Hydrofoil Stabilizers for Boat Motors (Do they work???) - On the water test!

[@mtdusmc9437]

This is what you call "I had my mind made up before I did the test". Every measurement showed that it performed better with the hydrofoil. Top speed was higher, it planed faster and it porpoised less with the hydrofoil on. Dozens of other tests on KZbin show the same exact thing. So yes, they work.

[@CanadienNortherner]

Yeah it did look like he got 1 mph faster with them on !

[@JeffreyHatch69]

If they work so well I cannot understand why engine manufacturers don't make this built-in as part of the anti- cavitation plate. It doesn't make sense to have this as an add-on when it could just be built into the engine

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

@JeffreyHatch69 I’ve wondered that too

[@lemming9693]

​@JeffreyHatch69 I don't think manufacturers take into account people putting bigger engines on smaller boats or big 4 strokes on older boats. Like mine. I have a ryds 495 gt with a suzuki 70hp 4 stroke. And I'm a big as mf so when I drive alone I have no problem getting it to plane but it does porpose a bit, which a hydrofoil might help with.

[@thangknowa3288]

Yes they are an improvement. Tilt trim is more sensitive, and without it on your boat, you were searching for it. My most recent boat did not have one, after about a year I put a Stingray on it, no going back, ever.

[@squallyheiferadventures]

Installed hydrofoil on my boat to stop porpoise at lower speeds. I can plane at lower speeds and it is great. I am not a speed junkie.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yes it is good for that for sure

[@rogerreed9768]

Bought one, installed, on plane earlier than without, better handling, will stay on plane at lower speeds. I lost 2 mph on top speed, but being on plane at lower speeds , helped over all performance. For me it was a no brainer. One thing I did do was change over to a four blade propeller from a three. Helped with hole shot, kept the same pitch. More bit in the water

[@fiddlinjazz]

Going to a 4 blade is most likely why you lost 2 mph on top end. More bite in the water with more blades drags down your engine rpm a bit

[@urnmyscope1]

I have CPS 19 Mako with t-top, mercury 4stroke 150. With just me on the boat without foil i plane pretty quick. But when i take another person it takes longer. 3 people it took forever. Now with foil i get on plane easy with even four full grown men. Definitely makes a difference!

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Nice! Good to know, thanks for sharing.

[@BrandonX444X]

Yea a lot of people don’t understand what the Hydrofoil is for other than they think it’s for jumping on plane and such. A lot of us shallow water guys run these to keep water pressure in super skinny water when we raise our Jack plates up

[@timperna8729]

definitely got you on plane sooner and the ride looked smoother.. you were bouncing more without the fin. thanks for the vid!

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah I agree. I still have it off though, just feel quicker without it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@curtiswaagner]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing I would guess anyone else on the boat would tell you differently since your holding the wheel and not paying attention to the bouncing

[@vinceadams1581]

I did the same test, and the acceleration seemed to be less with the fin on. And top end was higher with fin off. The turning seemed to be affected also. Seemed to bank and turn better with the fin off, but I may do some more testing.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah I feel the same

[@danreid6712]

Hydrofoil adds cornering stability too! Use it.

[@5695q]

Go out and test the minimum planing speed with and without the foil. I think you'll find it takes less throttle to get on plane and also less trim adjustment to do it. I had an aluminum center console with a 55 gallon bait tank mounted in the aft cockpit area and with it full it would take a lot of trim to get on plane but with the foil it took less trim and it would get on plane a little faster.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah I agree with you. Getting on plane is much smoother with it on. Felt more drag on top end though. I’m still not for them or against them, really just depends on the boater’s preference

[@Nonplused]

Thanks for the video, I found it somewhat helpful. My boat is stern heavy and right now and I need the trim all the way down at any speed or it porpoises, so I am considering a hydrofoil vs. trim tabs. I don't really know the answer, but I am thinking at this point trim tabs would give me more useful range from the motor trim than a hydrofoil would. Specifically I am thinking that if the trim tabs level out the boat the prop could be aimed more square to the direction of travel rather than pointing down, which it has to do now. Thoughts?

