Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

[mphsjeep]

Looking for input on what type of stabilizer I should get. Not wanting to spend a fortune but resigned this is a necessary buy. In a quick search, have seen solid fin types like a Stingray or the two fin options.

Admin, my apologies if posted in the wrong place.

Thanks in advance................

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Tell us why you think its a "necessary" buy.

Is the issue trouble planing (would be the first Stingray I've ever heard of with that problem, even with a 3.0L), or porpoising?

 

[achris]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

The ONLY reason a fin can be justified on any boat is if the drive is installed at least 1" above standard height.

Installing a fin on a drive installed at standard height will cause stability problems (a 'stern lift' condition) at cruising speeds. This can lead to a dangerous handling problem, with boats flipping from uncontrollable chime-walking.

Think VERY carefully before installing a fin on any boat with a standard height drive/outboard installation. And once you have thought about it, don't do it!!

Chris.......

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

WOW........... I had NO idea!!! I THOUGHT I needed it because I have to keep the trim down 90% of the time to avoid porpoising at high speeds(unless the water is like glass). And I have to accelerate hard to get the nose down but once it levels out I can back off the throttle. Sometimes we have to move people to the front and with kids on the boat it gets stressful(for my wife at least).

BUT after this input she can deal with it................thanks guys! You both may have inadvertently prevented a very bad accident!

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

WOW........... I had NO idea!!! I THOUGHT I needed it because I have to keep the trim down 90% of the time to avoid porpoising at high speeds(unless the water is like glass). And I have to accelerate hard to get the nose down but once it levels out I can back off the throttle. Sometimes we have to move people to the front and with kids on the boat it gets stressful(for my wife at least).

BUT after this input she can deal with it................thanks guys! You both may have inadvertently prevented a very bad accident!

Have you considered installing Smart Tabs? They would help get you on plane faster and improve the ride.

 

[achris]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

WOW........... I had NO idea!!! I THOUGHT I needed it because I have to keep the trim down 90% of the time to avoid porpoising at high speeds(unless the water is like glass). And I have to accelerate hard to get the nose down but once it levels out I can back off the throttle. Sometimes we have to move people to the front and with kids on the boat it gets stressful(for my wife at least).

BUT after this input she can deal with it................thanks guys! You both may have inadvertently prevented a very bad accident!

Sounds like you might have a drive installation a bit LOWER than standard height. With the boat on the trailer, trim the drive down until the anti cavitation plate (the plate you would have bolted the fin to) is parallel with the bottom of the hull. Now have a close look at it. Standard installation height would have the anti-cav plate level with the bottom of the hull... How does it look?

Smart tabs would be a good idea... Way better than a fin.

Chris......

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

another vote for smart tabs...... Smart Tabs Trim Tabs

Toll Free: 800-233-0194

 

[jsmaeb1215]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

WOW........... I had NO idea!!! I THOUGHT I needed it because I have to keep the trim down 90% of the time to avoid porpoising at high speeds(unless the water is like glass). And I have to accelerate hard to get the nose down but once it levels out I can back off the throttle. Sometimes we have to move people to the front and with kids on the boat it gets stressful(for my wife at least).

BUT after this input she can deal with it................thanks guys! You both may have inadvertently prevented a very bad accident!

I have a 96 Stingray 556zp with the 3.0 merc also. I am noticing the same issues from our boat, but the previous owner already installed one of the wale fines. My plan is to remove this per the advice of this forum and just move to a 4 blade prop. We also have to move weight to the front of the boat if the back is to heavy.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

That warning is a little over the top in my humble opinion.

You have two options.

1- Smart Tabs.

2- a hydrofoil.

Both have pluses and minuses. A foil works great on a Stingray, but there are probably more pluses to the smart tabs.

Yeah I have a foil and have logged 350+ hours on my Stingray with it, and love it.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

WOW........... I had NO idea!!! I THOUGHT I needed it because I have to keep the trim down 90% of the time to avoid porpoising at high speeds(unless the water is like glass). And I have to accelerate hard to get the nose down but once it levels out I can back off the throttle. Sometimes we have to move people to the front and with kids on the boat it gets stressful(for my wife at least).

BUT after this input she can deal with it................thanks guys! You both may have inadvertently prevented a very bad accident!

We have the same boat, you described my situation exactly and one of many light weight sport boats. You need to work with the limits of the boat too. A Stingray is very lightweight compared to the competition, it is relatively fast and loves flat water, even with the 3.0L if I have a glass lake situation I'll trim up a little and floor it It loves speed. All other times I'm completely trimmed all the way down!

With such a boat you DO need to move people around to get on plaine, It is impossible to not. Even with just the 2 of us on board, if my partner is in the back seat I notice a sizable change in the ability to get on plane, (he's under 180). I can get on plane with 4 Normal people in the back cockpit area but it takes some time.... Essentially everyone that has been on my boat understands that at times- you need to move around to balance things and I'm not shy about telling whomever that they need to move (ex: everyone sitting on one side...)

