Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

[mulliganmagic]

I have a 1983 Norris Craft 1750 boat. It's 17 feet 6 inches long and has the fish and ski layout. It's powered by a 1983 Mercury XR2 Black Max 150 HP. This boat is a tri-hull and I believe that it has a shallow V deadrise. It acts like a high performance boat and sticks it nose up in the air when trying to get on plane. In fact it usually takes about 4000 rpm (and 8 seconds) to get it out of the hole and then I can back off to about 3000 rpm, but if i go too low to about 2700 it starts to come off of plane and it takes another shot up in rpm to get it on plane again. It also porposes in this rpm range and still a little when the engine is trimmed all the way in. Also, when it gets to about 4000 rpm i can trim it out with no porposing and it seems to cruse perfectly but will use a lot of gas. The max rpm that I've gotten is about 5800. So, my question is would smart tabs help in these problems (hole shot & poropsing) and what size or psi actuators would i need.

 

[DJ]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Sounds like a candidate to me.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Mulligan<br />If all you are looking to do is get bow down, plane at a lower speed and stop porposing then The Smart Tabs are the way to go. Other tabs will do more but also more expensive.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Absolutly!!!

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Thank you very much guys. I like these smart tabs due to the fact that they are self adjusting and the price compared to helm controled tabs. Other people have suggested a hydrofoil stablizer but I believe that the trim tabs would give a better result. If anyone could give me a comparison I would appriciate it. Also which package would be right for me the strongest actuators (80 psi) or the next size down. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Mettaree]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

I have them on my boat and they are great. Go on line to www.nauticusinc.com and check them out further. Call them and talk to John - he is the help. You won't be disappointed. He will probably recommend the ST1290-60 for you.<br /><br />

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

mulliganmagic ;<br /><br />Use ST1290-60 not the 80. Don't be concerned about making a mistake as we will exchange them at no charge if necessary ( which won't be the case). The physical size is exactly the same.<br /><br />Yes, these Smart Tabs will fix the handling problems you have and more. Call if you need more info. 800-233-0194

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Thanks guys the information that you provided was very useful and I believe that I will be purchasing some smart tabs sometime. However, I notised that on www.nauticusinc.com they have 25% off for factory seconds but the list price that they have is $199 compared to $161 here at iboats. That would only make them about $5 bucks cheaper, and my question is does nauticus offer 25% off of the same price that is offered here at iboats or not. If not then I think that I'd rather pay about $5 more and get tabs that aren't scratched. Thanks again.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

JKW1939 is right, but make sure you have some time, John will talk your ear off! <br /><br />At 50MPH across the lake, Knowone will see a little scratch!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Mulliganmagic;<br /><br />We only offer the blemmished product when available, and as of Monday we where sold out of ST80 and St1290 series. We do not offer any discounts on first line product as shipped to our retailers. The best price in the market now is iboats.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Lube Dude;<br /><br />I don't talk too much, people just listen too much! Except my wife and kids, as you might suspect! They don't liste at all.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

I dont know which one of use talked or listened the most, I know I learned a lot talking to you!<br /><br /> Getting the boat fixed next wednesday and should have a report for you in a week or so after.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

My reputation for being long winded has been earned. Some day I may learn to keep it short, but at my age it is not likely.<br /><br />I enjoyed our conversation very much and thanks.<br /><br />John

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Bumping this back up here: I have another question for the experts-my grandfather who our boat actually belongs to dosn't like the idea of us drilling into the boat ourselves and wants our mechanic to do it. So, my question is how much do you guys think they would charge for 30 minutes of labor to install the tabs. My one fear is, however, that they won't do a very good job and I might have a hard time convincing my grandfather of that. My basis for this is on an older lake flite boat (1978 14') that we had before this the same mechanic repowered that boat with a 35 merc 1988 I believe and when they changed the controls from OMC to Merc they used the wrong length screw and it was obvious on the outside of the hull because the screw was protruding a little and spyder cracked the fiber glass. This does present a problem and the fact is that there isn't a shop any other place around us that we've had experience with and I doubt that my grandfather would go anywhere else because this is the place where we bought the current boat (Norris Craft) and are selling the old boat (Lake Flite). Thanks for all of your help in advance.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

What difference does it make who drills the holes, you still have fourteen holes no matter what? I guess, some people are funny that way.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Mulligan- <br /><br />First of all you are welcome to have you grandfather call me directly and i will give both some tips. Secondly the kit is designed for consumer installation, and includes all of the correct size hardware, and even the sealanst material for the holes. <br /><br />The kit has three bags of hardware, one for each step of the assembly and installation. not one large bag of mixed up parts. The instruction manual is detailed with both illustrations and pictures. <br /><br />If you have a drill with a 3/16" or 7/32" bit, a few wrenches, and a phillips scre driver, you should have no problems. in fact i prefer that the consumers do the installation as this will give then you a easier understanding of the product.<br /><br />When drilling the holes measure 3/4' from the tip of the drill and mark the drill for the correct depth. I use a strip of masking tape. In this way, if the hull is more than 3/4" thick - you do not drill all the way through, but it makes no difference anyway as you will be sealing the holes and plugging them with a screw. We have never had a system come off the boat, primarily because the maximum load on the system is what the actuator permits and no more. The plates are never rigid!<br /><br />Have him call me at 800-233-0194<br /><br />John

 

[Peter1959628]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

I am sure that you will have no problem installing the tabs. I have a 1994 hull that is unblemished and had reservations about drilling.<br />Just take it easy while drilling & believe me you will be fine.<br />As for the performance you will wonder why you had'nt installed sooner. <br />What a difference this product makes.

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

I HATE drilling into our boat. Once I got past that the rest of the install was easy. Measure twice, check it again, then drill.

 

[mulliganmagic]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Sorry to say guys but the mechanic talked my grandfather out of the tabs because he claims that over time that the holes even if sealed will cause a leak and rot the transom. So, his solution was to change from a 23p quick silver 3 blade prop to a 4 blade of the same pitch and add a hydrofoil. Now there is no way that I can really talk him into the tabs after hearing that so i will let you guys know how the prop change goes.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Are Smart Tabs Right For My Boat

Mulliganmagic;<br /><br />Sorry too! Since it is not your boat you have to go with the flow. It's nice you get to use the boat so enjoy!