adding trim tabs

[wraenking]

ive been researching again (usuuall means im looking to spend money) and i am wondering if it would be worth it for me to put trim tabs on my boat. <br /><br />i have a 1984 wellcraft 180 fisherman (problably very heavy) they say you get better gas mileage and would help me plane out better.<br /><br />any input , pros and cons?

 

[Sivart]

Re: adding trim tabs

I am a trim tab fan. I put them on my boat and are verry happy with them. There really isnt a plane after the tabs were installed. Cornering is better and handling is better. You would not regret it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: adding trim tabs

any input , pros and cons?

All pros in My book.......<br />I'll Never own another boat without them......<br />a smaller boat like yours would, No Doubt, benefit from a set of Smart Tabs....<br />Their a simple Automatic system....<br />Reasonably Priced too....<br />They can be found right here at iboats........

 

[Admin5]

Re: adding trim tabs

PLEASE!!! Take a look at the Smart Tab (click on name) sold here at iboats before you make your final decision. They may be the least expensive/best solution for your Wellcraft. If for some reason the smart tabs are not what you want, we do carry a full lineup of other trim tabs.

 

[Mettaree]

Re: adding trim tabs

Have a Neptune 200CC with 200hp Merc.( approx wt.3700# on the water) Installed Smart Tabs - ST1290-60 - One of the best investments I have ever made. Stability is great, lo-speed plane, little to no bow rise, slight increase in gps speed ( 2-3MPH), some increase in fuel mileage. Would not be without them. But they are not the only ones out there. Just happen to be the ones I prefer. <br />Check www.nauticusinc.com for more info.<br /><br />

 

[wraenking]

Re: adding trim tabs

thanks for the quick eplies guys. how good are these smart tabs? i never heard of them? i was actual;ly looking at a set of these<br /><br />bennett m-80's <br /><br />i can get them on another site.<br /><br />ok, now tell me more!! <br /><br />thanks again

 

[Mettaree]

Re: adding trim tabs

Check with John at NauticusInc - they may still have some factory blemish ones at a discounted price . "Considerably" less that what you quoted. Smart tabs are self adjusting. According to NADA your boat weight is about 1500# empty - no motor, gas, gear, etc.<br /><br />

 

[wraenking]

Re: adding trim tabs

JKW, do think my boat doesnt need hydr. ones? <br /><br />also, i thnk my boat is way waterlogged! lol<br /><br />ill have to see if there is a way to un water log it.

 

[Mettaree]

Re: adding trim tabs

Each type has their on benefits. Smart Tabs are self regulating after being properly set up and Bennetts are mostly left up to the operator but can be cross-controlled for the conditions if necessary. Decisions-decisions!!!!!!!!!! TabMan will probably jump in to give you the straight on the Bennett.<br /><br />

 

[Invader92]

Re: adding trim tabs

I was just reading a little about the Smart-Tabs. Being that they are automatic, how would you adjust them if you listed one side or the other? After instalation, would you need to run the boat and make adjustment then? I want to put some on my 160 invader bowrider and like the idea of not having to continually adjust them for straight running. Are these the way to go? By the way, this site is great for info. Thanks everyone!

 

[Invader92]

Re: adding trim tabs

Sorry....fatfinger 165 Invader

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: adding trim tabs

Invader92;<br /><br />To answer your question regarding Smart Tabs and adjusting for a list - <br /><br />If the list is caused by the prop torque, or a kicker motor or some other permanent balance issue, you would compensate for this by adjsuting the tabs to preload one side more than the other. The lift pressure is adjustable at or after installation. Once this adjustment is made your done. <br /><br />If you are concerned about normal port to starboard leaning when cruising, the Smart Tabs act like a suspension system on your car and minimize the leaning very effectively. However, if you are overloading one side of the boat with people or a 450lb cousin, on occassion the Smart Tabs will not completely correct this problem. Helm opperated tabs can be adjusted with one tab completely deployed and one completely retracted, and provide more lift. This would be a rare case, in my mind, besides you could always ask him to move over a foot or so.<br /><br />The active ride control will provide benefits that nothing else will. Keep in mind that it is far easier to control a potential problem than it is to correct it. If the boat is kept from leaning or the bow is kept from rising, it is easier to control. The key issue is that Smart Tabs are constantly active. By the way we have been at this now for five years, and thousands of unit. <br /><br />iboats is about the most competetive of all the major marine parts suppliers.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: adding trim tabs

Bennetts are the way to go. There service is unmatched plus all the benefits listed above and one more. Some times you want the bow to rise a little higher then you normally would for waves and such and you cant adjust your smart tabs on the water. I remember one time coming home up the channel against the tide, wind and 5 foot white caps . I took more waves over the bow then I could count and that is with my tabs up. With smart tabs I would have had a submarine.

 

[catfish1]

Re: adding trim tabs

i'm using smart tabs on my bayliner and they are great! i am happy with them, and i'll put them on any boat i purchase in the future. i cant imagine anyone thats tryed them, not liking them. i highly recommend smart tabs!!

