FX Hydrofoil

hadd · 29 July 2010, 21:53

Hi all,do anyone on here use hydrofoil on there engine,s ,and are they any good. cheers

Mollers · 29 July 2010, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by hadd

Hi all,do anyone on here use hydrofoil on there engine,s ,and are they any good. cheers

Sold a set on Ebay recently.

9D280 · 30 July 2010, 09:31

I personally don't like them, and have removed 2 sets from "preowned" ribs I have bought, simply 'coz I didn't like what they did to the handling.

Having said that, there are numerous bods on here who swear by them.

Whether they improve or reduce your boat's handling & performance depends on numerous different factors like weight & shape of boat, engine, engine trim, prop, etc and most important, what you want the boat to behave like!

Two things that can be said without too much argument are you'll get on the plane that bit quicker, and will loose a knot or two from your top speed because you are dragging more stuff through the water.

If you have a particular handling issue, let us know as someone on here will have encountered it before.

Mollers · 30 July 2010, 09:36

Fins assist rigs that are short on HP get on the plane. That's about the long and short of it.

willfinch36 · 30 July 2010, 09:56

Ive got some on my RIB, havent taken them off because I dont want big holes left in the metal.

Mollers · 30 July 2010, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by willfinch36

Ive got some on my RIB, havent taken them off because I dont want big holes left in the metal.

JB Weld and skim of filler will get them gone.

jpn · 30 July 2010, 13:14

I have no experience with RIBs as I am still waiting for it to arrive....but with the other two boats I had....it was different

with my 8m ceneterconsole twin 200HPs, the fins did not make anything better....actually the boat was much better without it!!! cruise was between 25-32knots...top at 45....the fins would probably only make me use up more fuel due to drag....

with my 34ft cruiser (heavy boat) with twin 230HP sterndrives, the fins made a world of difference...much easier to plane, could cruise at slower speeds....much better range due to fuel savings, and no more facing the sky before plane!!! cruise was at 18-21knots and top was 27knots with the fins....without the fins I could not cruise less than 20knots...i would lose plane.....

9D280 · 30 July 2010, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by willfinch36

Ive got some on my RIB, havent taken them off because I dont want big holes left in the metal.

I just lived with the holes.........