I have a 4 blade prop and it seems to do a good job out of the hole, It's a real good wakeboarding boat for us!

 

[gtochris]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Both have pluses and minuses. A foil works great on a Stingray, but there are probably more pluses to the smart tabs.

Yeah I have a foil and have logged 350+ hours on my Stingray with it, and love it.

How has this helped you? I've considered the smart Tabs but not wild about drilling holes and probably going to get a newer boat in due time.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

You are drilling holes either way, either into the boat or through the aluminum on the outdrive.

My foil helps my boat plane and hold plane at slower speeds (we do lots of water sports with light, younger kids). It also does not mess up my wake for wakeboarding.

Smart tabs do the same, but are probably better for high speed cruising, because I still porpoise when I trim up at speed. Tabs are probably better unless your main boat activity, like ours is, is wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and skiing.

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Good stuff.................!!!!

I was considering these. Not as big and bulky as a full tail:
Amazon.com: Davis Instruments Doel-Fin Hydrofoil: Sports & Outdoors

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

We have the same boat, you described my situation exactly and one of many light weight sport boats. You need to work with the limits of the boat too. A Stingray is very lightweight compared to the competition, it is relatively fast and loves flat water, even with the 3.0L if I have a glass lake situation I'll trim up a little and floor it It loves speed. All other times I'm completely trimmed all the way down!

With such a boat you DO need to move people around to get on plaine, It is impossible to not. Even with just the 2 of us on board, if my partner is in the back seat I notice a sizable change in the ability to get on plane, (he's under 180). I can get on plane with 4 Normal people in the back cockpit area but it takes some time.... Essentially everyone that has been on my boat understands that at times- you need to move around to balance things and I'm not shy about telling whomever that they need to move (ex: everyone sitting on one side...)

I have a 4 blade prop and it seems to do a good job out of the hole, It's a real good wakeboarding boat for us!

What size 4 blade do you have?

 

[jkimball]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

I had a Stingray Starfire, that didn't require drilling on my Four Winns Horizon 170 bowrider. It seemed do do what it was supposed to, except I lost some top end speed, and the effects of trim were exagerated. It was a real pain with a tow harnes for a tube, the harnes would sometimes get stuck under it or lay on top of it. Also, it actually seemed to porpoise worse in real choppy water, or letting off the throttle with it on. Now mind you, this was with 14x19" Aluminum prop.

I changed to a 13 3/8 x 17" Stainless prop and actually cured all problems I was trying to with the foil, and even gained 500 RPM's & 6 MPH (4 over what I had pre-hydrofoil) and it ran so much smoother.

I took the foil off, took it back to Academy and took the $75 and spent it on stuff that actually benefits me, like new polly rollers on the trailer.

I may suggest looking into another prop too?

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

I DON'T like engine or drive mounted fins. They are more trouble than what they fix. A Band Aid.

Smart Tabs or Bennet Trim Tabs are the best solution.

They are not a Band Aid. Many new boats are built with trim tabs.

 

[mphsjeep]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Now that you mention....there is another prop that came with the boat. I think he said it would give more top end but less pull power. What's the rule of thumb with prop sizes?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

My band aid is a SE Sport 300.

You can buy one right here from iboats.

http://www.iboats.com/SE-Sport-300-...1214712--session_id.826564127--view_id.168771

 

[jkimball]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Now that you mention....there is another prop that came with the boat. I think he said it would give more top end but less pull power. What's the rule of thumb with prop sizes?

General rule of thumb with prop sizes is that the lower the pitch, the more "torque" you will have, thus the faster you can get on plane and the more pulling power you will have with a tube, skier, wakeboarder etc. and typically it will cost you some top end at WOT as well as raising you RPMs.
As to where when you increase pitch, theoretically you will increase top end, but sacrifice low end grunt and lowering RPMs.
However, you have the 3.0, so I would be reluctant to raise RPMs too high on that.
Not like a 2 stroke that loves to rev.

 

[jkimball]

Re: Stabilizer tail/fin options for 98 Stingray 19' with a Merc 3.0

Also there are a whole host of things that come into play. For instance, I changed props to a lower pitch prop, so theoretically I should have lost some top end, however, my 19" Aluminum was in not the best of shape, and probably was the original prop, so it wasn't functioning as a true 19" prop.
If I understand it correctly, this is what is referred to as slip. The actual pitch that a propeller produces vs. the theoretical pitch it should produce.
The Stainless props, don't tend to "give" as much as an aluminum and don't "lose" pitch. So in my case, I should have lost speed, but due to the increase in RPMs and less slip, I increased speed.
Which, doesn't really matter as much anyhow, since I don't run WOT all day either.