Skid Planer

[Shap from La]

I had an Allison Hydrofoil on my Classic with 2.5 liter 200 efi merc for about 5 years. It definately helped hole shot, but I only needed it because I didnt have my boat set up correctly. Once I lowered my motor and put the correct pitched prop on I didnt need it anymore. Hydrofoils and Skid planers do work though, and usually with little to no effect on top end. They allow you to run a bigger prop for big top end numbers and still have a normal hole shot. Also allows you to get up in shallower water. I feel that for most applications they are not necessary If you are set up correctly but will help if you are looking for improved hole shot. Ultimately if you have a poor hole shot it will help and if you have a good hole shot it should make it slightly better. Cant hurt to try it! Chris Coupel Paulina, La.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.

[HOMan]

Thats funny, so once you got your plate set right then your hole shot rocked? Did you use a Generic type of whale tail or was it a Allison or Bobs type of Skid planer? How many of you guys use a plate under their jackplate for spray and deflection?

[Shap from La]

I had an actual Allison foil. At the time I bought it from Allison it was about $100. It wasnt a skid planer it was a Hydrofoil that attached to the Cavitation plate. Looked alot better than the generic brands for sure. It actually looked pretty cool bolted on. I wouldnt say my hole shot ever rocked with the 2.5 liter but it definately improved once I set it up correctly. The thing I always struggled with was my 2.5 was extremely strong on top. I was turning 26 and 27″ props to 6000 plus rpms. It just couldnt handle those big props on the bottom end. So, I tried all manner of things to get them to work and one of the ways it would work was with the hydrofoil. But, that created other problems such as poor lift and handling when heavily loaded due to high engine height and props that were too big. So once I decided to lower the engine after several years of seeing BCB and others talk about the correct engine heights those issues went away for the most part. I settled in on a sweet little balanced and blueprinted 25 trophy and it was the best all around prop I ran on my boat. Decent hole shot, excellent midrange and lift, great top end. I tried the Hydrofoil after that and found little to no improvement over a good setup. But, when I was setup the wrong way, It helped alot. Maybe this sounds like a bunch of rambling, but i hope Im making some sense. Chris Coupel Paulina, La.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.

[pantera296]

They do work..Ive never tried that particular unit but the principal is the same..They divert the water away from the jack plate and lower the drag. If you watch on several set ups water is pulled/scooped up thru the jack plate giving you a braking action..Stopping this lowers the “load” on the motor on holeshot and slow off plane speeds.They also help lift the tail on holeshot….Totally different results than a whale tail.. Sherm

[markdille]

As Sherm said, a very big difference between a skid planer and a hydrofoil. The hydrofoil attaches to the motors anti-ventitation plate. Skid planers attach to the back of the boat in various methods depending on rigging. Im designing one for my cousins 99 Gambler that has all kinds of trouble getting out of the hole with two people aboard. He has a factory installed Detwiler (which I do not like how the rear ram actuates) with 4″ set back. Water aggressively scoops up and into the ram section of the hydraulic plate on take off. The 4″ set back just makes the volume of water even worse. He actually has water going over his motor cowling on take off, and the nose shoots to the moon. The problem with the Detwilers is that the design is tricky due to the moving parts where the skid plate needs to be. The plates designed, but we havent made it yet. Im confident it will solve all his problems. He currently can only turn a 24″ Fury or 25″ Tempest out of the hole with two people IF the passenger walks up front. A 25″ Fury wont come up at all. This is with a 225 EFI on a 2100 Intimidator (no trim plates).

[Shap from La]

Markdille, I agree that the Skid Planer should help. There is a reason why Gambler puts Trim tabs on thier newer hulls. One of the problems on your Cousins 1999 is that 225 efi. The pre 2000 year model 225 efi mercs were sluggish. Something to do with the intake, I think they were 2 butterfly intakes and that was a major holdback for those motors. Chris Coupel Paulina, La.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.

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