Hydrafoil

[pinellas50]

Sorry for what you guys are sure to think a stupid question. I'm a new boat owner and I'm trying to learn everything about it.

The boat is a 93 17' Starcraft bow rider. It was repowered with a 96 Mariner 115 OB by the previous owner.

My question; is this a hydrafoil on the lower unit of the motor?

Or is this simply an anti-cavitation plate. All the google searches I have done show the same basic thing I have as both a hydrafoil and an anti-cavitation plate.

So simply, what it is? Mainly the black rubber fins bolted on.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Hydrafoil

yes, that bolt on thing is a hydrofoil. i think it's a stingray hydrofoil, though i could be wrong. as foils go, it's kinda smaller than some.
i had the same thing on my last boat. i removed it permanently after i hit something on the river and it broke one side off along with part of the
anti ventilation plate that is (was) part of the drive.

 

[rs1lollie]

Re: Hydrafoil

Welcome, check out this link;
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=348855
Hope this will help you out on some questions.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Hydrafoil

That is a hydrafoil. It may help or hinder your boat's performance. The first boat I had that was equipped with one, it did not plane faster, all it did was porpoise quite a bit. The new outdrive I got with my current boat had one, and it is decreasing my top end. Where do you boat in Tampa?

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Hydrafoil

Thanks all for the clarification. I assumed it was a hydrafoil but you know where assumptions can get you.

I have only had the boat out twice and I have no idea if the foil helps or hurts. The boat seems to cavitate some out of the hole if you go heavy into the throttle. It seems to top out around 40 with 3 adults and 2 kids. I kind of thought it would be faster with this motor but 40 is more than enough for me. It also may have a lot more in it once I get a hang of trimming the motor more. I don't think I was trimming up enough from what I have been reading. And I have been on here everyday just reading.

Shane, this boat will spend most of its time in the Intercostal. Park Blvd is the closest ramp to me. I'll probably be in Lake Seminole playing with tubes, knee boards, and skis from time to time too. I believe the boat is too small for the Gulf so a cruise near the swim line on the beaches is as far out as I ever intend to go if I even do that.

 

[pinellas50]

Re: Hydrafoil

Welcome, check out this link;
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=348855
Hope this will help you out on some questions.

OK. I either missed that write up or forgot about it. So mabey the foil does have something to do with the things I just listed. I don't know if the foil comes out of the water on plane or not. I didn't know to even look until I started reading into this topic. Hopefully I'll find the answer to that question this weekend.

I'm still getting to know the thing so I'm not going to start making any drastic changes right now. At some point I'll probably take it off and see what the difference is.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Hydrafoil

On a 17' with a 115....40MPH is doing pretty well especially with passengers. Sounds like you've got a good setup.