Hydrofoils

[RichF]

Anybody have any experience with these? My dad's Z-7 has been struggling to get on plane and I'm wondering if one of these ugly suckers would help.

[Dogface]

I do not know all the pros or cons but I can offer this. I had one on my boat. It did help with the numbers. It went on plane faster and the top speed was slightly faster. I imagine with the increase with performance there was an increase in gas mileage. 

 

The down side was it interfered with the water intake and I was constantly getting an "overheat" light. I also fish a lot of areas with a lot of weed and it did pick up weeds.

 

Since high performance was never a big issue with me I removed it. I have been tempted to reinstall it and try to change the water intake problems. If I could get it working I would use it on some big waters that I fish like Oneida and the St. Lawrence.  

[Scott F]

I’ve had the same one on my boat for 25 years. My boat is rated for a 115 but when I repowered many years ago, I couldn’t afford more than the 75 I put on it. I put a StingRay hydrofoil on it which helped immensely. It jumps up on plane much faster and stays on plane at much lower speeds. It did take a couple of mph off the top end, but I seldom run wide open anyway so I never missed it. I have no comparison to any other models, but it helped me.

[Way north bass guy]

I have one made by a fellow in Louisiana. Look up Chris Bailey foils online, he custom makes them to fit any motor, you can get them in aluminum or stainless steel, painted or unpainted, and matching logos that say whatever you want in the sides. They don’t look as ugly as the big “whale tails” of the past either. He ships them right to you ( I’m in Canada and it only took a week or so to get), and it definitely helped my boat. I’m kind of maxed out in pitch for my prop to get the correct rpms at wot, and the only time I needed a bit of help getting on plane was if I had more than 3 people in the boat ( not often but enough that it was a pain when I did have that many). With the foil, I can pop right out of the water, stay on plane at a much lower speed, and it didn’t mess with my top end speed at all ( it’s out of the water when running full speed/trim).

[Team9nine]

Ran one on an old bass boat of mine, believe it might have been the StingRay, but regardless, it definitely worked. If you can't get the hole shot/planing thing figured out by getting the engine height and prop setup right (pitch and blade configuration), or even changing load distribution, then it would be worth a shot as they aren't that expensive.

[WRB]

Z-7 with what hp and prop? 19' 6" bass boat rated 150 hp, a 4 blade prop would be a better solution.

Tom

[RichF]

Thanks for the replies guys! I'm going to give it a shot. 

[Bankc]

I had an aluminum "Whale Tail" back in the 90's on my old ski boat.  It worked really well.  I don't remember there being a downside, but I do remember how much better the boat handled in rough water with it on.  

[Way2slow]

Look at the SE Sport 300.  I run one on my hotrod motor but I slightly trim the sides a little to keep it from looking quite so dorky.  Huge help in hole shot and if setup properly there should be no difference in top end speed or handling.

I looks and performs better than those whale tail looking things. 

Before installing one, make sure you have your engine height properly set, too many people have the engine too low. 

I would also have to question your current setup.  Granted, that's a lot of boat for that small of a motor but does the motor turn near the manufactures max recommended rpm when planed out the trimmed up properly at WOT with your normal load?  If not, then you might want to consider a prop change first.   Also, if you are running an aluminum prop, that can add to the problem.  A proper pitch SS prop will make a difference of aluminum.

[Lowe and Behold]

On 7/4/2020 at 1:32 PM, Way north bass guy said:

 

 

Missing a nut here? I'm sure you noticed and I doubt it makes a difference but I can't help but point it out, ha. 

[Way north bass guy]

5 hours ago, Lowe and Behold said:

Missing a nut here? I'm sure you noticed and I doubt it makes a difference but I can't help but point it out, ha. 

Haha, good eye. I took this pic while I was part way through the install, everything’s all tightened up and been that way for a couple years now with no issues. 

[WRB]

Aluminum prop flexes

Tom

[Way north bass guy]

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

Aluminum prop flexes

Tom

Yes, but they also are a heck of a lot cheaper to replace when your in a place where almost all the bottom is granite, and there’s literally thousands of shoals everywhere ( Georgian Bay).

[WRB]

A bandaid doesn't cure the probem. How does a plane aid prevent hitting a rocks? If you hit a reef on plane you loose the lower unit!

What you are saying it's ok hit to rocks with a alunmuim prop and spend money on a band aid in lieu of using the proper prop. 

Tom

[RichF]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

A bandaid doesn't cure the probem. How does a plane aid prevent hitting a rocks? 

What you are saying it's ok hit to rocks with a alunmuim prop and spend money on a band aid in lieu of using the proper prop. 

Tom

I don't think he's saying that the hydrofoil will help prevent him from hitting rocks.  He's saying that he uses one because his home water has a lot of shoals and he'd rather replace an aluminum prop than a stainless steel one, which makes sense.

[RichF]

On 7/7/2020 at 6:16 PM, Way2slow said:

Look at the SE Sport 300.  I run one on my hotrod motor but I slightly trim the sides a little to keep it from looking quite so dorky.  Huge help in hole shot and if setup properly there should be no difference in top end speed or handling.

I looks and performs better than those whale tail looking things. 

Before installing one, make sure you have your engine height properly set, too many people have the engine too low. 

