Hydrofoils

[thomask]

I purchased my 15' Sea Sprite with a Johnson 88 hp SPL. It also had a hydrofoil on engine. I am curious as to the advantages or disadvantages of keeping it on the engine. Does it improve hole shot? Will I plane at slower speeds? It appears that there are two sides to the arguement; everyone needs one to a waste of money.<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[12Footer]

Re: Hydrofoils

On a small boat, with no room for trim tabs,the wings are the next best thing.<br />I can tell you about my 16.5ft Bliner Capri.<br />With it on, it planed-out quicker,and at a lower speed. The only problem is,they are cumbersome. I don't know why 12" of plastic mounted on the cav plate can bruise yer shins, but they have mine. I can't get the lower unit in my bucket-o-water with them on.<br />I have also found they can be cut-down,and still have a positve effect on planing performance.<br />They are chjeap enough to buy,try,and toss if you don't like them, so give them a try.<br />I like the two-piece "Doel-Fin", but they all perform about the same.

 

[yensid]

Re: Hydrofoils

I have the Doel-Fin as well, and they definitely helped me plane out faster. And considering they were only about $30, it's a pretty cheap investment.

 

[sporty98]

Re: Hydrofoils

I have used them on two of my boats, boat design has some factor as to how the foil works and their also is different kinds of foils that do different things.<br /><br /> for my my 85hp johnson, 15 foot starcraft, without it, my front end comes up way to high and it takes awhile for it to drop down.<br /><br /> with it on, my front end does not come up as high and it drops down alot quicker.<br /><br />with my other boat, a chrysler bass runner 16 footer. withou the foil, my front end was too low in the water and would not stay up where I thought it should be.<br /><br />with the foil on, it kept my front end up more and plained good.<br /><br />the only thing I noticed it that, I did loose 1 to 2 mph with them on.<br /><br />to me try it with it on and try it with it off. see if their is a differance. I have heard they can hamper you and work against you. my opinion, probably are good for older boats where the design is not as good as todays designs, except for like your flat bottom boats and plain v fishing boat ,like the old lunds.<br /><br />this is just my 2 cents

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Hydrofoils

If you don't care if you drop a couple MPH then it can really be handy. It does all the things that you mentioned. I don't have one on my 74 Glastron, and I tried it with or without on my 76 Glastron. I didn't have bow lift problems so I took them off and have not missed them.

 

[thomask]

Re: Hydrofoils

Thanks for all the input. I will try it with and without over the Labor Day weekend. In regards to the loss of speed , that is OK because I use the boat for skiing and the top end is not of concern to me. The hole shot and quick to plane are my untimate objectives. Again thanks for the input....<br /><br />Thomask