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Hydrofoil or Not?? #10850601 05/17/15 05:25 PM
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**TheLoneRanger** Offline OP
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Hydrofoil or Not???? What's everyone's opinion on this... My buddy has a 2014 skeeter FX21 and has been talking about installing one. Do yall think its worth it. I personally have had a boat with one and currently have a 21' ranger without one... Never installed one on a boat to be able to tell if it makes a difference or not.. What do you think?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10850609 05/17/15 05:33 PM
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outfishdya Offline
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I always thought tilt trim and jackplate was better than hydrofoil. The only gain would be to hold plane at a lower speed, but it would likley only be 2 or 3 miles per hour less. I could be wrong though.


Woke up this morning
Got yourself a gun....
Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10850626 05/17/15 05:50 PM
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FMJshooter Offline
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I had one on an past boat and it seems to run more stable at slow speed but nothing night and day. Probably depends on setup and hull design how much it will effect it. Key thing is to make sure the vent plate on the outboard is out of the water at full trim if not that sucker is going to plow some major water and f up topend/turns.

If it's not out I'd rajse the motor to see how it behaves without the foil first.

Last edited by FMJshooter; 05/17/15 06:02 PM.
Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: FMJshooter] #10851254 05/18/15 12:24 AM
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RZ520 Offline
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I'll probably get flamed for my reply, but it comes from 50 years of running all type of boats. I've been serious about Bass fishing and BassBoats for over 45 years. Presently, I'm running a 2013 Ranger Z520 with Mercury 250 Pro XS. Everyone will tell you that you don't need a Hydrofoil and look down their nose at you if you ask about it. Hydrofoils are things most Bass Fisherman have been shamed into avoiding by a few outspoken folks. If you want the absolutely best overall performance you can tweek out of your boat, put on a good Hydrofoil and enjoy the benefits.
Get on plane quicker: The boat does not climb out of the hole, it just jumps forward and you are off with no blind spot from the bow. I never loose waterline regardless of how fast or slow I push the throttle. It's just instant, instant hole shot.
Stays on plan at slower speed: You can run past another fisherman without throwing a big wake and causing him problems or just go along a bank looking without that bow way up in the air so you can't see.
I just ignore the snide remarks and know I have a better handling Rig that pleases the way I like a boat to run.

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10851305 05/18/15 12:48 AM
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trackerman. Offline
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I have a 06 tracker 170tm 50 hp. When I first strarted using it, the bow would be so high up when I took off, couldn't see where I was going.. I found a hydrofoil on sale (don't remember where), but I installed it and that was the best thing. I got on plane quicker and the hull stayed down at low speeds. For me, it was the right piece of equipment for my boat. Others may not agree, but we all have our own opinons...jmho...fishon....

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10851720 05/18/15 03:09 AM
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Flyer Offline
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In all seriousness ... the benefits are real. The MPH up top should be negligible. If it's already setup right, the cavitation plate will be completely out of the water when trimmed out. Once you really get serious and are running WOT and trimmed out, it should be out of the water by a couple of inches.

The hydrofoil typically mounts on top of the cavitation plate.

I have considered it because I use my boat in the summer for playing around a bit. My kids are at the age where they don't like going fast on the tube yet and it's hard for me to maintain a steady speed at the speeds they like being on the tube. The motor being jacked up so high kinda kills the fun for the adults. With it being raised up so high it tends to push a lot of water up in the face area.

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10852611 05/18/15 04:01 PM
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ShamrockSmith Offline
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I've rode in a 17' 6" Skeeter with a 150 Vmax both before and after Hydrofoil and I was very impressed in the difference. WAY faster holeshot and didn't notice any difference in MPH.

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: RZ520] #10853149 05/18/15 07:26 PM
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basscat dad Offline
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Originally Posted By: RangerRam
I'll probably get flamed for my reply, but it comes from 50 years of running all type of boats. I've been serious about Bass fishing and BassBoats for over 45 years. Presently, I'm running a 2013 Ranger Z520 with Mercury 250 Pro XS. Everyone will tell you that you don't need a Hydrofoil and look down their nose at you if you ask about it. Hydrofoils are things most Bass Fisherman have been shamed into avoiding by a few outspoken folks. If you want the absolutely best overall performance you can tweek out of your boat, put on a good Hydrofoil and enjoy the benefits.
Get on plane quicker: The boat does not climb out of the hole, it just jumps forward and you are off with no blind spot from the bow. I never loose waterline regardless of how fast or slow I push the throttle. It's just instant, instant hole shot.
Stays on plan at slower speed: You can run past another fisherman without throwing a big wake and causing him problems or just go along a bank looking without that bow way up in the air so you can't see.
I just ignore the snide remarks and know I have a better handling Rig that pleases the way I like a boat to run.

rr. i've got a basscat with a 200hp that would be great on a farm because it plows so much. i've considered a hydrofoil but was always leary about putting one on a 200hp motor. worried it would come apart with the load it would be under. what foil are you using on your 520?


