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-   -   Anyone running a hydrofoil on a stepped hull? (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/375207-anyone-running-hydrofoil-stepped-hull.html)

SB 03-28-2022 10:37 AM


Originally Posted by techman (Post 4826729)
Trim Tabs are a better bet on a "performance" hull. Putting a hydrofoil on your outdrive will help it get on plane quicker and maybe maintain plane at a slower speed, but that's about it. It will create DRAG and slow you down compared to not having one.

When you say squirrely at slow speeds, is that off-plane or on-plane? If it's off-plane, that is bow steer which is normal for V hulls. Just don't over correct with the wheel to try to steer it straight that just exaggerates the wander.

Good thinking. Maybe that’s why it rolls too. Too much trim down at speed…ie: bow steer.

Was testing someone’s boat this fall and it bow steered so much at 20mph with trim down my right shoulder almost hit the water. Holy fuk i thought i was going out of boat. Never witnessed that before. Little 18ft boat with colvo duoprop.

Prestigeworldwideee 03-28-2022 10:45 AM


Originally Posted by SB (Post 4826739)
Good thinking. Maybe that’s why it rolls too. Too much trim down at speed…ie: bow steer.

Was testing someone’s boat this fall and it bow steered so much at 20mph with trim down my right shoulder almost hit the water. Holy fuk i thought i was going out of boat. Never witnessed that before. Little 18ft boat with colvo duoprop.

The roll is an issue at higher speeds, it’s a 25’ boat. I don’t enjoy going down a lake on my side doing 60mph+

RSCHAP1 03-28-2022 10:52 AM

Is the outdrive solid at the pivot points?
I have had a couple worn out that allowed "sloppy" steering.
Have the small skeg above the prop?
Have seen those and adjusting those make a little difference, but would not expect too much at all.

offshoredrillin 03-28-2022 10:59 AM

Does it have power steering, if so is it bled properly, air in system will cause it to walk at slow speeds

techman 03-28-2022 11:21 AM

Bow steering is off-plane If the boat is leaning that much at speed, then it has to be a load issue. See if you can move some weight to the non--leaning side. If the boat seems balanced weight-wise maybe you have something else going on. Maybe you have water in the hull on the leaning side?

If all else checks out, trim tabs might be the only way to solve this. They help with getting on plane, low planning speeds, correct for side to side imbalances etc.

Trim tabs work all the time, unless you bring them up all the way and out of the water.

TeamSaris 03-28-2022 12:07 PM

Gimbal Ring

TexomaPowerboater 03-28-2022 02:09 PM

Yeah probably bad advice. I thought you were talking about a real hydrofoil not a pretend foil "whale tale." Many have used on older cigarette hull's with great results in reducing porpoise, but that does not sound like the problem you were trying to fix.


Prestigeworldwideee 03-28-2022 03:03 PM


Originally Posted by techman (Post 4826744)
Bow steering is off-plane If the boat is leaning that much at speed, then it has to be a load issue. See if you can move some weight to the non--leaning side. If the boat seems balanced weight-wise maybe you have something else going on. Maybe you have water in the hull on the leaning side?

If all else checks out, trim tabs might be the only way to solve this. They help with getting on plane, low planning speeds, correct for side to side imbalances etc.

Trim tabs work all the time, unless you bring them up all the way and out of the water.

Well a stepped hull doesn’t make balancing any easier. It doesn’t have anything to do with the steering. I’ve even moved my battery to my side to help, which it does but doesn’t fix the problem. Trim tabs won’t help after the boats already planed and it doesn’t take much to plane the boat.

SB 03-28-2022 03:11 PM

Just laying out some history:
https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/...y-speed-4.html

Prestigeworldwideee 03-28-2022 03:15 PM


Originally Posted by SB (Post 4826768)

Where did I mention a hydrofoil in that??


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