Hydrofoil on 24 Explorer w/ Grady Drive

[chris4401]

I have a 1992 24 Explorer with Grady Drive and a 225 Yamaha outboard. Boat came with trim tabs. Question is has anyone tried one of the hydrofoil options available on a Grady of similar or like size and options. Boat runs well as is - just looking to see if there is anything to make it better.

Thanks

Chris

 

[DennisG01]

I've got a very similar setup. I just bought the boat in the Fall and the PO had a foil on it already. Knowing these can only produce "x" lbs of lift, I just don't think it'll have much effect on a heavier boat. In the Spring, I plan on doing some tests with and without it on. The boat has 9x18 tabs on it - can't imagine ever needing more lift than that.

 

[The_Chain]

Same setup but I have a 2-stroke 250...never had an issue with keeping it trimmed with factory trim tabs..I'm gonna post next time I have a min I did a whole bunch of upgrades on my explorer this winter...love the boat..not many people own them..best I can figure they weren't popular, limited production years or most have been retired...didn't mean to highjack your thread

I always wondered if a hydro-foil would work?

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I have seen these devices mainly on bass boats, maybe a deck boat and pontoons here and there. They are essentially using the trim of the motor as a poor man's set of trim tabs. When I had my 192 I contemplated installing them on my motor as I did have tabs on the boat. Maybe search for them online and read what the manufacturers claim and then check out the Hull Truth and see what others there say about them. Or, roll the dice and spend the money and time install it and see what it does.

 

[L.R.]

Have a Perma-Trim on my Hydra-Sport...1995 2000 Vector with a 2005 225 Optimax...Also have the Bennett M-120 Tabs...Wouldn't have it any other way! Usually the only time I need the Tabs is to level the Boat or it gets rough out.Now,My New to me 226 Seafarer.....Just put 12X12 Tabs on to replace the 9X12's...Gettin' a Permatrim on it also! Maybe an overkill.......But I am a bit anal!

 

[chris4401]

Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll just leave it alone. It runs fine and planes quickly with the trim tabs - just looking for that "little bit more". Just put one on my son's Carolina Skiff and it worked wonders.

Chris

 

[Tuna Man]

Sorry for the late response. I use to own a 92 Explorer with Grady Drive for years. I decided to add larger trim tabs to help keep the bow down in bigger seas. If I recall, the new tabs were the same width, just deeper front to back (I think the originals were 9" deep and the new were 12" deep). The larger tabs did help, but I felt the boat needed more to keep the nose down. In my opinion, this was one of best riding Grady Whites ever made that were twenty five feet long or less. Not that it matters much, but mine had the original bracket with 2000 Yamaha 250EFI.