Hydrofoil or not?

[Stan Tallant]

How do you guys feel about hydrofoils/whaletails on 90-115 outboards? Some people feel they are used as a short cut to better hole shots for people that don't want to spend the time to set their boat properly. What do you think?

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Are you talking for your boat in particular ?

They work for something that's a pig at hole shot but, are considered actually dangerous by others(me included) for the wrong rig like a lighter boat.

 

[JAMES MOORE]

I used one on my Ranger 320 Commanchie for 12 years. Never had a problem with it. The foil definitly improved my hole shot. Boat had a 100 hp Johnson GT on it.

 

[Al Greco]

I've got one on my Triton for tubing or pulling an occasional skier. By boat is set up correctly but with the hydrofoil holeshot is blistering fast. At WOT the hydrofoil is totally out of the water so there is no additional drag. I really don't see a negative thing about it except for the way some of them look. I have the SE300, it's a nice one.

 

[Jeffrey Durham]

Love mine on my Nitro F&S.



Jeff

 

[TrepMan]

Stan - My perspective is it depends on the boat/motor and specific issues. I have a buddy with a 640lx with a 90 Merc 2 stroke, 23 p 3 blade SS prop, and that thing has amazing holeshot and runs 50mph GPS, so on that small boat/90merc no need or issues for a foil.



I put one on my PC 175 40 Merc, to do what Al said, help me get on plane quicker when towing a heavy kids/adult in a tube. yup, as Pat said, if I had the 75 Merc or a different prop set up for tubing, i'd probably not need it.



No need on my current Nitro (700lx 115 Carb'd merc), though i'm thinking of a holeshot plate just for grins and giggles, and because I can actualy MAKE it!! LOL

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

I agree wit Pat. An add on that should be saved for special appplications or a last ditch effort.



TOXIC

 

[TrepMan]

NH Mike - Its not a Laser 2, it came on the boat from the original owner, but don't remember any specific markings. He's on this site occationaly, and if you want just check his profile under Member List (Dan Nevill) and drop him an email.

 

[JIM SHINN]

I own a 2002 Tracker Avalanche w/ a 2004 - 125 Mercury o/b. When I'm by myself I get out of the hole shot without a problem. 3 weeks ago, I went out w/ a rather large person in my boat and my boat porpoised all day long. I thought when I hit the rougher water it would run better. Guess what? It didn't. It ran the fuel right out of the boat. So, this week I installed the Hydrofoil SE SPORT 300(BPS's sell them) on my boat and the hole shot was incredible and the boat never porpoised. I filled up both livewells and with a full tank of gas and it ran awesome. I wished I installed it a lot sooner.