Experience with Hydrofoils

[rayw379]

This is my first post to this forum so please ignore any goofs. :smt024


I have a 1995 SeaRay 175 boat and I am thinking about installing a hydrofoil on this boat. I am wondering if anyone out there has installed one and if they have had any problems.

Thanks,

Ray Wise

 

[Dave S]

Hi Ray and welcome to CSR.

This topic has come up several times on the board. You can use the search feature to find them. Here is an article you may also want to look at. http://www.jerrylabella.com/on_the_level.htm

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Welcome to the board. Glad to have you here. :grin:

My first Sea Ray was a 176BR, pretty much the same as the current 175 with out some of the improvements. The hydrafoil or doelfin as it is sometimes called is claimed to work by a few and discounted by others. I tried one but did not like it. It dragged the boat down, I could not trim the drive with out putting strain on the out drive so off it came. Those things might be better suited for out boards. IMHO. :smt024

 

[midway]

I had one on a 1987 SeaRay Seville, never did like it, it slowed the boat on wot, burned more gas, held the bow down too much and a few other things. My current boat has Smart Tabs and I like them a lot. They have just release a new Smart Tab set, Smart Tabs SX, a composite tab, less money than the stainless version.

 

[wish2fish]

Welcome Ray!

I had the stingray hydrofoil on my 1989 SeaRay 160 I/O. While what the guys have said about reducing speed is probably true, I liked having the hydrofoil on the boat. Put is on in 1989 and sold it in 2006 with it still on it!

Helped the hole shot a ton by keeping the nose down, helped keep the boat from porpoising and I felt like it a help handle the choppy water better.