hydrofoils, smart tabs

[SteveDavis]

So my 17.5ft Crestliner Nordic (1986) only planes out at higher speeds. It has a 175hp GMC with an OMC Cobra outdrive. Though it has a top speed of 56mph, I would like it to plane out a lot faster and stay planed at a lower speed. I have on this site and others about this topic, but would like to know if anyone has a similar boat with one installed and how it worked. I would also like to know if anyone knows where to find concrete facts on how they work?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Fergit the hydrofoil. They are cheap and may provide some benefit but can also have other severe downsides. Once they have done their job, they keep on doing it way past when it is necessary. They are, after all, nothing but a wing and as long as you have speed they just keep on flying. They will force the bow down at speed and affect your steering.

For concrete facts, you will do no better than to do a search on Smart Tabs. For small to medium boats that need a fire and forget solution, there is just nothing better. If'n ya can't take a wide expression of experience as gospel, then ya ought naught be looking on a forum.

Just can't get anymore concrete than user testimony.

 

[ziggy]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

I would like it to plane out a lot faster and stay planed at a lower speed.

that statement has smart tabs written all over it...........

 

[180shabah]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Fergit the hydrofoil. They are cheap and may provide some benefit but can also have other severe downsides. Once they have done their job, they keep on doing it way past when it is necessary. They are, after all, nothing but a wing and as long as you have speed they just keep on flying. They will force the bow down at speed and affect your steering.

DITTO

I have an 18' BR with 4.3V6, very similar to your setup. If I had to describe my experience with the hydrofoil, I would start with SCARY followed by ABSOLUTELY F@#$%^& DANGEROUS

Spend the extra money on the Smart-Tabs, you will not be disappointed.

 

[antsmands]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Hello Steve;

I too had the same questions as you and decided to get the smart tabs after reading the info in this form. I have not tried them out yet but what users are saying makes a lot of sense to me and they are very easy to install. I will let you know how they work after I take the boat out this weekend. I have a 1986 Sea Sprite BR with a 140hp Mercruiser.

Tony Davis

 

[89Winner]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

I have been meaning to order smart tabs for my boat too. I went ahead and ordered a set today from right here on Iboats. I am getting the set made with composit materials. $120.00 + shipping

I used to have a stingray fin a few years ago and it was scary to say the least. A simple turning motion would almost tip the boat on it's side. It felt like it anyways.

 

[antsmands]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Hello All Interested;

I finally took out my boat this weekend to test out the new smart tab that I installed. These thing are absolutely great! The boat rode much smoother with much greater control than without the tabs. I also seem to accelerate with less effort. I would recommend them to anyone who is on the fence about getting a pair.

Tony Davis

 

[smithrock]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Did it take anything away from your top speed?

 

[watermellonI]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

I have 19' cuddy, w/ merc 4 banger and when i got it had a foil on it
It got up on plane about 6 sec, and steered like a tank!!!

I got into iboats and took it off, mainly because of excess stress on the outdrive,

I rplcd floor and stringers in boat, and now planes in 4sec, just put on smart tabs, by Nauticus, I ordered those because the price is reasonable and you just put em on and go, there s no fiddle-f@#kin around with switches and fluid and.....

haven t tested them yet, but i m certain they ll be great!

 

[dk6164]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

I put a set on my 19' Bowrider w/Merc 4 cyl. last season and it was the BEST $120.00 I ever spent! No more "No Wake Zone" wandering, it'll stay on plane down to about 1600 RPM, and the handling improvement is great! For ease of installation and operation you CAN'T go wrong!!

Highly Recommended!

 

[licketdsplit756]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

do these smart tabs also work on bass boats to bring it on plane sooner. its a ranger 335v 115hp johnson..at a hole shot front of the boat rises at least 4 feet.always have to have someone set up front. and that dont really help to much.??

