Hydrofoil benefits

comocozi · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 10 City: Ithaca

I was thinking about picking up a hydrofoil for my Four Winns Horizon 190, but don't know if it is worth the ~100 dollars they cost.

I've heard they will improve fuel efficiency and decrease the plane speed of the boat.

Anyone use one of these and notice any difference? Any suggestions on which ones to buy?

Thanks.

flounderbout · Outlaw Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 224 City: London

It seems to me that decreasing the planing speed of the boat is a guaranteed way of reducing the wake size. So if you are planning on doing some monoskiing, then go for your life.
And it is a sad consequence of Newton's Third Law that the bigger the wake, the lower the fuel efficiency.

pet575 · Posted: Jul 03, 2008 7:54 am Post subject:

DO NOT DO IT. Do not use either a hydrofoil or tabs on an I/O. It will flatten the hell out of the wake and result in unnecessary holes in your outdrive or hull, since you will be removing the accessories once you see what it has done to your wake.

If you need to improve your planing ability at lower speeds, your answer is a 4 or 5 blade propeller.

nitsuj819 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Yah I had one on my boat when we bought it, i didn't realize the difference it made on the wake till I took it off. it does increase fuel efficience, but its not enough to make it worth it.

GuitsBoy · Posted: Jul 03, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

Get a ballast bag, and an atwater livewell pump from walmart, and an old section of hose to fill teh bag. Wont run you much more than 100 bucks, but will do 10 times more to bump up your wake.