Hydrofoil comments

[LakeRider]

I have a 175,19', 135hp merc. I'm thinking about purchasing a hydrofoil.....anybody have any good or bad experiences?

 

[KayKook]

They serve their purpose, but are not as ideal as true trim tabs. Not sure if they will fit on your 175, but take a look at Smart Tabs as an alternative to the Hydrofoil.

 

[windowwasher]

A stainless prop would do you better, but the hydro will also help your hole shot. The two combined help a lot.

 

[CliffA]

long post to follow...sorry....this can be a touchy subject...you will find (as i did from research) that there are many subscribers both for and against the hydrofoil...i believe a lot of the success (or failure) you can experience when expiermenting with a HF has variables such as boat weight, hull design, engine power, type of sterndrive, etc...i am on the side that likes what a HF did for my boat...i installed a Stingray HF (no affiliation) to my 215EC....the performance of my boat with a 5.7L engine and 19P stainless steel prop was very adequate without the HF, but i am the kind of person that just can't leave well enough alone if i think there is a chance to improve something...i also have the Bennett hydraulic trim tabs on my boat, and they work very well, but in a different fashion (at least for me)....the HF significantly improved the 'hole shot' time to plane...with just me and my wife i can come on plane in around 5 seconds or so (never really timed it)....once on plane just the slightest touch of the trim switch has a noticeable affect on raising the entire boat out of the water (at least that's what it feels like)...i have found my cruising 'sweet spot' is with the trim up about 1/4 and the engine running at about 2,700 - 2,800 RPM's....the HF also acts as somewhat of a 'stabilizer'...i noticed that when my wife decides to suddenly walk around the boat without telling me the boat does not list as severe....now that is where the trim tabs come in...since i weigh a good bit more than my wife and the normal way we load the boat with 'stuff' the boat tends to list slightly to the right...just a slight adjustment of the trim tabs and the list is quickly eliminated....the tabs really come in handy in correcting a list due to uneven weight distribution, especially when a lot of adults are on board....the tabs also do a good job lowering the bow of the boat and plowing through rough water if needed....I can also now stay on plane down to around 15 mph...the tabs will also decrease the 'hole shot' time but i don't like to fiddle with the tab controls every time i come off and go on plane...the HF helps the 'hole shot' without any manipulation from me...i personally think the combination of both the HF and the trim tabs work very well in my application, but your results could be very different....i will mention that i did 'beef up' the anti-cavitation plate that the HF mounts to...my plate had been broken and repaired before...the HF will place additional stress on the plate and i have heard (actually read) that some plates supposedly have been broken when a HF was installed...since my plate had been broken previously i had a prop repair shop weld a thin strip of aluminum onto the plate where the mounting bolts go through the plate....this is the part that really seems to upset some people for some reason...their opinion is the HF looks 'stupid' and 'out of place' and anything done to the sterndrive not from the factory is wrong...i respectfully disagree...the HF is the same color black as the sterndrive and blends very well....the aluminum strips are under the HF and cannot be seen, and besides they were painted with Mercury black paint to match the sterndrive...all of this can be removed and repaired later if ever needed....let the 'flaming' begin....

 

[aqua*holic]

I installed a hydrofoil on my last boat. It did make a noticable difference in quicker hole shot and less bow rise. I don't know if I could bring myself to drill holes in the drive of my newer boat. If I decide to add something, I will try the Smart Tabs first.

 

[sgreiss]

Lakerider

I have the same boat year and boat you do and have had a hydrofoil on for a few years. I decided to take it off 2 years ago to see if it made a difference and found that it made little to no difference in the time to plane and no difference in top end speed. It did allow for a slightly slower speed for staying on plane and may have helped a little with porpoising but did appear to create a bit of drag on the steering. Overall, I prefer not having it on the outdrive and could not use it now as I have added a swim platform onto the back of the boat which the hydrofoil would hit when the drive is trimmed up all the way. I did order the smart tabs from Nauticus last week and should have them by Friday to install. I have heard great things about them and feel they will make the most difference in time to plane as well as add stability to the overall ride but not compromise the steering. Besides, the smart tabs are basically the same price as a good hydrofoil but should deliver more overall benefit and value. I can repond with another post after I run the boat with smart tabs this weekend if you are interested.

 

[LakeRider]

Thanks very much for all of the replys

 

[surfinjoe]

+1 for smart tabs. I have a hydrofoil from my 180 Sport. I didn't notice much of a difference at all, but the smart tabs were a totally different story!

 

[Gunn]

I had debated this for my '95 175 too for quite awhile but never did purchase one. My issue was (1) porpoising at low speed and (2) staying on plane at lower speeds while wakeboarding. I can live with the 1st issue. But the 2nd one was one I wanted to solve. It seems the sweetspot when using the wakeboard is the spot where the boat is just on plane. But it's hard to keep there. It will start to wallow and will need some throttle. Then it will start to scream and we'll need to slow down. But again we just lived with it.

They do make the hydrofoils that clamp onto the drive without drilling. But those are more expensive.

Tom

 

[midway]

I have had Smart Tabs on my boat for several years, they are worth every penny you spend on them, they do everything advertised, at least for me they did. I have read that they flatten the wake out some for people that wake board, others have said they notice no difference.

 

[surfinjoe]

On my 220 SD, the wake is BIGGER with smart tabs.

I have had Smart Tabs on my boat for several years, they are worth every penny you spend on them, they do everything advertised, at least for me they did. I have read that they flatten the wake out some for people that wake board, others have said they notice no difference.