Arneson Rocker Plates, anyone using them?
 

Wondering how the Arneson Rocker Plates compare to a conventional K-Plane tab. How do they compare in price to a K-Plane?

Thanks,

Kurt

I can't give you any first hand info but I did buy a set to install on my Donzi Blackhawk to put a little hook in the hull. But I sold the boat before I got to install them and sold the rocker plates after.

But, I did talk to a couple people that used them and they had nothing but good things to say about them. They said the boat could run faster in the sloppy/rough water because the rocker plates were part of the running surface as opposed to K-Planes that "drag" in the water. Made sense to me!

I have researched this and they a pretty pricey, but suppose to be way better for performance and speed gains.

I look forward to feedback as they are still on my list.

I talked to a guy that had them on a smaller boat and he mentioned that they worked really well. You can adjust between giving the boat rocker or adding hook to the bottom. He did say that they required constant adjustment. Hope this helps.

Not making sense to me. Any help here?

Rocker plates use laminar flow to direct the water rather than a hard anlge like K planes. Plus the flow can be vectored up giving a "rocker" effect.

We had them on our F2 Hustler and they worked very well. Straight line handling was great but tough in the turns as the boat wanted to stay upright. Racing application and recreation use are completely different as most users are not and should not be throwing themselves into turns, especially in heavy traffic, as we did. It also did scrub off a couple of mph as we used a little hook. No chine walk in heavy traffic, drove like it was on rails. Clay

Since rocker plates are mounted flush with the bottom of the hull they become part of the running surface. They adjust in the middle of the plate making them bulge outward(rocker) or inward(hook) to control the attitude of the boat.

Most people want them to add rocker which raises the bow, loosens the boat up and adds speed. My Blackhawk had too much rocker from the factory and I wanted them to add hook for bettr control.

Picture is worth a 1000 words! Those pics sum it up nicely!

I have a pair in excellent condition. Fresh water use only.

Drag induced from a small contact area on each tab is less than the drag induced from the total area from each rocker plate in constant contact with the water. If both are able to alter the flow of water past the hull downward, and and thus force the stern up and the bow down, why not choose the tab that creates less drag?

I understand the ease or correcting a problem with a simple bolt on. But why add wetted surface when either rocker or hook can be added or removed from the hull, or the cg can be changed?

Rocker Plates

you don't necessarily add surface. Big boats, as well as the big cat shown above, use them integrated into the hull design.

Look at big sport fishing boats, most use the rocker design in some fashion, except more simplified.

Because you can add or remove rocker/hook INSTANTLY and choose how much you want to add/remove. The benefit isn't from the added wetted surface(although with some boats it would help), the benefit is the added wetted surface can be instantly adjusted.

The theory behind them is using them for hook will give you more stern lift with less drag than a K-plane=more speed and using them for rocker will give you more bow lift with less positeve trim-more speed.

Nice! . . . what boat is that?

These are available. $1700

Dayuum that's a nice looking business-end of your boat!

OK, but if they are able to increase speed, why are they rarely seen on raceboats?

As Clay said in racing situations maybe because they poduce less drag so they can't use them to drag and lean the boat into high speed turns?

Ben -

I may be interested. Can you tell me all about them. As you know I have some issues with my Pantera, big engine and Konrad drive. i have been dropping port tab to keep the boat upright and stop the roll. Several sources have recommended these to me.

Why did you remove them if I could ask.

Email me at [email protected]

Thanks,

Kirk

Thanks for the feedback!

If still available. I maybe interested also.
My email addy-
[email protected]
Thanks Ken