Does my boat ride too low?

[mike-the-cobra]

I have the SmartTabs (adjusted the farthest up) on my boat and my question is , does this boat ride too low in the front. When you are driving it it seems like you are right on top of the water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ZL-abXrQs

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Looks normal and sure great to me !!!..Some guys wish they could get their boats looking and running as good as yours.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Looks like it is plowing water to me. Do you have the 60 or 80 pound actuators?

 

[SeanT]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

At first I thought it was just fine, but I think I agree it's plowing a bit (is that a nautical term?) Maybe the tabs are pushing too hard?

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Looks like it is plowing water to me.

I am no expert, but I also think you have not quite got up on plane. There just seems to be too much water being ejected from beneath the keel.

I also would expect to see the point on the keel where it is just breaking loose from the water further back. This would require a little more bow rise, I think.Are you trimmed all the way out or is there some room for adjustment?

What was it like before installing the tabs? Did they make any difference? If so, and it was a positive change, then you are on the right track and may need to go further with the corrections.

Refer to page 8 of the install manual and make the needed changes. If this doesn't help you may need a different size tab.

However, having proposed the above action, please remember I am not an expert, nor do I even have Smart Tabs on my boat. But this is my theory and you may use any or all if you so desire.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

You can see its plowing. Water shooting out the sides right up front. I can't see any light under the bow at all, when usually the first few feet of the bow are above the water. Not real high, but enough that you can see under it. Another clue is that there is lots of spray right behind the transom, and that is caused by the tabs being pushed down below the bottom of the hull. I had that problem.

So the tabs are at the weakest setting? (closest hole to the transom). If so, and the power trim is not able to get the bow up a bit, then go down a size in actuators.

I called Smart Tabs, they took my credit card, sent a new set of actuators. If I didn't return the original pair in a month, they said I would be charged. I did mail back the originals just a few weeks ago, haven't checked to see if a charge ever went through.

BTW, removing the top pin in the actuator is a real pain. I didn't feel like pounding on it, and just unscrewed the actuator from the end with the pin through it (it has brass threaded insert molded in). Then screwed the new actuator into the old end. Simple, clean, and no pounding to get the pin out.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Not sure if this pic will help but you can see at least half of my hull is out of the water and the spray is breaking to the rear.
I was in a slight starboard turn but was at about 90% throttle and trimmed out.
Gives you an idea anyway but every hull is a little different.
The tabs are pushing the bow down a little too much on yours.

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Agree with above, you're riding much too low in at the bow. You shouldn't get that big spray of water from far forward towards the bow. Where was your trim when you shot the video? Did you trim out right after getting up on a plane? If you did, I'd agree the tabs are set too strong. If you're not trimming out, you'll run bow down like that, and the tabs will just make it worse. Take a look at this boat test video about 20 seconds in, you'll see a similar boat to yours in a normal planing attitude:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HYwq_dB9F0

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I have the SX Smart Tabs Trim Tabs for Boat Length 15' - 19' FT and 60-150 HP - Nauticus. Don't have aframe of refernece to go by, when I bought it it had the shrakfin on it and I took it off and put on the Smart Tabs before I even saw the water the first time.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Are you using any trim?

I have a lot of time behind the helm on a 1990 version of that boat. These hulls like a lot of trim.

Yes, your boat is plowing. It looks like you are trimmed all the way down.

If you are using the trim then the tabs are forceing your bow down too much.

Test the boat without the actuators in place.

What speed do you get at WOT with the trim up? With that motor you should get into the mid 40s with that hull.

If you don't get that speed with the smart tabs they are hurting more than helping.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I'm not sure if it's the tabs or the trim but I agree you're riding too low in the front.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I have the SX Smart Tabs Trim Tabs for Boat Length 15' - 19' FT and 60-150 HP - Nauticus. Don't have aframe of refernece to go by, when I bought it it had the shrakfin on it and I took it off and put on the Smart Tabs before I even saw the water the first time.

I would start by taking off the actuators from both tabs and go for a ride. Adjust trim as best you can. Then you have a reference point. The boat might not need trim tabs at all. You won't know until you try.

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

What speed do you get at WOT with the trim up? With that motor you should get into the mid 40s with that hull.

If you don't get that speed with the smart tabs they are hurting more than helping.

Actually at full throttle I can't get much more than 32 - 35 MPH out of currently

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I don't know about mid-40s but definitely much closer to 40.

 

[RobbyA]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Are you trimmed all the way up? In the video it really looks like you are riding with the trim all the way down.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Definitely a little low up front. But with the smart tabs you really don't need to trim out too much. Is your speed coming from a GPS or the speedometer?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

With the tabs you should still be able to trim up at speed and get the bow out of the water.
I just think the actuators on the tabs are too strong and he needs to step down a size.
Just call Nauticus and they will send you another set to try.

 

[convergent]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

Well the question has been asked several times in the thread about whether he's riding with the trim all the way down or not and the OP still hasn't answered it. I've never used tabs, but without them you definitely plow... so that would be the simplest thing to address first... is the trim all the way down during the video?

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I don't know for sure, but I believe in that short video the trim is all the way down. Trimming it out doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference in bringing the front out of the water.

"I've never used tabs, but without them you definitely plow... "
I thought that this was the opposite, without them you don't plow??

I am going to have to take off the tabs then get it out in the water for a second video run.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Does my boat ride too low?

I am going to have to take off the tabs then get it out in the water for a second video run.

that sounds like a good idea. get your self some frame of reference for the boat running as it came from the oem. then do some mods if necessary.

imho, yer plowin

i don't know why your trim don't make a difference. it should, almost can't help but do something, like raise the bow when trimming out. unless there's something up with the boat.

most folks put tabs on to keep bow rise down, stop porpoising, maintain slower plane speeds. don't look like ya have any of them problems.

use your trim after ya remove the tabs. maybe it'll make more difference then.

mine is pretty trim sensitive. i use trim all the time too adjusting the attitude of the boat. start with trim in, after your on plane, trim for highest rpm prior to porpoising or ventilation...

this is how i think ya should look..

this is probably just a cruiseing speed, trimmed out for best ride...

this is with a little more speed, trimmed in a little for better ride. i'd guess in this pic, i could trim out a little more for more speed, but i'll bet i was looking for best ride at speed in the pic.

fwiw, this boat has no tabs or whale tale. it's plain like it came from the oem