Hydrofoil Stabalizer

[Lazy Flamingo]

Another Question:

I am going to make 1 more trip to BoatersWorld before everything is going
to be installed on the boat - Get a Hydrofoil Stabalizer ?

My neighbor has one on his boat, and he swears that it makes a difference for
him. He recommended adding a hydrofoil stabalizer, because he says that you
will see a difference in the boat getting up on plane alot faster, and keeps the
boat more stabalized.

I looked it up in BoatersWorld catalog, and I can get the following:

StingRay Hydrofoil Stabalizer - Speed XP - For stern drives to unlimited HP
The engine is a MerCruiser 4.3L MPI / 220 HP

My question is:
Would this be useful, and if so, is it a good investment ??

I have one on my boat. Don't waste your money. Unless your boat has problems coming out of the hole, it probably won't make a ton of difference.

They also put added stress on the outdrive. Mine has given me no problems, but some have heard of cracked cavitation plates.

[kwb]

For 22' or less boat that is fairly light (cuddy or bowrider) they work great. Down sides are more drag (hurts top speed) and loading to the cavitation plate.

[3788sam]

Had them on a 18' bow rider I/O, got to plane faster but I lost a couple of MPH. I didn't have any cavitation plate problems, but I did see one cracked where the holes where drilled through to mount the fins.

[Webjammin]

Previous owner had put them on my first boat years ago with twin Alpha Drives and I picked up some floating crab pot line and it birdnested around both props and got got caught onto the doel fins and the extra leverage busted the sh*t outta my cavitation plates.

Thats a negatory on the add-on fins there ghostrider !! :wink:

[Go Aweigh2452]

Had em on my boat exactly one day. They over compensated the trim tabs and I hated them. Made the trim very touchy... not sure on the drag issues... because it was only one day.

[Webjammin]

4:29 x 2 hmmmmph

[3788sam]

It pretty amazing that all of us that have tried these and gotten such lack luster performance that they still sell as well or better today!
I guess everyone still looks for the cheap bang for the buck.

[Lazy Flamingo]

Thanks for all the input on this matter, it is appreciated, and helps me to
understand these things better .... 8)

Al got promoted. :D

Folks with new boats are probably they're best customers... and those who are underpowered and overloaded trying to eek out some more bang for the buck.

If they weren't on the boat now... I wouldn't have them. I've tried both on and off... no real difference IMO.

[Seapuppy]

they are really designed for a small boat...it puts too much strain on the drive in larger boats....it might be ok for an 18ftr...but a 23+ I think would do more harm than help..... :argh arrr

[Lazy Flamingo]

What did I get promoted to, or maybe I do not want to know ? :roll:

[heymagic]

Al, you get promoted to head booze supplier....I think I remember that originally those fins were designed for outboards . They can make a small boat pretty squirrely on plane sometimes. Bets option would be a set of trim tabs or maybe a 4 blade prop..but only if needed. Tabs give you the extra lift and allow you to adjust the side to side trim if you get several people in the boat.

[Lazy Flamingo]

Al, you get promoted to head booze supplier ....
Thanks For The Promotion - "Open Bar" For Everyone .... http://www.binaryrhyme.com/ubbicons/cheers.gif

http://www.chennaionline.com/society/CrimeandSociety/images/Liquor_bottles.jpg