Adding lift strakes

[Crab Island Cruiser]

I looked at a sun tracker 24' triton yesterday. I was surprised to see the strakes stopped a few feet shy of the back of the log.

[ToonGuy]

Most toons will not have strakes on the outside of the outer tubes. Sometimes on 2-log pontoons, to get the lift needed they put strakes on the inside AND outside, but stop them on the outsides 2/3 or so from the front nose cone. The reason is because generally strakes on the outside negatively effect your cornering performance. Cutting them "short" on the outside helps to keep the toon from digging in the corners.

[BobG]

You just need to add some of those...uh...what the heck are they called...Smack Fins? Thump Fins? Whack Fins? Shoot I can't remember...

[Crab Island Cruiser]

Most toons will not have strakes on the outside of the outer tubes. Sometimes on 2-log pontoons, to get the lift needed they put strakes on the inside AND outside, but stop them on the outsides 2/3 or so from the front nose cone. The reason is because generally strakes on the outside negatively effect your cornering performance. Cutting them "short" on the outside helps to keep the toon from digging in the corners.

Good info! I discussed inside mounting or outside mounting with the fab guy today. I'm going to put them on the inside of the toon.

He has done the install on the outside of 22 footer a year or so ago and the guy is tickled pink. lol
He only has strakes on the outside.

[rancherlee]

Also, As I found out, strakes NEED to be cut short on a center tube if they are negative angle. I did my own strakes and ran them front to back on my center tube and they trap a decent amount of AIR and feed it to the prop. With the strakes ending 2-3 feet before the transom the air bubbles have time to escape to the sides and clean water gets to the props. Many early tritoons had strakes all the way back, MOST now stop them a foot or 2 short of the end, especially on the center. My grandpa's neighbor at the lake has an older twin tube with full length strakes on both sides and it a good work out trying to get that thing to turn at speed and it leans hard the WRONG way while turning because the outer strake grabs hard.

[Waterlogged]

I don't know why the strakes end at the point they do, but the boat seems to plane out good on them the way they are.

Glenn

[Crab Island Cruiser]

How wide should they be? 3" 4" 6"

That's the only thing left for me to figure out. I may be able to get it in the shop in a little over
a week to get them installed.

I decided on strakes on the inside of the toons at 14' long.

Looks like it's going to cost about $2200.

[ron nh]

you should absolutely see what size sun chaser put on that boat. i guaranty they tried all different sizes before they put it on the market. learn from there research. my friend spent thousands a few years back adding strakes, he guessed and got no better performance. actually turned worse a high speed.

[Crab Island Cruiser]

you should absolutely see what size sun chaser put on that boat. i guaranty they tried all different sizes before they put it on the market. learn from there research. my friend spent thousands a few years back adding strakes, he guessed and got no better performance. actually turned worse a high speed.

To the best of my knowledge, Sun Chaser did not use strakes on the 07. Sun Chaser told my local dealer they for sure did not use a center log on any 07s. I asked the dealer about strakes and he suggested I find a local welder/fab shop to do the work.

The fab shop i'm using did a 22' twin toon with 115 merc approx 2 years ago and the guy is tickled pink about the results. He claimed he picked up 8 mph from 1 strake on the outside of each log.

[ron nh]

There goes that idea.

[willy13]

The one I measured the other day was 6 inches wide. I measured because I have also been thinking about doing what your doing. Good Luck!!!

[Crab Island Cruiser]

There goes that idea.

No worries.

[Crab Island Cruiser]

The one I measured the other day was 6 inches wide. I measured because I have also been thinking about doing what your doing. Good Luck!!!

I've seen them from 3" to 6". I'm wondering if the 6"s would put a lot more stress on the tubes compared to the 3 inchers.

I bet i'll be alright, but i'm trying to cover as much as possible before I pull the trigger.

[willy13]

The one I measured the other day was 6 inches wide. I measured because I have also been thinking about doing what your doing. Good Luck!!!

I've seen them from 3" to 6". I'm wondering if the 6"s would put a lot more stress on the tubes compared to the 3 inchers.

I bet i'll be alright, but i'm trying to cover as much as possible before I pull the trigger.

Personally, I am not worried about any extra stress put on the tubes from adding lifting strakes. My only worry is causing a leak. But since you found someone who has done this before, that is not a concern for you. I was thinking about attempting it myself since I have had no luck finding someone who has done this before in my area.

[Crab Island Cruiser]

Soooo, the lift strakes might not materialize right away. I found a place in MO that sells pontoon logs and can customize them.

I can get a full center log with transom and strakes for $1700, but I have to drill the holes for my motor to mount. Not to crazy about that.

Or I can get a 16' log with strakes for $1000 to use as a pony tube.

What do you guys think would be the best option?

The place is 11 hours away from me and it would be way easier to transport the 16 footer. Not to mention quite a bit cheaper.

My toon is an 07 Sun Chaser 22' with F115 Yami