Re: hydrofoils

[warrior132]

Hi !

I have a 2006 nitro 591 with a 175 optimax. I am very happy with the boat except sometimes it is slow getting on plane. I am considering a hydrofoil and am looking for input from anyone who has used one. Good ? bad ? Any input is appreciated !

"the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"

[JayW]

What kind of prop are you running?

[warrior132]

Im running the original prop. a 3 blade tempest. the last 3 on the prop says 25P. im assuming that means a 25 pitch.

[NBR]

Hate to ask this but are you tucking the motor all the way under before you try to get up on plane?

[warrior132]

NO! Don't hesitate to ask ! thats why i posted this in the first place! I am new to bass boats and could use all the help and advice I can get! I AM actually starting with the motor all the way down. Is that causing part/all of the problem? At what trim level would you suggest I start?

[burleytog]

Start with the motor all the way down and slowly trim up as you get up to speed and on plane.

[warrior132]

Ok. That's what im doing. I guess i am doing it right then. Its not all the time that its slow. it usually gets up fine. it usually does it with for example, a full livewell (full of water, hardly ever fish lol). Its not a real problem, i was just looking for a simple and not overly expensive performance improvement.

[NBR]

You should start with the motor all the way down. I think you bought the boat used. If so maybe the previous owner changed props for more high end speed and sacrificed hole shot. In my experience the prop that comes with a factory rigged boat is a pretty decent compromise of cost and performance but individual preferences can result in changes that alter the performance.

My first performance boat came with, as I recall, a Raker over the hub exhaust prop that gave great top end but a poor hole shot. I broke a blade off the prop and replaced it with a through hub exhaust prop. Lost some top end speed nut the hole shot was much better.

Shoot an email to ProCraft or visit a dealer for suggestions before you spend much money!

[warrior132]

i bough the boat new form bps and that was the original factory prop. i think i will just leave it as it is. The performance is not bad and i love the boat and the optimax. i don't want to void any warranties or damage the cavitation plate as i have heard sometimes can happen.

[JayW]

Let me ask you another dumb question... are you giving it full throttle to come out of the hole? You may need to. I used to own a Charger Bass Boat with a Chopper prop on it and it had a horrible hole shot. Top end was great and so was the rooster tail, but the hole shot sucked! I had to give it WOT and it still took a bit to get up on plane. I now have a 4 blade prop on my flats boat and it jumps up on plane and although the top end is not as fast as a lot of Bass boats, 0-55 it's hard to beat!

[warrior132]

BEEN DOING THAT TOO. IM BEGINNING TO THINK IT IS AN OCCASIONAL ANNOYANCE I MAY HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE BOAT! I MAY CONSIDER A NEW PROP AT SOME POINT. THATS A WHOLE NEW QUESTION! ANY ADVICE IN THIS AREA WOULD BE GREAT. MY NITRO IS 18'6" AND AGAIN IT HAS A 175 OPTIMAX ON IT. IF I CAN FIND A REPLACEMENT PROP THAT WILL OUTPERFORM MY EXISTING PROP, I WILL PROBABLY GO WITH THAT INSTEAD OF THE FOIL. THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP SO FAR.

"the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"

[George Welcome]

You have that motor completely over propped. That motor should carry a Tempest 23P 48-825864 Plus. 2nd, you have a downsized motor for that hull - The 591 is placarded for a 200 HP?

The hydrofoil will help.

[warrior132]

THANKS FOR THE INFO. GEORGE. THATS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PROP. EVEN WHEN I WENT TO MERCURY MARINE'S WEB SITE AND USED THE PROP FINDER, THEY RECOMMENDED A 4 OR 5 BLADE PROP AS AN UPGRADE, BUT STILL ONLY RECOMMENDED A 25 PITCH PROP. CONFUSING !!!!!!!!!!! IM LEANING TOWARDS REPLACING THE PROP WITH A 4 BLADE PROP BUT AM NOT SURE ABOUT PITCH. ANY PROP EXPERTS OUT THERE ?

[Pintail55]

I own a 17' Nitro w/ a 115 merc. and I had the excact same problem as you. It takes her a little while to get up but once its up watch out. I did put a foil on and it help out a lot, I mean a lot. I didn't expect for one to help so much but It really helped my hole shot. It made mine a little more wobbely (harder to steer) up on plane but the benifits of the foil out weighted the other. For me it worked great but its never the same on every boat. Since there fairly inexpensive I'd say try one.

[bassdocktor]

One thing no one mentioned which you need to consider. Weight. I'm not an expert either but look at where and how you have your gear set up in the boat that can make a difference. I took my boat out alone last week and the missing partner made a huge difference. There are more guys on here that can definitely help you with where the weight should be.

Something to consider, my partner this year has a Triton 185 with a Merc 150XR6. He has a hydrofoil and swears by it. He said that with his worked over 4 blade, jackplate, and something he had to have done to the engine the boat flys and it does. He also carries alot of extra weight with over 200lbs in just plastics. I have a Triton 186 some same length same motor except newer, no jackplate or hydrofoil, and only a 3 blade probably less weight. Those are alot of differences between the 2 boats but his is quicker and gets on plane faster.

Good luck,

bassdocktor