Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by tg210707 on 04/06/12 - 3:38 PM

I've got a 63, 13 sport. I'd like to take the font bench out so there is more room to fish. The only problem is with 2 people in the boat, there is to much weight in the back to get it to plane.

So my question is, would a investing in a hydrofoil get the boat up on a plane when there is more weight in the back?

I've heard a lot of people say they are garbage, but then I've heard others swear by them.

Any thoughts?

Posted by Joe Kriz on 04/06/12 - 4:22 PM

I have never heard of that problem with 2 people onboard..

I owned a 13' for many years with 2 or 3 people onboard and never had any problems getting on plane.
I even water skied behind with 2 people onboard and I only had a 35 hp Evinrude...

What motor do you have?
Sounds like something is wrong with it.
The Sport 13' is rated for a 40hp motor.....

Posted by tg210707 on 04/06/12 - 4:29 PM

Joe Kriz wrote:
I have never heard of that problem with 2 people onboard..

I owned a 13' for many years with 2 or 3 people onboard and never had any problems getting on plane.
I even water skied behind with 2 people onboard and I only had a 35 hp Evinrude...

What motor do you have?
Sounds like something is wrong with it.
The Sport 13' is rated for a 40hp motor.....

I've got a 28 Evinrude. It's in good shape. When you had two people in it, were they both sitting on the back bench seat? It's not a problem when both bench seats are in and one person is in front and one in back.

Posted by thegage on 04/06/12 - 5:21 PM

If your usage is different from "normal", which it sounds like yours is with your seat arrangement, then I think a foil is an acceptable compromise--assuming that the engine is at the correct height and propped correctly. Some people have a bias against them but in some cases they are fine.

John K.

Posted by CES on 04/06/12 - 10:02 PM

Foils are nothing more than a bandaide for an underlying problem. Proper motor height, correct propellor and weight distribution are key to a well riding 13' Whaler........not a foil.

Posted by southwindphoto on 04/07/12 - 6:06 AM

I have one on my 17 Outrage.

And it does help with faster planning, and for holding the bow down at lower speed.

However, as others have said, it sounds to me like you need to equality disburse the weight, via one passenger sitting up front until underway.

Or, you may try moving the fuel tank foward

Posted by Guts on 04/07/12 - 7:36 AM

I think the consensus is they help the boat plane faster. I had one before I re-powered, a Johnson 70 hp outboard two smoker. most of time in the ocean I didn't come up on plane a lot, The drawback for me was all it did was catch kelp. I think CES had it check your engine height

Edited by Guts on 04/07/12 - 7:38 AM

Posted by Gamalot on 04/08/12 - 9:30 AM

When I bought my boat the 90 HP Evinrude engine had what I think is a Doel-fin Hydrofoil attached to the cavitation plate. I removed it and have no plan to ever use it as I will be raising my motor to the highest position and installing a SS prop as advised by Tom W. Clark.

Anyone here who would like to have it is welcome to it for the cost of shipping. It is a 2 piece fin and requires drilling 2 holes in each side of the cav plate. I do see a lot of boats with these gadgets attached here in my area but I have to agree with the expert opinions here that they are a band aid for a deeper problem such as the wrong prop or improper engine mounting height. I do not know if these devices come in different sizes for different engines but this one fit perfectly on my 1984 Evinrude 90 HP VRO. I will put it on CL in the next week or two and ask $20 for it. I will not appreciate anyone grabbing it here for the sole purpose of re-selling it!