Switch Blade Hyrdofoil Wake??

mustang_2146 · Newbie Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 31 City: Murfreesboro

Does anyone have pictures of the wake with the switch blade hydrofoil on a Centurion?

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Ctipping · Posted: Feb 18, 2006 9:13 pm Post subject:

Achoomaliburipoffachoo

vawakemonster · Posted: Feb 18, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject:

Ctipping, its like the malibu wedge on 'roids!!! it steers also...in sync with the rudder!!!

-Erik

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

Ctipping, if ti]]it does what it is supposed to, it will be way better than the wedge. and its not like malibu was the first one to ever use a hydrofoil.

Mobe789 · Posted: Feb 18, 2006 11:09 pm Post subject:

Session had something EXACTLY like this, called the Whale Tail, seemed to do the job correctly, and its got more surface area to it than the wedge = more pull down.

I think this could be Big for Centurion.

karkid · Soul Rider Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 327 City: Tempe

no pictures but i've ridden one and it was a nice wake

shaggyboarder · Posted: Feb 19, 2006 12:01 am Post subject:

yeah ive seen those things up close and they are beastly. i had no idea they turned with the rudder though thats pretty cool. there was a few times we had my friends bu "slammed" and with the wedge down made it almost impossible to make a sharp turn especially at slow speeds.

Jim M · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 2933

I thought switchblades fit in your pocket? That thing couldn't fit in the back of my SUV! Shocked

vawakemonster · Posted: Feb 19, 2006 9:32 am Post subject:

Ha I just noticed how we all claim it turns with the rudder and all welll the blades leaning to the left and the rudder is truned to the right!!OH the Irony

-Erik

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

vawakemonster, it probably only turns when the boat is on Wink

Chad H · Posted: Feb 19, 2006 9:45 am Post subject:

Ya i bet that need power steering for turning that thing when its on. It would be alot of resistance.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

It doesn't turn with the rudder. It's actually not even attatched to the rudder at all.
It turns with the direction of the water being forced across its surface. For example, if the boat is turning to the left, so will the switchblade. Backing up the boat is like a crapshoot....it'll go either way on it's own.
It is always in the down position. No pulling it all the way up when you are done using it like you can with the wedge. It does have a 12 degree up/down movement that is used to fine tune the wake between wakeboard/slolom settings.
There is also an "auto" feature that will allow the blade to set itself when the boat reaches the desired speed.

MalibuBalla12 · Newbie Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 28 City: Ingleside

does anyone else think that it looks goofy? lol wow

als132 · Soul Rider Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 462 City: shoreline

MalibuBalla12, yeah but who cares? when its in the water, only fishies can see it Very Happy

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polkaking27 · Outlaw Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 142 City: Vancouver

Session offered this same thing on their boats last year. It was called the Whale tail. Talking to a person at the Session factory, they said that it was way too expensive to justify the minimal results they saw. So it is no longer offered as on option on their boats. I have never ridden with one, so I don't know personally, thats just what someone at the factory said.

J-Ro · Posted: Feb 21, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

K-dub, Have you ridden behind one? Seems a little sketchy if it stays down all the time. Is it just on a swivel? Have you guys sold many of them?

It seems pretty easy to kick it when you're getting out of the water, no?

Liquidmx · Addict Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 755 City: San Jose

I think the fact that it is always down is a huge problem. I personally like the idea of being able to drive to my spot without an extra 1000lbs+ of ballast sucking up gas.

K-dub · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 14760

J-Ro, no, none, and yes.

Liquidmx, supposedly there is a "neutral" setting where the foil creates no dragging or lifting force that would be used for driving to your spot without sucking up extra gas???
I have yet to actually drive a boat with one, but the info. I am giving is what I have been "schooled" on.

Bambamski · Posted: Feb 21, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject:

So is it like the power wedge then? Sounds like you can adjust it on the fly. It freaks me out looking at how low it drags as well. How much lower is it then the prop and rudder.

2nd what J-Ro said about kicking it.

I didn't think to check it out when we were at the boat show.

CP3 · Outlaw Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 219 City: SC

Another thing is, has centurion beefed up the glass that it is mounted to? I know Malibu's have to be reinforced because of the pull from the wedge.
Can you imagine the damage that would occur with that thing if it doesnt pop up?
It could rip of the whole transom.

ridehyperlite · Criminal Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 97 City: Albert Lea

This thing is the shiz. It has a nuetral position, and it doesn't hang lower than the prop/rudder. It also has a shear pin that will break in case of contact with the bottom. I talked to a dealer that had one strike the bottom, and it just shears the pin and lets loose. All they had to do was replace the pin and it was good to go.

The auto setting is probalbly the coolest feature. When the RPM's drop when you slow down to pick up a rider, the blade returns to the nuetral position. When you take off again, it waits 8 seconds for the boat to get on plane and then returns to the position you had previously set it to. That way it doesn't put excess stress on the motor during hole shots.

It comes with the extended platform so kicking it should not be an issue, but the trailing edge is very sharp so be aware.

It is also very easy to remove for towing or storage. The polished version is the way to go.

I have some pics of the wake I will try to find to post.

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

ridehyperlite, so how much is it too replace one when it falls off and you can't find it?

pilot_ryder · Posted: Feb 22, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

Looks kind of bulky. You gotta wonder what it feels like when your driving.

ridehyperlite · Criminal Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 97 City: Albert Lea

The whole thing is like 3 grand but I don't think it can fall off. If the pin shears there is still a bolt holding it on. But just the blade can't be all that much.

I thought it drove like a normal boat. When the blade is in use there is a little more bow rise. It still turned sharp as mine without.

Slow speed manuvering takes some getting used to. You have to give it little bursts of throttle to push the blade to the side you want it on. Once you get the hang of it you can back up in either direction.

AiR-WaRrIoR04 · Newbie Joined: 26 Feb 2005 Posts: 16 City: NoR-CaL

I also heard from some where. If you put it on the boat when you order it. it goes to a limited 1 year warranty for the hull. I also heard it is just screw on and no reinforcemnt.

Sound's like danger ready to happen.