DO YOU NEED A HYDROFOIL? All you need to know about cavitation and ventilation.

[@kalleklp7291]

Wow! I just got 10 min of compressed knowledge about a thing I never knew was so important. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. :)

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Thanks so much for the kind words mate. Glad you got something out of it.

[@Chanharp]

Yep Hydrofoils are only good if you need them. I got one and it saved me a lot of money. My boat has a weird hull where a normal shaft is not long enough but a long shaft is too long. So i went with a normal shaft, put hydrofoils on and it runs perfectly. I live in Germany and over here we only have those crap plastic ones you have and ordered for your new outboard. After a long search i found ozpropellers, they make great aluminium foils. Very happy with it and it was worth it even with the import fees i had to pay.

[@MarkWard-oh9wi]

That’s great. They do make some great hydrofoils and worth the money. Thanks for the feedback. Especially all the way from Germany.

[@thatsmyboyfishinguk3868]

That was a very interesting video and explains a lot for me, I have a 3 meter sib and over the weekend the weather went from Smooth as silk to a Bit lumpy, so I headed home and every time I got it up it started over revving and lost power then grabbed again as i throttled off, I now have a better understanding of exactly what was going on 🙏🏽

[@vincentbrugetti7254]

It could also be your prop under load is slipping on the rubber center it’s attached to. (If has that). My 79 Ranger w 175 merc would do it when trying to plane and I’d have to come to a stop and take off again. If i went lite on throttle I could plane, but it soon got to where it wouldn’t plane. It was an aluminum prop for family ski type boat. I finally Bought a used stainless steel 24p prop and wow big difference, the top end went from like 38 mph to over 60mph w steel prop

[@sumeshprasad5883]

Nicely and well explained 🫡🫡

[@zuzuanddee]

I don’t have 50yrs of experience like some but the one you have on the old one is pure gold. I tried with and without on a 115 and no speed loss but the performance is like gripping the water like boots with glue on tiles vs skies on ice. I dont know abt the one you have in the mail but ill bet anything on the old one.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

G'day Steve. They are both very similar but I like the dolphin fins I have on the old boat for small engines and the SE Foil for anything over 40hp. Just a preference but they both work really well.

[@panchofriesenn]

Thanks nice explanation

[@howaboutnowdad4582]

Thank you very much. You have the best video that I could find on this

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Thanks mate. Glad you enjoyed it. SBC

[@mattwaters6987]

Great info. Thx for sharing! 🎣🚤

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Thanks for the kind word Matt.

[@mikegentile13]

Very helpful! I have a small boat that I'm having some issues with getting it on plane. I'm thinking of a foil. But it's on a 15hp.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

You can get small foils for 15hp engines. Should help it get on the plane. Let me know how it goes

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

Just found your channel mate..Great video .As for hydrofoils my choice would be Permatrim (which I have) or Oz hydrofoil.Those SE sport,stingrays etc don’t come close. Keep up the great work and looking forward to seeing other videos.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

A lot of people have mentioned the Permatrim and I see a few around my area. What makes them so good in your opinion? I have never put one on a boat before so I would love to do a comparison. SBC.

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

@@smallboatcaptain1968 I think they are more durable,ridged and better designed.They are longer and have deep turned down edges to keep undisturbed water longer around the prop giving your prop better grip/thrust at the prop. My boat in avatar planes quicker and maintains plane at slower speeds,has increased my fuel economy a bit and steers like it’s on rails now.I have friends with way more boating experience than me and all say the same about permatrim/oz hydrofoil.The difference between the 2 of you didn’t know is perm has a curved trailing edge and oz has a straight trailing edge. You are a very knowledgeable guy mate and love the videos.A idea for videos I would like to see is one on launching/retrieving boats both drive on and winch on and on docking as so many people are hopeless at it if you don’t mind at some stage. Cheers.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

@@Hahehhwgajshah72726.. I am very interested in looking at these hydrofoils a lot closer. I am always after video ideas mate so expect to see these ideas in up-coming videos. Great topics. Thanks for the feedback mate, SBC.

[@Hahehhwgajshah72726..]

