Thread: Hydrofoil Stabilizers

I have one on my boat, it is an 18.5' that is underpowered, with a 115 2 stroke. It works great on my boat, made a difference right off the bat, but some boats may not work as well, one thing I really like is I can keep the boat on plane at slower speeds, and I do not run wide open very often. Hope this helps some.

I have on as well on a 15 / 44 the problem I was having is I'm overpowered and had trouble keeping the bow down. After adding the hydrofoil I can trim my motor enough to look back and watch my prop turn. It also improved the time it took to get on plane 900% instead of digging down than getting on step it jumps right on plane. I have however heard lots of complaints on loss of top end speed due to a hydrofoil. I actually gained speed because it stopped alot of the proposing for me. Hope this helps.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.238737,-92.809226
Eatin ain't cheatin

Some boats they help and some they don't. A lot of times you can improve performance by loading the boat more evenly..

Originally Posted by Barnacle Bill

Some boats they help and some they don't. A lot of times you can improve performance by loading the boat more evenly..

You are definitely right Bill. In my situation I am not able to place weight forward such as battery and fuel tank without major reconstruction and one heck of a welder. It is something I have been considering. I'm holding off hoping the wife will let me get a new hull. Lol


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=30.238658,-92.809311
Eatin ain't cheatin

Thanks everyone for your input. My PT185 is riding kind of tilted to the port side. I have tried rearranging equipment on the boat, but it still present. I'm still experimenting with the tilt/trim to find my optimum running speed also.

If your problem is side-to-side balance, then I dont think a Hydrofoil will help. Side-to-side problems are for Trim Tabs, but a smaller boat should not need trim tabs. I think your problem is weight distribution. Look at Battery and Power Trim unit locations, if they are too port then you need tackle boxes etc to starboard until you balance out. Possibly this might best be done on the water. If the boat is balanced at rest and shifts to port side down during running, you have exceeded my hillbilly expertise.

Originally Posted by Bombfixer

If your problem is side-to-side balance, then I dont think a Hydrofoil will help. Side-to-side problems are for Trim Tabs, but a smaller boat should not need trim tabs. I think your problem is weight distribution. Look at Battery and Power Trim unit locations, if they are too port then you need tackle boxes etc to starboard until you balance out. Possibly this might best be done on the water. If the boat is balanced at rest and shifts to port side down during running, you have exceeded my hillbilly expertise.

I have tried rearranging equipment . This helped a little. I have a 16 gal fuel tank on the starboard side and 2 interstate batteries on the port side. All rods are stored on the port side and tackle stored starboard with anchor at center under pedestal seat. I weight about 190 and would have thought the boat would be more to the starboard side while running. I'll try rearranging again.

could have waterlogged flotation on that side.