Mercury Marine's Position on Hydrofoil Fins

[Mark Hofman]

These are taken from the Mercury Marine website's FAQ page:

Q: Can I install aftermarket accessories like stabilizer "fins".



A: While these add-on devices may reduce the time it takes to get the boat on plane, they may also cause or contribute to abnormal or even unsafe handling of the boat and failure of the antiventilation plate. Because it is not possible to know how a particular boat will respond to the use of an aftermarket stabilizer fin without thorough testing, MerCruiser cannot recommend that such products be used or not be used. Failures caused or contributed to by modifications are not covered by the limited warranty.





SOURCE



http://www.mercurymarine.com/cgi-bin/mercprod/MercuryHome/Templates/FaqTemplate.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=no&page_id=437&catID=3&issueID=33&searchAnswer=1





Q: Can I use aftermarket "fins" to help my boat get on plane faster?



A: Using a product often referred to as a stabilizer fin is a modification of the gearcase that may change the manner in which the boat operates on the water. With the unit trimmed fully down (in or under), a reduction of the time necessary to get a boat on plane may result. However, some V-bottom boats using a stabilizer fin may exhibit a tendency to roll over far to one side as soon as planing occurs. The direction and degree of the roll will be dictated by prop rotation, weight distribution, and degree of trim under. The boat roll can cause passengers to be ejected. Trimming up or out can reduce or eliminate the roll. Because it is not possible to know how a given boat will respond to the use of such a product without thorough testing, Mercury cannot recommend that such products be used or not used. Also, use of these products may cause or contribute to the failure of the anti-ventilation plate on the gearcase. Failures caused, or contributed to, by modification are not covered by the limited warranty.



SOURCE



http://www.mercurymarine.com/cgi-bin/mercprod/MercuryHome/Templates/FaqTemplate.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=no&page_id=323&catID=2&issueID=22&searchAnswer=1

 

[Mark Hofman]

If you do a cut and paste on the Source URL's, you need to know that there is no "break". The second line is just a continuation of the first and there should be no space between the last character on the first line and the first charachter on the second. I've added an active link for the second FAQ below.



MO
http://www.mercurymarine.com/cgi-bi...page_id=323&catID=2&issueID=22&searchAnswer=1

 

[Staci Matheis]

Obviously written by their legal department in order to say nothing with as many words as possible.



Put on a hydrofoil and the fuel injection stops - you're covered. Put on a hydrofoil and the cavitation plate breaks - it's your responsibility.