I would also have to question your current setup.  Granted, that's a lot of boat for that small of a motor but does the motor turn near the manufactures max recommended rpm when planed out the trimmed up properly at WOT with your normal load?  If not, then you might want to consider a prop change first.   Also, if you are running an aluminum prop, that can add to the problem.  A proper pitch SS prop will make a difference of aluminum.

I think one of the responses said the Z-7 is 19'6" but it's not.  It's 18'6. I got a 150 4-stroke merc on it with a 22 or 23 pitch stainless steel prop.  The prop does have a couple small dings but nothing I think would rob performance that much.  We do have one power pole blade on the back which I'm sure doesn't help.  I ended up getting the SE Sport 400 (didn't want to drill into the motor just in case it doesn't fix the problem).  Eventually, I'd like to see how a 4 blade prop does.

[Way2slow]

Sorry, somewhere I thought I read you had a 75 on it. 

You say it has been struggling.  Did it ever get on plane reasonably?

If this is something that has just developed, you might have a performance problem with the engine.

Four stokes are not the greatest at producing strong holes shots but you might want to look at dropping one pitch size in the prop unless it's already at max RPM at WOT.  100 rpm over is better than 300 rpm lower than max.

You also have to consider the water is a lot warmer now and that affects hole shot.

 

 

[RichF]

10 hours ago, Way2slow said:

Sorry, somewhere I thought I read you had a 75 on it. 

You say it has been struggling.  Did it ever get on plane reasonably?

If this is something that has just developed, you might have a performance problem with the engine.

Four stokes are not the greatest at producing strong holes shots but you might want to look at dropping one pitch size in the prop unless it's already at max RPM at WOT.  100 rpm over is better than 300 rpm lower than max.

You also have to consider the water is a lot warmer now and that affects hole shot.

 

 

It was always a touch slow imo but it has definitely gotten worse over the last 2-3 yrs. It's not that big of a deal since we're still among the slow crowd in our tourney trails (most guys are running 200hp+). I just getva little impatient. The new foil is on. Gonna test it tonight before a tourney tomorrow. Surprisingly, it doesn't look horrible haha.

[KYRANGERMAN]

I've got a 2000 Ranger R83, 18'9" with a 2000 Evinrude Ficht 150 (top HP rating for this hull is 175), with a Renegade 25p 4 blade prop and a Slidemaster 6" manual jackplate.  I had it set up by the dealer when I purchased it new and I've never touched the setup in the 20 years I've owned it.  It comes out of the hole and gets on plane quickly and top speed is in the mid to high 50's.  I start with the motor trimmed all the way down which helps force the hull out of the water.  Making sure that motor height, prop pitch etc. are optimized will give you better results.

[RichF]

1 hour ago, KYRANGERMAN said:

I've got a 2000 Ranger R83, 18'9" with a 2000 Evinrude Ficht 150 (top HP rating for this hull is 175), with a Renegade 25p 4 blade prop and a Slidemaster 6" manual jackplate.  I had it set up by the dealer when I purchased it new and I've never touched the setup in the 20 years I've owned it.  It comes out of the hole and gets on plane quickly and top speed is in the mid to high 50's.  I start with the motor trimmed all the way down which helps force the hull out of the water.  Making sure that motor height, prop pitch etc. are optimized will give you better results.

I definitely want to try a 4 blade prop at some point.  Didn't want to throw down $600 - $700 right now though. Hoping the foil helps her out a bit until I win some more $$ at the next couple tournies I fish;)

[WRB]

Check with a local prop shop to see if they have a test prop to try out. Anglers often exchange props and the shop may have a like new 4 blade SST at 1/2 the price.

Jack plates push the bow up exactly what you don't need. Trim tabs will work better then Dolphin IMO.

Tom

[Junk Fisherman]

16 hours ago, RichF said:

I think one of the responses said the Z-7 is 19'6" but it's not.  It's 18'6. I got a 150 4-stroke merc on it with a 22 or 23 pitch stainless steel prop.  The prop does have a couple small dings but nothing I think would rob performance that much.  We do have one power pole blade on the back which I'm sure doesn't help.  I ended up getting the SE Sport 400 (didn't want to drill into the motor just in case it doesn't fix the problem).  Eventually, I'd like to see how a 4 blade prop does.

The SE Sport 400 helped my hole shot tremendously and reduce porpoising.  I had people recommending going with a different prop but I thought I would try the $100 solution first.  I am not a prop/boat setup purist.  I am fine with a band-aid.  

[KYRANGERMAN]

WRB has a good suggestion in checking with the local shops.  Also, talk to your fishing buddies.  One of them may have a prop that they will let you do a try before you buy test.

[Way north bass guy]

21 hours ago, RichF said:

I don't think he's saying that the hydrofoil will help prevent him from hitting rocks.  He's saying that he uses one because his home water has a lot of shoals and he'd rather replace an aluminum prop than a stainless steel one, which makes sense.

Bingo, this is the exact answer. Not that I’m ever trying to hit anything, and I’ve been fairly successful so far, with the exception of a few “connections” with bottom, but if you’ve ever fished the 30 Thousand Islands region of Georgian Bay, you’d understand exactly what I’m talking about. 

[Quarry Man]

23 hours ago, Way north bass guy said:

Haha, good eye. I took this pic while I was part way through the install, everything’s all tightened up and been that way for a couple years now with no issues. 

how did you install it? id be nervous drilling through my motor