Hydrofoil on small outboard

[Storyline]

I have a Tohatsu 2-stroke 5hp outboard on our Avon Rover 2.8 dinghy with inflatable floor.

It is a fantastic little outboard and will get my wife and I on the plane without difficulty. The only problem is that when I am on my own I have to sit far forward when the dinghy comes up onto the plane which makes holding the throttle handle a bit of a stretch.

Has anyone had any experience of fitting one of the cheap plastic hydrofoils to an outboard that small and will it help to keep the dinghy flatter in the water with me sitting further aft ?

 

[geem]

I made my own out of 1/4 inch ply and epoxy/glass cloth with a couple of coats of 2 pack paint. It has been on the 9.8hp on my rib for 10 hard years of use. Gets the rib on the plane faster and means i sit at the back when on my own. also makes it impossible to flip at it hols the stern up and bow down.

 

[Andrew G]

I had one on my 100HP outboard on my 18' stink boat (years ago). Didn't make a noticable difference to me - and possibly hard to overcome the extra drag on a small motor. I have found a better option on a small motor is an extension to the tiller so you can sit forward and still control the motor. You can buy aluminium ones (wingnut to tighten on the O/B tiller) or make one up out of PVC pipes tapered to fit and held together with PVC cement. Both have worked for me. Andrew

 

[Storyline]

I made my own out of 1/4 inch ply and epoxy/glass cloth with a couple of coats of 2 pack paint. It has been on the 9.8hp on my rib for 10 hard years of use. Gets the rib on the plane faster and means i sit at the back when on my own. also makes it impossible to flip at it hols the stern up and bow down.

Thanks for that - I like your idea as I don't fancy drilling holes in the outboard so I reckon if I built my own custom version I could come up with a design that clamps on without the need for drilling bolt holes.

 

[TQA]

Yours is a common problem,

The 'Dolphin Fins' work but you do have to drill holes. No biggies it is ali., drills easily and at most a couple of hours work.

There are throttle extensions available from the chandlers but a piece of PVC water pipe with a slit in one end fitted with a Jubilee clip works just as well.

 

[rivonia]

We fitted the fins and it helps just a little to get to the plane-but only a little. Not worth the cost. IMO

Peter