"dreamers have tomorrow if today does not come true"
Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10853307 05/18/15 08:48 PM
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lakeforkfishon Offline
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basscat with a 200hp plows..

Yes, this


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Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: RZ520] #10853319 05/18/15 08:55 PM
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hawghoover Offline
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Originally Posted By: RangerRam
I'll probably get flamed for my reply, but it comes from 50 years of running all type of boats. I've been serious about Bass fishing and BassBoats for over 45 years. Presently, I'm running a 2013 Ranger Z520 with Mercury 250 Pro XS. Everyone will tell you that you don't need a Hydrofoil and look down their nose at you if you ask about it. Hydrofoils are things most Bass Fisherman have been shamed into avoiding by a few outspoken folks. If you want the absolutely best overall performance you can tweek out of your boat, put on a good Hydrofoil and enjoy the benefits.
Get on plane quicker: The boat does not climb out of the hole, it just jumps forward and you are off with no blind spot from the bow. I never loose waterline regardless of how fast or slow I push the throttle. It's just instant, instant hole shot.
Stays on plan at slower speed: You can run past another fisherman without throwing a big wake and causing him problems or just go along a bank looking without that bow way up in the air so you can't see.
I just ignore the snide remarks and know I have a better handling Rig that pleases the way I like a boat to run.
totally agree!!

Last edited by hawghoover; 05/18/15 08:55 PM.
Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10854041 05/19/15 01:38 AM
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m.sherman Online Content
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I installed one on my boat I got a little better stability and a plane a little faster and everything but I lost 2.5 mph so I took it off I wanted the mph over what little stability it gave me
it was a quick install on my boat you should try one out if you don't like it take it off

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10854102 05/19/15 02:00 AM
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mstring Offline
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I run one on my old Kingfisher with a Rude 140. Was having to run a 19" prop to get the holeshot I wanted. Never could get it to stop porpoising. Put a hydrafoil on, now able to run a 23" prop to get my speed back. Jumps on plane in an instant. I can back off and stay on plane at 1500 RPMs. Nice and steady, tracks like it's on rails. I don't care what anyone thinks. Beats the heck out of spending tons of cash on things that probably won't make as big a difference as this did.

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10854351 05/19/15 03:11 AM
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basscat dad, I'm running a Stingray Stealth II. It's a third generation design completely different from others. I had the Original Stingray XPI on an 18' w/115 Evinrude and loved it. Went to a Ranger 519 VX w/200 Yamaha installed a Stingray Sriii Tunnel style that I did not like. It did kill top end but otherwise performed as far as hole shot. Too much drag with the fins pointing down around the prop. Good idea for Salt Water, but not high performance Bass Rig. Took that off and put on the Stingray Stealth II and it's the absolute best of the bunch. It did not kill any top end, helped slow speed on plane, litterally jumps out of the hole and acutually helps a little in high speed turns. When I replaced the Ranger 519 with the Z520 and jumped to the 250 Merc Pro XS, I tried a few trips without a hydrofoil, but the handling was sluggish compared to what I was used to so got another Stingrag Stealth II. This one can be mounted without drilling into the cavitation plate, but I did loose one doing that, so I just installed tooless as instructed and added one bolt on each side of the cavitation plate. I never plan on using a Boat without a Hyrofoil, so what differnece do 2 little 1/4" holes make? It's a very smooth, slick installation and I have had nothing negative to report on gas mileage or loss of speed. It's still a 70+mph Rig and I don't feel the need to run that fast most of the time. I just feel quite comfortable in the mid-60mph range with total control. I do get the wise cracks from the know-it-alls that snicker about adding something to such a high performance Rig, but on the otherhand, my grandkids like running 2 tubes at once at 15 mph zig-zaging and I'm always on plane with no plowing or hiding the horizon. Lots of boat traffice to watch out for safety. I'll put 5 adults in the Boat, fully rigged and gassed, pull 2 tubers, and still stay on plan at 15mph.
At 66 year of age, I still like to short-line slalom ski at 28off and being a big guy of 235lbs., I get jerked right out of the water.
So just try the Stingray Stealth II. You'll have just a little over $100 spent and you can see for yourself the benefits. To me, it comes down to the safety of always seeing the water in front of me.
Have fun.

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10854408 05/19/15 03:34 AM
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Andrew Y'Barbo Offline
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What do y'all guys do when the waves get big and you want to nose to ride up?

Re: Hydrofoil or Not?? [Re: **TheLoneRanger**] #10855138 05/19/15 03:19 PM
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Trim out thumb


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