Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Cool It

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
284
Hey Guys- Before I drill holes in my outdrive and install a hydrofoil I thought I would get some opinions on how they work. I bought a stingray hydrofoil for my 1988 5.0 mercruiser alpha 1 . Looking to get on plane quicker and even at lower RPM/SPEED.<br /><br />any opinion will be appreciated<br /><br />Thanks<br />Cool It
 

cobra 3.0

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
1,797
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

They work fine, but usually you loose a few mph on your top end. It'll get you on plane in 1/3 the time.<br /><br />Make sure you mount it square and not off to one side. It will cause the boat to lean.
 

Cool It

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
284
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Thanks Cobra- Im going to try to do this in the water by the beach because I do not have a trailer. is this a bad Idea? when you say I might loose mph is this positive or a maybe because I really dont have enough to loose!!!!<br /><br />Thanks<br />Cool It
 

rnsi

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
104
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Forget the hydrofoil - get Smart Tabs.
 

Cool It

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
284
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

I know the boat would have to come out of the water for this - it sure does not look like something you can do in the water. <br /><br />Question on Hydrofoil- If I put it on and then decide to not use it and take it off -I will then have the srew holes left in my drive -will this be any promlem<br /><br /><br />Thanks<br />Cool It
 

gsbodine

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
346
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

no, the holes are not really a problem, you can fill them, though, if you wish. smart tabs are trim tabs of a sort, but they're automatically adjusting tab. no electricity, more like shock absorbers. John, the proprietor/inventor hangs out on the boards here. Be patient, he'll see this thread eventually. You sound like a prime candidate for Smart Tabs. <br /><br />While you're waiting you should use the red SEARCH link above to search this forum for smart tabs. There have been about a billion people who have asked these very questions that you're asking.
 

rnsi

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
104
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

I've got holes in my cav plate now, actually got 8 holes. I haven't noticed it to be a problem so far. I'll eventually fill them, but I'm not in that much of a rush. It's under water... You can't see the holes.
 

Ralph 123

Captain
Joined
Jun 24, 2003
Messages
3,983
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Put it on and try it out - you can put it on and take it off fairly easy. They worked wonders for me. I have twins and Bennett tabs and I don't even use the tabs anymore. My boat is very narrow and long, like a typical cigarette style so I don't have room for big trim tabs like I would need for them to be effective. People rave about smart tabs so if the foil doesn't work and you have a smaller boat (I think 21' or less) you have another option.
 

CalicoKid

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 27, 2002
Messages
1,599
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

I've had a Stingray on my 16' Baja for a couple of seasons. Everytime I make a change to the setup I take it off and test it then reinsall it and test it. I really like the foil on my boat. My top speed is 50 mph with or without the foil as it is out of the water when planed out. My boat planes quicker and at lower speed with the foil than without.
 

reference123

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
118
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

We went with the smart tabs versus the hydrofoil mainly because we have an older boat with the stringer I/O design. Our rear engine mounts have had to be repaired and we did not want to put the pressure on them by using a hydrofoil.<br /><br />Also, our drive, an OMC 800 would have been difficult to mount the hydrofoil on due to its design. I actually had 2 hydrofoils and the smart tabs all in hand at one time. Sent back both hydrofoils and have been very happy with the tabs.<br /><br />The smart tabs cost quite a bit more but they have definately been worth it.
 

Cool It

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
284
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

how do smart tabs compare to trim tabs??
 

Jdeagro

iboats.com Partner
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
Messages
1,682
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Cool It;<br /><br />I have been out in northern CA testing various boats, so I appologize if you have been waiting for an answer.<br /><br />I have said this many times,and will continue to say it. If any planing device slows the boat down at top speed, it has changed the hull design to make it less efficient, and use more fuel. The loss of speed ( most often hydrofoils will cause a loss of speed) is caused by too much stern lift at speed. This forces the bow down, and to compensate you need to trim the outdrive up so as to raise the bow (and increase speed). Using the prop to lift the bow means that the prop is runing through the water at an angle. This also means the prop is sliping. <br /><br />The gain in hole shot performance is minimal by comparison to Trim Tabs. You will still need to use 3/4 to full throttle to get up quick.<br /><br />For those who think hydrofoils help their hole shot, try this: Accelerate very slow and check the bow rise. Pretend you have your aging grandmother in the boat!<br /><br />With Smart Tabs (trim Tabs) the boat will walk up to plane. The way I like to put it is that "we do not help with hole shots, as this would mean there is a hole to get out of". If the boat never gets into a hole there is no hole shot just plane acceleration.<br /><br />But lets set this hole shot stuff aside for a moment; How the boat performs over all is just as important. Ride, handling, fuel efficiency, acceleration, and top speed are improved with Smart tabs, simply because the system can be adjusted to your boat and is always active.<br /><br />If the motor manufacturers felt they could improve the boat performance by making the cavitation plate larger they would have done so a long time ago. Especially when they went to the four stroke motors.<br /><br />The hydrofoils are cheep, they provide extra lift (at speed they provide too much lift), but they are a serious compromise to boat performance and handling, and you will pay for them over and over with extra fuel cost if they slow the boat top speed. Just MHO!<br /><br />By the way this past weekend I ran a 19" (older) Skeeter with a 175 Merc. Two people on board and did a very tight (steering to full lock) 180 at 45 MPH with the motor timmed out, and never slid in the turn or lost prop bite. (used Mobster Tabs MT1080-60). The owner though I was nuts but could not believe the handling. I do not recomned this to anyone! But you would never be able to do this with a hydrofoil.
 

LubeDude

Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
6,945
Re: Hydrofoil/Smart tabs

Originally posted by nautiJohn:<br />By the way this past weekend I ran a 19" (older) Skeeter with a 175 Merc. Two people on board and did a very tight (steering to full lock) 180 at 45 MPH with the motor timmed out, and never slid in the turn or lost prop bite. (used Mobster Tabs MT1080-60). The owner though I was nuts but could not believe the handling. I do not recomned this to anyone! But you would never be able to do this with a hydrofoil.
I think EVERY Bass Boat should have them, regardless of how well the owner "THINKS" his boat is running now, It can only get better. I hang out on a Bass Boat forum, and everyone is talking about "Driving through chinewalk", I tryed to tell them they do not have to do this, but they wount listen. :eek: :confused:
 
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