 line (800-233-0194) for customer use at any time during business hours. This is on all printed material, instructions, and on our web site.

I invite you to call me at any time.

John

 

[steveclv]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Now THAT's what I call Customer Service!

Hats off to you.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Do Hydrofoil stabilizers work?

Yeah... I must say.. That's impressive..