@@smallboatcaptain1968 No dramas mate.They are a good bit of kit honestly.Saying that because you have the Se sport and it’s doing what you need I’d invest any spare money on other things and keep the permatrim or oz hydrofoil in mind for next time you’re looking at buying a foil or know someone that might. Looking forward to seeing the channel grow mate.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

@@Hahehhwgajshah72726.. Thanks Fabian. I appreciate the support. SBC

[@miztrusa]

I have an older 16' starcraft with Force 75 I jus inherited and I'm adding a 5hp kicker, extra battery and extra 3 gal tank so I'm thinking this fin Will be a help lifting the extra weight. They're really not that expensive to solve a big problem. TY for making my decision easier 🙏👏👏

[@wardysfishing9403]

Ideal for vessels like yours. Especially if the weight is on the transom. Let me know how you go.

[@crispernator]

gday mate i had a permatrim foil on my last 4.2 anglapro attached to a 40hp enduro i rekon it helped get it on the plane quicker looking at putting one on the new 40 four stroke when it arrives there are two different companies oz props and permatrim dont know if they are the same or not but oz props is cheaper by about 20 dollars and an aussie company so ill probably go with them , one thing i liked about these type of foils is they are good when pushing of from a beach as a step before you start the motor . I like your style of videos no bullshit !

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

G'day mate. Thanks for the kind words. I agree. They are great for getting a boat on the plane. I've watched a lot of videos and read in on-line posts that they do nothing but I've used them for about 30yrs and they make a big difference. I would recommend testing the new boat and motor first. If there is no issues getting it on the plane and trimming it out, then a foil will do very little apart from get it on the plane slightly quicker. But if it bogs down and doesnt sit quite right, the foil is worth a try. I got my new foil in the main this week so will fit it on the weekend and put a new video out.

[@herewinipivac5578]

I hi

[@jono999s]

Motor height makes tons of difference ,went up 2 holes .

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

G'day mate. Love the tag name. And you're right. The boat has to be setup right before you do anything. Getting the engine height right is critical and a foil won't fix bad engine height.

[@UrbanFisherman]

Great info 👍🏽

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Thanks mate.

[@bkriss]

Thanks for the great video! How will I know if my engine is mounted too high? What are the clear signs that the propeller is getting air, even a little bit?

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

The engine will start to over rev even on slower or easy turning. If you have a boat that it trimmed out and you turn sharply, it will suck in air and ventilate, but if it is doing this all the time, it needs to be dropped lower. I will look at a video that covers engine height so that you have a clear understanding of it. SBC.

[@bkriss]

​@@smallboatcaptain1968Thanks for your answer!

[@ronaldbertin9455]

Been boating for 55 yrs never ever saw a speed increase on a well setup outboard.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

G;day Ron. I agree. Foil manufactures state that they can make a boat go faster but it would have to be fixing a poor setup. Get the motor height and prop right and the foil won't make it faster. I fitted a SE300 foil to my SeaJay and it didn't increase the speed. It was faster by 1kph but that could be current, water conditions etc. Thanks for the feedback.

[@clintonjacobson3282]

Change your prop

[@hardtimesify]

They have their pros and cons. Your going to porpoise less and you get better bow attitude when getting on plane but you lose at least 2 knots on your top end and they are horrible in large following seas.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

They are so varied though. I avoid putting them on but when the problem needs a hydrofoil, what can you do. Interesting that I didn't lose any top end but I agree that they suck in a following sea. Thanks for the comment. SBC.

[@almostthere2024]

Thanks for this post, very good knowledge and info. I'm interested in your opinion about whether a Hydrofoil is likely to assist with 'torque', for lack of a better way to describe it. Essentially, is the directional assistance helpful when the tinny is loaded up with four people and gear? Running a 25hp 2 stroke on a 4.1m V hull Stessco. Can't seem to find any testing data other than speed and bow rise with just the captain on board. Any thoughts?

