The Best Hydrofoil for Your Boat

If you are a boat owner, buying a high-quality hydrofoil is one of the easiest ways to improve your boat’s performance. A hydrofoil will help to lift your boat out of the water as it gains speed. This will mean your boat will plane at slower speeds, reduce strain on its motor, become easier to maneuver, and will even save you money on gasoline. However, finding the right hydrofoil for your boat is not always a simple task. Here are some of the best hydrofoils on the market today so that you can find the perfect product to improve your boat’s performance.

Shopping for a Hydrofoil for Your Boat

Here are three key factors to keep in mind when shopping for a hydrofoil:

• Compatibility: While many hydrofoils feature a wide range of compatibility with various motor types and sizes, this is not always the case. Thus, when shopping for a hydrofoil for your boat, be it is compatible. Smaller outboard motors are especially hard to shop for, but there are some gems to be found out there, such as our “Best Value” pick.
• Durability: Any boat investment should be researched to ensure it is durable enough for the job. If you use your boat in the ocean, finding a corrosion-resistant hydrofoil will help ensure that it performs longer than a version that is not constructed for saltwater use.
• Ease of Installation: Thankfully, most hydrofoils are fairly easy to install. However, you will definitely want to make sure that your hydrofoil purchase comes with mounting hardware and detailed instructions so that the process is as simple as possible.

Now that we’ve gone over some hydrofoil basics, let’s check out some of the best hydrofoils on the market today.

Top Pick: SE Sport 300 Hydrofoil

For those seeking a hydrofoil that can fit a wide range of motors and expertly reduces drag, the SE Sport 300 Hydrofoil is our top pick. This hydrofoil fits 40-to-300-horsepower motors and features a narrow, streamlined design that eliminates more drag than its predecessor while lowering planing speed considerably. It’s also simple to install with clear directions and mounting hardware included. Although planning performance is the main selling point for this product, it should also lead to a noticeable improvement in your boat’s handling as well as some great fuel savings.

Best Value: Attwood Outboard Motor Hydro-Stabilizer 9401-7

Finding a quality hydrofoil for smaller outboard motors can be incredibly difficult, but the Attwood Outboard Motor Hydro-Stabilizer 9401-7 was designed with outboards under 50 horsepower in mind. This hydrofoil, which features molded resin construction, feels incredibly solid and durable in your hands and performs even better out on the water. While this hydrofoil will dramatically decrease the speed necessary to plane, the stability your boat will maintain once it is planning is even more pronounced. Thus, if your boat suffers from cavitation or poor handling when planning, this budget-friendly hydrofoil is a must-have.

Best for Trolling: Ironwood Pacific EasyTroller Trolling Plate

Maintaining an adequate trolling speed can be a make-or-break proposition when fishing, and it’s no secret that many boat motors can’t troll slow enough to be useful. Thankfully, for outboard and sterndrive motors that are 50 to 300 horsepower, the Ironwood Pacific EasyTroller Trolling Plate is an easy fix for this problem. While this product will definitely improve handling, fuel economy, and performance like an ordinary hydrofoil, its ability to reduce trolling speed to as low as 1 mph is what really makes it worth its price tag. This trolling plate is also extra-durable (it features marine-grade anodized aluminum and stainless steel construction), but you will have to remember to adjust it to the up position when running at speed to ensure it can continue to perform admirably for your boat.

Best Plastic: Five Oceans Hydro-Stabilizer

Rounding out our list is the Five Oceans Hydro-Stabilizer, which is an amazing option for outboards up to 200 horsepower. This simple-to-install hydrofoil is constructed of durable UV-resistant molded black ABS plastic and is incredibly effective at improving the speed necessary to plane as well as reducing ventilation and cavitation. You should also notice an emphatic improvement in your boat’s handling, which will really be noted when boating with a rough tide. This hydrofoil also comes with all the mounting hardware you will need and is compatible with a massive variety of motor styles and sizes, making it an incredibly versatile pick.