To foil or not to foil
 

I have a 92 234 Persuader w/ 454 mag/Bravo 1. I run a Turbo 14.25/23 and get good WOT (5100 @ full trim). I thought I would try a Sting Ray foil. The boat handles well under most conditions but it plows to get on top. I set drive down and at 2700 and it takes about 16 sec to get on top. Once on top rpms go to 3100 from the 2700 I started at. Once on top I can maintain plane down to about 2400.

I have used foils on other boats and have always had very good results but I have not used with this much hp and top end speed. I guess what I am wondering is how the foil will do with lots of hp and at 70+ mph. And of course I don't want to loos any top end speed. Any thoughts for this application?

Get some good trim tabs instead. I put a pair on my 23 foot Enforcer and it was one of the best investments I ever made. Lower planing time, better handeling in rrough water and less chine walking.

Whay size and brand did you buy? Bennetts?

Bennetts are junk. Look at trick or dana marine, or find some used k planes. Boat will handle alot better. Good tabs will improve the ruff water ride, help to get rid of proposing and chine walk! Worth the $$$ in my opinion.

I got a pair I saw advertised here on OSO from martiniboat. They were large dual-ram electric tabs. Very beefy. Unfortunetly the company is no longer in business but the electric part saved me the trouble of installing hydraulic pumps.

I know money will solve most problems, but on a 23' tabs seem like overkill. Of course I'm not opposed to spending money on toy but I do have a priority list.

Anyway I tried a Stingray XP II from BassPro ($49) and a Turbo 300 from Shorts Marine ($39 online). They Both reduced (improved) planing time and planing rpms. The Stingray would maintain plane down to 2400 rpm, improved stability overall, but reduced WOT by 300 rpm (drag) and speed by 4-5 mph. The Stingray has a little turn-down on the trailing edge and throws a very uneven tail. The Turbo mainatined plane to 2300, much improved stability and cornering especialy at high rpms, reduced WOT by only 100 rpms and speed by 1-2 mph. The Turbo has no turn-down on trailing edge and throws a nice even tail even at high trim angles. Obviously to me, the Turbo out performed and with the reduced chine walk and great stabillity at WOT I guess I will give up the 1-2 mph. I think even a good pair of tabs would eat up at least 1-2 mph anyway.