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

How big of motor? Not sure about trim tabs but typically if your boat is underpowered a hydrofoil will help

[@Nonplused]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing I think it is slightly overpowered. The boat is rated for 125 hp and the engine is a 135. But in that era sub 125 was a different block but this is a V6 and also the same block as the 150 (Mercury 2 strokes), so I think it's 100-150 lbs or so over design weight for the boat, and that's all hanging off the back. It's a small boat, 17.5.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Ok gotcha. Sounds like that is going to be a trim issue then. Can’t say for certain. If you have trimmed way down while running and still proposing, I don’t think hydrofoil will fix that. Can’t speak on if trim tabs will because I’ve never used them.

[@Nonplused]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing Ok, thanks for replying, that is helpful because I don't have experience with either, so that gives insight as to what to expect from one of the options.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Good luck and feel free to email me if I can help in anyway

[@willm3742]

Seems lot of boat owners here, got a question. How can I determine a prop change from what it’s currently got? It’s a mercury 115 four stroke

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

What are the specs on your current prop? Should say on the side of prop

[@willm3742]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing it says D3 x13 3/4 x 15RT

[@willm3742]

Also says on engine 700 rpm’s at idle . I’m just trying to make it better and maybe get a better problem was on it cause I have no idea what it is and how good it is.

[@willm3742]

It’s just doesn’t seem like it has a lot of top and speed like I thought it would so I’m trying to enhance it a little bit if I can on the prop

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Hmm not sure what those mean besides size. Should have your prop’s pitch angle. 24 or 25 are common. 3 blade props will give you better top end speed, 4 blade are better for quicker hole shots and better balance/control on pad. I run a 3 blade. Probably need to upgrade it just being cheap at the moment

[@scottjacopian3191]

My thoughts exactly! As I had done the same thing you have On a 150 Mercury EFI.. above 55 mph, sometimes I get a very sudden jerk, but seems better off.

[@SteveSolaka]

Try a smaller foil

[@isaacperez2315]

What prop you using?

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

4 blade Skeeter Quicksilver trophy. Needs replaced

[@isaacperez2315]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing what pitch ?

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

25

[@07slowbalt]

With the foil on you porpoised less. That seems like the only difference to me.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah pretty much. Speeds were really close. I’m going to do a different test this spring and hopefully show a different perspective

[@Adogsmate4267]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing ltrs per hour mate, at each thousand. You would see what it's worth and to whom real quick.

[@philwalden6166]

Enjoyed the video, and now I am not sure I would spend my money for a hydrofoil. Thank you for sharing.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Glad to help Phil. I think if you have a lower horsepower motor, the hydrofoil will help you get on pad easier and quicker. Motors closer to what I have not much added value. Good luck!

[@broderickalmy3658]

I’m having an issue with my motor mating with my boat. Have a remodeled 1985 Stratos with a 2019 Mercury where the boat wants to porpoise and act up when I let off the hot foot. Like going to the right pretty hard. Have sea star hydraulic steering and Jack plate. Didn’t know if it was just the motor height.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Sounds like more of a trim level combined with Jack plate height issue. Not sure without jumping in the boat with you though

[@broderickalmy3658]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing thanks I’m thinking that too. I have a buddy that drives dirt super late model cars where he is saying the same thing. Trim tabs and motor height is what he’s thinking. I appreciate the response

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

You bet. Good luck!

[@broderickalmy3658]

Thanks I’ll keep you updated on my outcome. The reasoning behind it is that the previous owner told me to wait until I get to 45 MPH before I start to trim it up? That makes no sense to me. I usually start the trim after I’m on plane

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

For my boat, I get my trim at second dash, quarter trim. Once up on pad I trim up to around half or wherever feels good depending on lake conditions. Trim to much and your boat will walk to much, trim to little and you create lots of drag on motor and won’t go top speed. Let me know what you figure out.

[@drophammer776]

I still have my unopened package called shark fins that were meant to go on my 2stroke I bought in the mid 90's. 😊

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

😆 guessing you are doing just fine with out it. I understand both ways why people like and don’t like them

[@charlieodom9107]

Hydrofoils increase the drag on the boat, and will slow down the top speed. That is the tradeoff for having slower planing speeds, easier climb over the bow wave, and more stability at planing speeds. Foils like the one on this boat are typically instally on underpowered boats that need help getting on plane, not on high performance bass boats. Note, without the foil, you have terrible prop blowout when climbing over the bow wave, which is why you get the porpoising. Get the correct prop to run without the foil and your boat will perform as the manufacturer designed it to do.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Appreciate the insight Charlie

[@ralph04ification]

Chuck a set of 5 degree wedges in between the transom and the motor, this will enable you to tuck the leg in more on take off.👍

[@Thelongmanable]

*_His top speed with foil was higher yet he never acknowledged that..._*

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

There wasn’t enough difference to me. I felt like if I ran again and again it could of gone either way.

