Stingray hydrofoil

[F14CRAZY]

My Series 400 sterndrive came fitted with a Stingray "hydrofoil stabilizer". I think I put it back on wrong since my servicing of the sterndrive because my top speed is reduced to like 33 mph from 40 mph, I think the water pump is cavitating a little, and it's throwing up more water than usual.

Do I need this thing? Does it make that much of a difference? I'll look at it some more tomorrow to see how I installed it wrong (don't know how I could do it wrong) but I feel like removing it to see how the boat does without it.

Any other comments? Thanks guys

 

[danond]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

Those things are junk. Remove it!

If the boat doesn't like to plane, you can get trim tabs. They work better. In a boat like yours though, planing shouldn't be an issue.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

Hmmmmm. I think the only way you can put it on wrong is to put it on upside down. The curved side should go up, and it is mounted on top of the cavitation plate. Different boats have different handling characteristics, some handle better with a foil, others don't. Try it without and try it with and see how you like it. Good luck.

 

[sdoomaha]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

My Cheetah had one on it when I bought it. After much trial and error I found my prop slippage was due to the hydrofoil. Was cavitating so bad at times it "burned" the prop....leaving numerous little pits in it. removed the hydrofoil, all problems went away.

I'm with Danond.....you'll NEVER see one of those things on any of my boats again.

Take care and good boating....

 

[GetRdone]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

Hmmmmm. I think the only way you can put it on wrong is to put it on upside down. The curved side should go up, and it is mounted on top of the cavitation plate. Different boats have different handling characteristics, some handle better with a foil, others don't. Try it without and try it with and see how you like it. Good luck.

I think you mean it should curve downI would get rid of it and go with the sport tabs.They worked out great on my boat.

 

[n2ostroker]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

Hmmmmm. I think the only way you can put it on wrong is to put it on upside down. The curved side should go up, and it is mounted on top of the cavitation plate.

So how does that work. Maybe we found a new way to make a rooster tail!

Goes down to lift the stern. Bad thing is it lifts from the center and some boats lose speed and/or experience bad handling like mine did.

I'd run it without and see how it does. If it rides funny trying maoving weight around then move to some kind of trim tab.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

It is a hydrofoil, so it is flat on the bottom and curved on top, so when it is moving through the water at less than planing speed it generates lift like an aircraft wing and helps to keep the bow down by generating an upward force on the stern. On plane the bottom surface is in contact with the water and should increase the effectiveness of the trim. The effect on any given hull will be different, on some boats they work great, and on some they are a nightmare. On my boat (Four Winns 190) it worked fine, have since gone to a Cobra flat plate and that also works fine, especially with a couple of big guys in the back. Good luck

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Stingray hydrofoil

I took that pos off and gained a few MPH in top end with no adverse effects on handling, stability, or planing.

So, as a few have said, they're junk at least on my boat