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I'm getting ready to splash my new (new to me) 13' Sport. It has a 40 HP Suzuki two stroke engine. I've heard the 13 & 15 Whalers can benefit from the installation of a hydrofin / aftermarket engine trim fin. Any opinions out there??? True?? If so, what's the best fin to use?

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Allan,

I am in the process of restoring a 13 footer and was weighing all the options myself. I finally settled on Smart Tabs if it turns out I need to do something. See link below.

My questions is this... Why not just run it first to see if you really need a fin or other type of device?

Here is the link:

http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabs.htm

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My brother has a 1984 with a 40 Yamaha. He ran it for several weeks, played with shifting gear in different places and adjusting the trim pin and came to the conclusion he did not need a wail-tail (that's what they are called up here).

Would do the testing and then decide. If you choose to go with one, at least you will have run the boat without it for comparison purposes and before drilling any holes.

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I put one on my 15' Sport and it made a tremendous difference a slow speed. Before I installed it I had to contend with bow up in air at real low running. Put it on and it levels out pretty good. Pops out of the water like a rocket! :D

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They eventually break in a high speed turn when all of the hull's wt. is on one fin (they get tired, cracked, or beat up enough by the sun and get brittle), as stated above "see if you need one first", a properly rated, tilted, and trimmed out motor should not need one, if it does, something is wrong with the engine placement on the hull. A 13' or 15' with the right prop, and engine set up, should "Hook & Go" right out of the hole when you slam the throttle. Make sure you have the right prop, a prop with only minor nicks or slightly worn down can greatly affect performance.
mw

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Doesnt seem like anyone here is using one from what I am reading. My 13 has manual trim and I think the biggest change would be to get power trim. The boat definitely acts alot different at different pin settings.

Does your boat have power tilt and trim? If so I would wait on the decision of the fin until you see how it performs. The fin is an easy add on at any time.

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I have a '68 13 with 40 hp Nissan, 13" SS prop. With the motor trimmed in I jump on plane within a few feet. I can run slow on plane with the motor trimmed in and run like a scalded ape with it trimmed out. I get some porpoising at certain speeds but can correct it with trim. A fin won't help that anyway.
Mike