[@davey3765]

it looked like he got a couple mph higher without it. there's no way you would get a higher speed with it pushing down on the water. I'm courious if it's better for gas mileage to leave it off too. less resistance.

[@pro2aneveryield479]

@@davey3765 did you watch the same video we all did? Because he was faster with it. I run it on my boat due to quicker hole shot, better handling, smoother ride, and, wait for it... you guessed it, higher top end!

[@Thelongmanable]

@@PrestigeWorldwideFishing *_All I'm saying worlds fastest boats all run foils and racing foil sail boats will out run most motor powered boats!!!_*

[@clintonmclimore8370]

@@pro2aneveryield479Hydofoil doesn’t improve too end

[@davey3765]

well if it made a big enough difference why wouldn't manufacturers just put them on?

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

I’ve wondered the same. It could be that even though it works it creates a little bit of drag on the boat and manufactures don’t want to slow their top speed. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Spicy-Tuna]

Bingo

[@CanadienNortherner]

Cost ! That's why

[@chrisgra8335]

The boat was not stable at the beggining without .Top speed with hydrofoils on is never lower than hydrofoils off. They give 1-3 miles. ( "bigger anti-cavitation plate").

[@dwighthaberly1199]

Hydro has zero effect on top speed it's out of the water.

[@anatoliyreznik8657]

Make big difference

[@paultran4052]

It only work on big wave brother

[@bobdexter1029]

Try it with 2 or 3 people in the boat.

[@jasonmausteller2488]

How was top speed difference?

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Really not much at all. The hydrofoil was quicker out of the hole, but with hydrofoil off the boat made up the gap in the last third. There was only maybe a second or half second difference in my runs. Both hit around 55-56mph mark.

[@kaptanhatay]

Thanks bro

[@paultran4052]

You take your boat out there in the guft you will feel it differently

[@lodwill5116]

I think for doing donuts and turning back for skiers. It would help keep water at prop. Wake up. . If your just fishing. Shut up and fish 😎

[@zizwehunt1872]

More of a drag than anything. I wouldn't buy one. I never liked them for the boats I had them on. I've learned it's really Abt the height and trim adjustments for your boat

[@plainlogic]

I run 70 hp on a 14ft boat. The foil planes faster and I get to run less foot in the water without porpoising

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah I could see that. I still have it off but might put it back on for porpoising purposes

[@Voyager-077]

Yeah they work but I hate them!!!!therefore I never use them, final speed drops badly in some cases

[@razorsedge3472]

You mean plane not pad lmao

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

They mean the same thing. Up on top of the water

[@mikerobinson8734]

What’s funny “lmao” is you don’t know the difference between “on pad” and “plane”. Hint’ there is none.

[@charlieodom9107]

Plane and pad are two totally different terms in boating. They certainly do not mean the same thing. Plane is when the boat climbs over its bow wave. Pad is a flat area on the back of some hulls that is nearly flat, and "on pad" is only achieved at high planing speeds. You can be on plane, but not on the pad, but you can never be on the pad without planing. I don't know if his particular boat had a pad or not, but it is certainly a planing hull.

[@mikerobinson8734]

@@charlieodom9107 "Plane and pad are two totally different terms in boating" "you can never be on the pad without planing" So they are basically one in the same. thanks for clarifying what I already said.

[@charlieodom9107]

@@mikerobinson8734 you are a fucking moron!!!! If that is ALL you understood from my comment, then I'm sorry you are so damn stupid! A pad is a fucking object on a boat, you dumbass, a NOUN!!! Plane is a VERB, meaning to skim across the water, jackass! They are two totally different words, meaning something completely different. If this is too god damn difficult for you, then maybe you should get off KZbin and grab a fucking elementary school English book instead!

[@fiddlinjazz]

Seems like there was no real difference

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Yeah not much. I could see it being useful for under powered boats

[@alexanderscott2567]

If you run the motor too deep, nothing you put on it can make it good. You can't get chicken soup from chicken shit.

[@PrestigeWorldwideFishing]

Correct