Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

[Challenger84]

I've been looking around the forums and saw a few post about Whale Tails and was wondering what people thought about them.
Are they worth getting?
Thanks for looking..

 

[NYBo]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

If you do a search, you'll see this topic comes up fairly frequently. They work great on some boats and cause problems on others, so testing for yourself is really the only way for you to know for sure on your boat.

 

[jesus94p]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

Read this

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=408960&highlight=whale+tail

 

[dave11]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

You can buy tails that don't require any drilling. Try one. If you like it it is on. If you don't, just remove it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

Those are a tool to fix a problem, if your boat planes fine and runs well you really don't need one, it is your money and your boat but if there isn't a problem it probably won't fix it.

Having said that I run one on mine and really like it, I fish(ed) a shallow part of the river and getting up on plane fast was really important to me.

After 3 lowers I don't fish that anymore but still run the tail because on my boat with my set up it just runs alot better.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

There was one on my boat when I bought it & I asked several questions about it. I don't have a problem with it & everything seems to work fine. In the last 2 weeks I have seen the same exact boat as mine for sale & I stopped to just check them out. What I found on both boats was the exact same tail/fin on the lower unit. I wonder if they came from the factory with it. 1985 Bayliner with 85hp Force o/b.

 

[perchin]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

There was one on my boat when I bought it & I asked several questions about it. I don't have a problem with it & everything seems to work fine. In the last 2 weeks I have seen the same exact boat as mine for sale & I stopped to just check them out. What I found on both boats was the exact same tail/fin on the lower unit. I wonder if they came from the factory with it. 1985 Bayliner with 85hp Force o/b.

Nope... not from the factory, just put on a lot of em to keep their typical water logged hulls on plane.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

I also have one on my boat, it does seem a little testy when steering at high speed, but I don't do a lot of sharp turns at high speed. (don't need to for fishing)

I will remove the tail next time out, if I don't like the performance without, would Smart Tabs be a better choice?

 

[perchin]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

In response to the above post...... Smart tabs are a much better option for a multitude of reasons, If your budget allows for them.

 

[Challenger84]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

Thanks for all the responses..
One of my friends gave me a whale tail for my coming up birthday and I'll install it and see if it makes a difference.
I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[Challenger84]

Re: Whale Tails! Do you recommend?

Wow!
These things really work.
I had a full load.
6 adults and gear, full tank of 11 gallons.
I never had the boat plane so fast before.
It was almost instant.
I didn't need to have people move to the front to get on plane like I normally do.
It was the best thing I installed so far performance wise.(Besides my almost new motor)!
I guess it works on some boats and one of those boats is mine.