 

[Boatist]

Re: adding trim tabs

Wraenking<br />I put hydrolic trim tabs on my boat back in 1981 and it is the best thing I have ever added to my boat. I will never own another boat without them.<br /><br />However I would not expect any real saving in fuel with a couple of exceptions. Any tabs means the bow lower in water, more wetted surface, more drag, slightly more fuel, slightly lower speed. Salemen will tell you better fuel MPG, More Speed. The exceptions where you may get better fuel mileage is if you have to trim your outdrive off vertical to get the boat in proper trim. In this case the motor is pushing water up or down to trim your boat. With Tabs you trim your boat with the tabs and keep the outdrive vertical so it pushes water back, not up or down. Still tabs do create some drag. Bottom line not a noticeable change in fuel mileage. <br />One place where you can save fuel with tabs. If you are running offshore in rough conditions and you can not safely go fast enough to get up on plane then you will be plowing with the bow high. With the tabs you can get on plane at a much lower speed and keep the bow down at a lower safe speed.<br /><br />I like the hydrolic trim tabs that can be controlled form the helm. Smart tabs salemen will tell you smart tabs do all the same things. Summers in the ocean out here we get 25 to 40 knot winds allmost every afternoon. My boat will always lean into the wind. This is caused by cross wind blowing you off course so you turn into the wind some to correct your course. So if you turn to port boat will lean to port just like you were making a turn anywhere. On my boat when it leans into the wind the spray will cone off the side of the boat and be thrown up into the air, the wind then blows it right on board and the whole back of the boat get wet with salt spray. With hydrolic trim tabs I simply adjust boat level. Now the spray comes off the bottom of the boat and instead of going up into the air it shoot out to the side. The wind still tries to blow it back on board but by the time it does the boat has moved foward. Bottom line back of the boat stays dry and no body gets wet. When we get to our next fishing location chairs are dry and we can start fishing.<br /><br />Another reason I like helm adjustable tabs is no matter how bad the condition you can adjust boat trim for best safe ride. My boat on it own planes at about 20 and will stay on plane to 18. With my trim tabs bow will not rise at any speed so I can adjust anyway I want boat trim. Steep swells and breakers you want to bow a little high so will not get any green water on the deck. With a Following Sea you do not want any trim at all. You want to ride the back of the Swell near the top so you can see ahead for boats, crab pots, ect. With tab pressure in this condition can be very unsafe.<br /><br />Anyway all the tabs better than no tabs.

 

[wraenking]

Re: adding trim tabs

thanks boatist. well i talked to john yesterday, and he assured me that smart tabs were for me. i will give them a shot. i only have an 18 fotter, so when i go out in the ocean, i select my days.<br /><br />so john, if i am out in the ocean and get stuck coming in in some nast stuff, are the smart tabs going to keep my bow a little higher so it doesnt get swallowed by a wave?<br /><br />thanks

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: adding trim tabs

Wraenking;<br /><br />It is amazing how opinions are formed into judgements without any experience. <br /><br />First of all I personally think that Bennett has one of the very best customer service policies in the marine industry, and they have earned that reputation over a long time. Also, as I have stated in the past there are a number of factors that should govern your choice on trim tabs or any planing device, and how you use your boat is key to your choice, as well as boat size and cost.<br /><br />I find it interesting that F-screenname would think that we have not addressed or even understood the boat handling issues which occur in following seas or other severe weather conditions. His assumption is that the constant pressure of the tabs will keep the boat in a bow down attituded in following seas and cause the nose to submerge. Even helm controlled tabs (in the retracted possition) could cause stern lift. I have addressed this before but will again now.<br /><br />Helm controlled tabs when installed correctly, should retract beyond horizontal by as much as 1". TabMan can varify this. This is to minimize the lift when it is determined to be unneccesary or unadvisable such as in following seas. However, as long as they are in the water the extra surface area will provide some lift.<br /><br />In the case of Smart Tabs, the lift when in the retracted position is limmited to about 65% of the deployed position lift pressure. In the case of an 80Lb actuator (the most pressure available) the lift would be about 50Lb each side (total 100Lbs). This is equal to having one 100LB person move from the stern area to the helm area or slightly ahead of the axis point of the boat. Smart Tabs can be retracted beyond horizontal (by the water pressure) up to 2 1/2" and have been designed this way for the very reason of limiting stern lift once the boat is on plane.<br /><br />To compensate for following seas when using helm controlled tabs or Smart Tabs the best correction comes from adjusting boat speed. The next adjustment would be the motor trim (Smart Tabs do not inhibit the effectiveness of the motor trim!). All of this is assuming that the the helm controlled tabs are retracted and Smart Tabs are appropriately sized and adjusted upon installation.<br /><br />If the boat is a desitnation boat or larger than 22 to 23 feet helm controlled tabs may be the best choice. Your boat is exactly what we have targeted as our market. But, You be the judge once you have used them.

 

[wraenking]

Re: adding trim tabs

thank you john. i look forward to installing these once i get them. i will definitely let you know how they work for me. thanks agin for your time on the phone yesterday!<br /><br />by the way, i ordered them last night!!

 

[JasonB]

Re: adding trim tabs

Just to toss in my $.02, I have a set of the 1290-60 tabs on my 19' sterndrive Deep-V bowrider and they are well worth the price. Faster planing, better handling, and more resistant to roll on plane. If I had a much larger boat, I might have gone with Bennett tabs. For my use, I couldn't justify the price difference. I would by the Smart Tabs again in a heartbeat for my application.<br /><br />BTW, before the tabs, trimming the outdrive had almost no effect. After i installed the tabs, I can actually trim the drive and get some results.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: adding trim tabs

Just thought you guys might like to see a picture of a very special Remote Control Navy Surveillance<br />craft just back from it's first mission (in the Gulf). <br /><br />It is commissioned by the N.U.W.C. (Navy Under Water Command)and has now been declassified. <br /><br />The boat is a 24 ft Zodiac Hurricane 749 Aluminum hull with a Hamilton Diesel I/O Jet. Rigged with special surveillance equipment and completely remote controlled by the main ship - no pilot. <br /><br />Obviously used in heavy seas under severe conditions, including following seas, heading seas, and quartering seas.<br /><br />Note the Smart Tabs (ST1290-80)used to control the boats attitude without a pilot.