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

G'day Mate. I am guessing that the 25hp struggles to get up on the plane and moving with such a load and unfortunately, it's unlikely that the hydrofoil with make any difference. It's just too much load for a 25hp on a 4.1m. Even a 30hp would struggle. One of my boats is a 4m flat bottom punt and I can't get that to plane with more than 3 people. And that has a 30hp with a foil. I try to avoid a hydrofoil but if I need just that extra lift to push me onto the plane or I have a ventilation issue on turning like I had in my Seajay, than I go for it. But in your case, the slight lift that a hydrofoil will give, would be enough to offset the weight. Sorry I couldn't be more positive. SBC.

[@SwitcherTrain]

Great

[@patrickamorosini2010]

My boat quicksilver activ 455 with honda 60CV hits a lot from the front, I hesite between flaps and a hydrofoil, what do you think? thank you for your answer

[@johnhiggs325]

Cavitation causes damage to the leading edges of the blades when the vacuum bubbles implode. Steam has nothing to do with the damage.

[@clayton1379]

Yeah, but your hydrofoil is not in the water when you're going down the lake. It should be up out of the water if your motor is set at the right height!!!

[@wardysfishing9403]

Gday Clayton1379. When set at the right height, it sits on the surface of the water causing that lift at the transom. Just as the anti cavitation plate is meant to work.

[@geraldforbes-s3k]

Doel Fin the best by test

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Thats what I have on my 30hp. Great hydrofoil.

[@AJM-0205]

If your hydrofoil makes a difference... Then your boat and motor is set up wrong, the anti-ventilation plate should not be on the water on plane, race outvoards dont even have them.... Balance the boat better, set the motor height properly and very importantly get a decent prop that actually grabs the water and get rid of that aluminium rubbish

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

All valid points AJM. But I don't have a racing boat set up. I don't have a jacking plate. I don't want a stainless-steel prop. I do understand, and mention in the video, that the hydrofoil is there to fix a problem. Due to it being a factory setup up fishing boat, it is far from the perfect setup that you need in a racing boat. I fish around rocks and do a prop from time to time. Just part of my lifestyle and most other anglers are in the same boat, so alloy props for me. Plus, it's only a 70hp engine, so the alloy prop isn't going to flex like it would on a boat with a bigger engine that is built for speed. Going stainless on a 70hp makes bugger all difference until you hit a rock. So, I can totally see your point. It is all about optimising the set up. Or, if it isn't quite right, throw a $150 worth of hydrofoil on the outboard. SBC

[@murfrirhke4557]

Bro, you’re only partly (a mini part) correct. Go back & do more research as I don’t want to embarrass you.

[@AJM-0205]

@@murfrirhke4557 feel free to try embarrass me all you want my friend. Be careful but you might make yourself look like a bit of a goose. These wastes of time are mainly only popular in Australia. I'm not however, referring to the American hydrofoils that they put in the flats boats for a specific reason. Get a decent prop and set the boat and motor up properly, hydrofoils are a bandaid fix. Feel free to Google it.

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

@@murfrirhke4557 Don't hold back mate. I don't get embarrassed. If I am wrong then please let me know. However, my target audience is small boat owners that just want to get out on weekends and go boating or fishing. No racing boat enthusiasts with jacking plates and custom props. Just weekend boaties. I have been boating for over 40yrs, owned many many boats and have worked for many years as a commercial skipper so like to think I know a little. But always willing to learn. SBC.

[@George.Andrews.]

You can keep your stainless prop and bend your prop shaft whenever you like. I'll keep my alli prop and limp home if I make a little mistake.

[@AlexGarcia-ew2fv]

I had countless Foils on my boats..all in all..there a waste of time n $$$...most guys doing these videos r Profiting from it.1 way or another. Despite of what tell say on here

[@smallboatcaptain1968]

Hi Alex. I disagree. I avoid using foils if I can but if I need just a little lift to get on the plane better or at slower speeds, then a foil is a good option. Sometime weight distribution or not trimming the hull out correctly is the issue so if all that is checked, a foil is the last option. Thank for the feedback though. SBC.

[@dominicnoon]

Rubbish. they work very well PROVIDING you are addressing an issue they are designed to fix…keep on plane at slower speeds, raise the engine hydrodynamically, require less fuel to stay on plane…the list goes on.