Porpoising is a common problem that many boat enthusiasts experience on calm waters. Can an outboard motor hydrofoil help?
It looks like a perfect day for a cruise. The weather is clear, and the water is smooth—there’s nothing to stop you from having a blast!
But you know that looks can be deceiving. You know that once you hit a certain speed, no matter how pristine the surface of the water, you are in for a bumpy ride, and it’s all because your boat is prone to porpoising.
In this article, we explain what porpoising is, what causes it, and how you can remedy this common problem—hint: one of the solutions is adding an outboard motor hydrofoil or stern drive hydrofoil from Hydro-Shield to your watercraft.
What Is Porpoising?
If you have ever seen a porpoise swimming, you know that you would never want your boat to perform the same motions as these aquatic mammals. Porpoising is a sustained, repetitive motion that causes a boat’s bow to bounce up and down out of the water, even in calm waters. While porpoising can be merely uncomfortable for passengers, it can also cause loss of control, which may result in injury or damage to the structure of the boat.
Boats porpoise for a few reasons. First, the design of the hull can contribute to the frequency that your boat porpoises. Boats with flatter bottoms are more likely to experience porpoising than boats that feature steep rises in their hulls. Porpoising may also occur when the trim on a boat is at an improper angle. When the trim is at a high angle, porpoising is more likely to occur.
Steps to Take to Prevent Porpoising
Depending on the reason your boat tends to experience porpoising, you may be able to reduce or even completely resolve the problem in a few simple steps:
- Reduce the trim angle using the controls on your boat. While this does not address any underlying problems with your boat’s hull, it is a quick solution that can make your ride more comfortable.
- Adjust the distribution of static weight in your boat. Your battery, fuel, and other heavy components affect how your boat performs.
- Making changes to your motor height, engine setback, and propeller can also reduce the tendency to porpoise.
If these solutions do not improve or fix your porpoising problem, it might be time to try a Hydro-Shield.
Add an Outboard Motor Hydrofoil from Hydro-Shield
In addition to helping your boat get up on plane faster and more efficiently, an outboard motor hydrofoil or stern drive hydrofoil from Hydro-Shield can also help solve your porpoising problem.
Want to learn more about how our skeg-mounted hydrofoil can help you protect your boat, save money, and achieve a smoother ride? Check out the benefits of a Hydro-Shield, then get in touch with us if you have any questions.