ADDING FINS TO A NAUTIQUE EXCEL

[sanddragon2004]

THIS thing turns like a pig, wondering if adding a second fin will help out?

[shaunvr]

Pleased you brought this up. Been wondering the same thing for the 91 BFN.

[WakeSlayer]

as did I, when I had mine. I would think you could pull it off. They steer like crap when weighted.......

[Tomfooter]

I agree with you guys ('93 BFN). The only thing is, that fins help to track a straight coarse (I think). It looks like more fins would make a turn even worse. (I think it's the way the deep-V hangs in the water, and not the fins- just my opinion). How about Power / Power assisted steering? Has anyone ever had that on a V-Drive :?: :?: :?: I know I had it on an old I/O, but that is a whole different set up.

[mike-d]

fins

yes, add the second fin. Ron Scarpa's boats all had the second fin put on his excell barefooters. This was before he switched over to bu's.

Mike
old 93 excell open bow with flight control tower boat owner.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: fins

yeah, power steering isn't going to help, they just do not grab worth a crap with one skeg, you have a huge turning radius. I always wondered what the thought process was with just a single, I do not think I have seen that on any other inboard....

former 92 BFN w/ tower owner, as well

[sanddragon2004]

ill def be installing another one. ill let u all know how it goes.

I almost made the mistake of selling her to get a supra glad i came to my senses. she throws one **** of a wake.

[hebert51]

yeah i just bought an air nauti, but ive been looking at the bottoms on the barefoot models, what kind of a wake can you guys get out yours, looks like they have quite a bit of vee in em......post up some wake pics.....

[WakeSlayer]

the V drive BFN's throw a fantastic wake, weighted or not. I mentioned at one time that the V drive 90's versions had nearly and identical wake to the older DD models. I still think that is a bit odd... Has a great shape and a nice curl to throw you in the air.

[bbc3]

We used to own a 92 Excel (great boat...not one rattle or problem for 11 years) and experienced the same issue. We had a chance to talk with Greg Meloon about the development of the Excel model and here's a little history...

During the early 90's, the Australian barefoot team was approached by CC to help develop the next barefoot boat. The big complaint with the current BFN at the time, was the soft middle for doing barefoot slalom. The solution was creating the deep V hull all the way to the stern of the boat. This firmed up the middle of the wakes, but changed how the boat performed as well. Since CC is a family owned company, the Meloons test drive all of their boats and ensure they feel comfortable producing a product that is safe for the average family boaters. The story we were told is that the Excel originally DID have 2 center fins, but when the Meloon's were doing their test drive, they pulled a hard turn and almost threw someone out of the boat because of the way the deep V makes the boat lean into turns. They decided to remove one of the center fins to "tune it down" and make it a little safer.

We considered adding a 2nd fin and if we still had the boat, we probably would have. We were told it makes the boat turn much easier/better.

Thought you might be interested in what we were told...Good luck guys!

[WakeSlayer]

interesting..... thank you.

[Tomfooter]

VERY interesting! :shock: Is their a flat spot or recess on the bottom to add another fin? Where would you find another fin to match?

[NautiqueJared]

I just ran across this thread this weekend and became very interested in the subject since I bought a '92 BFN and wanted to add a fin to improve the handling....esp. after I add the sacs this year. I got under my boat this weekend and noticed, what appeared to be, plenty of flat surface to add another fin but nothice the other fin was recessed into the hull so that the flange at the bottom sat flush. I was wondering if this is an important step in adding another fin.