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Hydrofoils - Anyone use them, opinions???


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Just bought a 165 Navigator with 40Hp Mercury Four Stroke. My current boat has foils on it but as they were on when I bought it I do not know if they "improved" anything. They seem good in concept and my existing boat planes nicely, holds plane at a relatively slow speed (14 - 15 mph) etc but I do not know if that is better than it was without the foils. One difference between old boat and new boat is new one has power trim so that should help fine tune the ride a bit. I am looking at the SE300 and the reviews on the Cabelas web site is 5 stars. Anyone with any opinions one way or the other? Thanks again for the help - I promise this will be last question for awhile. Paul

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I have run my boat with them and without them. I wouldn't put it in the water without. IMHO they make a huge anount of difference.

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I agree, I had them on my last boat and made sure I got them for my upgraded outfit. I plane faster than withouit and I have more stability on the turns. This experience comes on a 25hp and 30hp motors.

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My understanding has been that if you have adequate power they probably don't make a huge difference but if you are underpowered they can help get the boat on plane a bit faster.

I don't know about the first part but from personal experience I had a Lund Rebel 16 with a 25hp. That was about the minimum required HP for the boat and getting it on plane especially with two people inside made it work. I added the fins and it was a noticeable difference.

I now own a Sylvan Adventurer 1600 with a 90hp and they were installed when I bought the boat. That is it's maximum rating. Like you I have not tried removing them so I can't say if they make a difference but I do know that my hole shot is unbelievable. I can literally be on plane in what seems like about 20'. That could be the motor (2-stroke V4 Johnson) or the fins I don't know for sure.

Bob

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It made a pretty big difference on my 14' w/25. Planes faster steers better, probably lost a mile or two per hour.

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On a smaller boat they make a difference, especially if the propping isn't quite right or you're pushing the limits of low hp.

On larger boats (motors over 75 hp or so) they improve things, but usually the reason an improvement is needed because of the wrong prop on the motor, weight balance, etc.

marine_man

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What marine man said.

I wouldn't put one on unless you run your boat and there's a problem that you need to correct.

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been thinking about putting one on the SS Bathtub.. 14' V with a 15 shortshaft.

it'd prolly help get my 275 pound hind end on plane... just gotta justify the pricetag now.

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My experiences are

14' alumacraft rowboat w/ 9.9 with stingray I was able to get up to 14 mph and plane out.

14' sylvan supersnapper w/ 25hp had 15 w/o safely and 25mph with & little to no bow rise.

16' crestliner bass 25hp 23mph w/o but slow to plane and couldn't with too many people and a livewell full, w/ planes out quickly but I lost 1-2 mph.

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