Okay, noob question time...can someone please explain to me about boat planing? I've seen it mentioned several times but am a little fuzzy on what it actually means and what the benefit of it is. Thanks in advance for any info on this subject!!!

Getting on plane is when your boat breaks over and pops up on the pad.  This is where it is no longer plowing through the water and only a small amount of the hull is in the water so less drag and more speed and better efficiency.

 

Thanks!!! Makes sense now.

Its when the boat levels out parallel to the water and rises up on top of the water (on a plane).. have to think back to highschool science for the term "plane", then it will make more sense. Not all boats get on pad, very few do actually.. Just bass boats and flat bottom jons. V bottoms don't have a pad to get on to. 

 

Watch this video...first, it'll show you what a boat not on plane looks like...then one porpoising...and than about 1:40 shows a more properly adjusted boat.

It should help.

Planing is also something that never happens when Raider and Tipptruck both get on a boat.  At the same time. 

If a boat is having trouble planing out would something  like a hydrofoil help out?

In short, yes they do help. It's better to understand why it's not planing first though. Is there something wrong with the motor, is the prop simply too big, or is the boat simply underpowered. If the first two check out, then the addition of one would be warranted in my opinion, but They're kind of a last resort.