 

[fourwinnsdook]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Steve, What size prop do you have on that thing? That's a pretty high top speed, What are your rpm's @? You may have to much prop on it also, but from what i've read on here those smart tabs are nice. I have a similar boat(86 four winns horizon 17') with the same motor/outdrive w/14.25/21 pitch prop and i'm topped out around 43 @ 4,300 rpms. But it comes out of the water pretty fast.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

do these smart tabs also work on bass boats to bring it on plane sooner. its a ranger 335v 115hp johnson..at a hole shot front of the boat rises at least 4 feet.always have to have someone set up front. and that dont really help to much.??

Smart Tabs, Smart Tabs, Smart Tabs and you'll never look back.

 

[antsmands]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

smithrock;

I did not take the boat up to top speed because its the first time out since I bought it and my speedometer needs repair. However it was much smoother and accelerated faster.

T. Davis

 

[SteveDavis]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Honestly I don't know what pitch my prop is. I will go look tonight or tomorrow. This boat is new to me and I am still learning about it. My factory speedometer say top of 49, but my speedometer on my Lawrence says 56-58mph deepending on trim and conditions. I have always heard that the factory speedo is off and have had friends boats cruise beside me and the Lawrence is right on. I will get back to you on the pitch.

This may be my last posting for awhile, we will see. I am going to Rainy lake in canada on Friday! Watch out Walleyes! Have a great forth everyone, talk to ya all later.

 

[smithrock]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Do they help or hurt the holeshot? I don't understand how they would be helpful with the holeshot since they put resistance on the boat. Am I wrong?

 

[180shabah]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Do they help or hurt the holeshot? I don't understand how they would be helpful with the holeshot since they put resistance on the boat. Am I wrong?

Tabs will make a huge difference in hole shot. The relationship between drag resistance and speed is exponential, so there is almost no effect on boat speed caused by the tabs being down at idle, however as speed increases so does the effect of drag. Running wide open with tabs down will have a dramatic effect on speed, but it is caused more by the thing the tabs were designed to produce.

LIFT

Lift is what get the boat up ontop of the water.

Better holeshot.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

I know nothing about smart tabs - according to all the positive reviews, must be a great accessory, but I'm very surprised hydrofoils are so routinely shunned.

Years ago my parents added a stingray to our 16' Glassmaster with 115 OB and were very satisfied.

When my brother and I purchased our own boat a few summers back we put on an SE sport 300 almost immediately.
We believe it's well worth the $50. It keeps us comfortably on plane at wakeboard speeds (19-21), helps a little pulling up a skier, and probably more than anything - greatly improves bow slap in rough water.
On top of that - it really helps control cavitation at high speeds.

Shabah - Dangerous?? How do you figure?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

...Shabah - Dangerous?? How do you figure?

Different boats react differently to the 'tail'. It is a wing that keeps flying, whether on acceleration or at WOT. The lift that they provide to help you get on plane continues to drive the nose down at speed. At minimum, they slow the boat down. With some boats they actually become dangerous in high speed turns. They can try to fly the boat into an uncontrolable tight turn.

Smart tabs, once at speed, back off on the bow down pressure and never try to bite in a tight turn. In fact just the opposite. The inside tab, on a tight turn, retracts even further and never bites the water like the inflexible wing.

 

[180shabah]

Re: hydrofoils, smart tabs

Shabah - Dangerous?? How do you figure?

No question about the improvement in holeshot, lower planing speed, and reduced ventilation at lower speeds. Speeking of lower speeds, I lost an incredible 7 MPH using the stingray. Why? Too much stern lift.

Why was it dangerous? Boom hit the nail on the head. The amount of stern lift is not adjustable, and it lifts from the center which is inherently unstable. It caused the stern to lift OUT of the water in an aggressive turn and even in moderate turns the boat had a tendency to skip. This is not a light boat either, it is approx 2800-2900lbs with my wife and I aboard, and it is a V6 sterndrive on an 18' hull.