Crazy to ponder dolphin fins to twin alphas on 280DA?

[beachcombersc]

Last week I added dolphin fins to my father in laws 17' high tide to stop it from porposing and it got me wondering. When we go out in the 280DA, we take everything plus the kitchen sink. We end up so heavy between the gear and crew, I wouldn't mind a little help from below. Am I crazy to think adding a set of fins to the outdrive would help hole shot??? I think tabs are a whole other factor... What do you all think??? I know they made hole shot on all my smaller ski boats unbelievable. Top end came off a bit tho...

 

[67vetteal]

I see you are running 4.3's. Your boat is already underpowered for the way you use it. Adding Dolphins will only cause more strain with no gain. Al W.

 

[everthing's irie]

You boat is not under powered. If you don't have trim tabs add them. They will produce the effect you're looking for.

My 290DA has the 4.3's and I can get on plane just fine with 6 adults, 3 children and a weeks worth of supplies. :thumbsup:

 

[Half Off]

You boat is not under powered. If you don't have trim tabs add them. They will produce the effect you're looking for.

My 290DA has the 4.3's and I can get on plane just fine with 6 adults, 3 children and a weeks worth of supplies. :thumbsup:

+1:thumbsup:

I don't know if dolphin fins will help or not, but when I have a heavy load I just use the trim tabs and have no problem getting on plane.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Bah, under powered it's not, maybe it's not overpowered if that's what you mean. We pack a load of crap on our boat as well as a dinghy and outboard on the swim platform and we have no problems getting up on plane. If the bottom or drives have growth, then it takes a bit, but I don't let the growth get out of control. Fully loaded for a week out (full fuel and water and food and clothes and dog food etc...) it takes me about 10-12 seconds to get on plane without tabs. I load as much stuff as I can in the front of the boat for a long trip. I put the heavy stuff like water in the storage spaces in the front of the cabin. If I'm in a hurry, I'll drop the tabs and hop right up on plane in about 7 seconds. I've never been in a boat with fins so i can't comment on how they would impact performance, but I'm extremely happy with how my boat performs that i wouldn't want to alter it.

Growth with your boat and drives would be the first thing I would attack. I found it impacts performance on mine so much that I jump in the water every couple of weeks and clean. HUGE difference. With a clean bottom, I can cruise as low as 12.5 mph on plane and up to 45 mph WOT fully loaded. We have the same setup so if you want, we can compare numbers to see how we compare.

 

[JYurgo]

The 4.3's are not underpowered for the 280...

 

[comsnark]

Growth with your boat and drives would be the first thing I would attack. I found it impacts performance on mine so much that I jump in the water every couple of weeks and clean. HUGE difference. With a clean bottom, I can cruise as low as 12.5 mph on plane and up to 45 mph WOT fully loaded. We have the same setup so if you want, we can compare numbers to see how we compare.

Growth does indeed have a big impact. My top end drops off radically at the end of the season once the props and drives start fouling (my bottom doesn't really get growth)

Also, this is a 280DA, not a baja 38.

You ain't gonna get 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds in a 4 cylinder buick. But granma and granpa don't take the ZR1 down 95 to florida for winter migration.

 

[beachcombersc]

Since the boat comes out of the water while not in use, Growth is not an issue. Also, I have always been able to get up and out. Its just that I may have to have the one large guy step up to the mid section to help balance it out. I would love to have more control over angle. And tabs slow the hole shot down too much to help angle. Im not kidding, we bring tons of stuff... Then add a 90+ lb lab to the mix!!!! I have always practiced loading the best possible way. Its the mass of people behind the wheel....

 

[Turtlesboat]

Bigger boat with diesels, way better than a dolphin fin.

 

[fc3]

Fins add drag. More drag means more throttle to compensate at cruise. Generally speaking a well designed hull does not need bolt-ons to solve problems the hull designers neglected.

Best regards,
Frank