Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

[f_inscreenname]

As you can see in the video that my trim tabs seem to stay in contact with the water even though I am doing about 40 mph. Is this normal? They are retracted all the way.<br /> <br /><br />I have always felt like the bow needs to go higher when at speed. On flat water the boat is kind of slow (like by 3 to mph). Add in a small chop and it is off to the races. I never use the tabs at all (they came with the boat and being the only thing that worked when I bought it I kept them). They were installed right per Bennett’s instructions. <br /><br />Retracted;<br />

<br /> Extended;<br />

<br />I guess the question is if I moved the cylinder up the transom by one inch how much lift will that allow a 19’ boat at the bow. Also now the tab will go below the hull by 2” at the end of the tab. Will it still functional if it only goes below the hull 1”?

 

[sloopy]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Yes it will still be functional, I would only move it a half inch. I only use trim tabs to keep boats on an even keel. I mainly use the outdrive trim for everything else. That is unless I am on a V drive or strait shaft boat.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Tabs look correct to me also. Have you tried triming the motor out to raise your bow?<br />I love the tabs on my boat as it improves the ride so much.<br />Before you move them or redrill and holes gives bennett a call.<br />I belive there is a way to adjust one inch higher from inside the cylinder by removing a spacer.<br />I have not seen TabMan II on here in a while but he is a good man and I belive he can help you.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Ya I wanted to talk to Tabmann or TabmanII but I have not seen them for quite awhile also. <br /> I hope there is a way to shorten the rams stroke. I would rather do that then getting out the drill.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

I did not know tabman was on this forum, I believe he is on the hull truth one. But still your tabs look right, I am going to go to look at a boat today that I have put tabs on and see if they look the same.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

FN, if the top mount of the actuator has 4 screws that are mounting it, try moving the top mount up. Put the lower mounts holes where the upper holes are in the transom. If it seems good an secure, just do a test run with them up all the way. I wouldn't put them down with just 2 screws holding them, but this would let you determine if raising the mount would help.

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

A boat will always be slightly slower in flat water than a slight chop. The chop reduces the amount of hull in contact with the water so friction is reduced. I don't think tabs are the problem.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Sorry but they are the 3 screw style with the Hydro line coming out in the middle of the 3 screws. <br />

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Originally posted by Buttanic:<br /> A boat will always be slightly slower in flat water than a slight chop. The chop reduces the amount of hull in contact with the water so friction is reduced. I don't think tabs are the problem.

Very true but.... My boat needs to come up a little more. The Volvo 270 does not have trim (it has 3 holes in the transom shield like a outboard for a pin). If I run it in the center hole it runs fine except at speed the boat is "flat" on the water. The third hole out and the prop wants to cavitates because it can not push the transom down far enough (at the same time pushing the bow up) to hook up. <br />A little background. The boat has the best balance I have ever seen in a boat. Like I said I do not use the tabs at all. Last season I changed exhaust manifolds from the old Osco's to a much lighter set (they weigh 14lbs and the Osco's weighed 140lbs) that is when I really noticed it. I have even noticed that when my two small kids (weight less then a 100 for both) sit in the back seat the boat is faster even if the wife is sitting in the front (she should cancel the weight from the kids out). <br />Also If I use the tabs I can easily make the bow plow through the water even at speed (quite scary to do). The boat has plenty of power, 0 to 60 in less then 10 seconds from a stop. <br />Here is the full length video. Watch the bow. It never changes attitude no matter how fast I am going. With the power I am pushing to the prop I should damn near be able to flip the thing at take off. <br /><br /> Its 4 minutes long and will take a little time to load.<br /><br />Video <br />Just a referance point here is how the boat sits when not running.<br />

 

[QC]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

IMHO she is still bow heavy based on all that I have read here, read previously and have seen on the video. (I wish I could see a "flyby" at speed . . .) As it is, I can see the trim of your drive by viewing the prop-wash and the angle vs. the transom and I can see that the Bennett's are up above the hull slightly as recommended. This combo should not plane "flat". I think there should be a bunch of bow rise even with the apparently good power to weight ratio. (BTW, have you verified your top speed with GPS?)<br /><br />With the above said, I can see fairly significant evidence in your wake that the tabs are still active. I think maybe I know what that is. Unless it is an optical illusion, both tab pics above show "hook" in the tabs themselves. I have installed Lenco's, Bennett's, Smart Tabs and a pair of cheapy K-plane wannabes. None of them had anything but perfectly flat tab plates.<br /><br />I have played with and tested all of these boats and tabs and if I play with weight on any of them I can make them porpoise at top speed without trimming past what I see with your boat. On your website I see a pic which appears to be under the deck looking at the bow. What is that blower and hose for? Why does it have floor up to the bow? You need to get anything and everything out of the bow somehow.<br /><br />Also you should try to completely disengage your tabs from the rams. Probably best at the bottom and then tie everything up and/or slide the tab plates off of the hinge (no reverse with loose plates ) Then you'll know what they are doing if anything.<br /><br />You should probably try the tab thing first and then the weight if you proves that the tabs are not doing anything as they sit today . . .

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Something else I noticed. Even though I never use the tabs they seemed to have developed a bow in them like they have had a lot of pressure on them. The one in the picture is only 2 seasons old (the original ripped off by a freak tug boat wave, another story for another time). It was flat when I installed it. <br />The out side edge is close to 3/8th" bow.<br />

<br /><br />Now at the inside edge it is closer to a 1/2"<br />

 

[QC]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Timing . . .

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Takes me a little while to post with pictures but Cat you seemed to have read my mind.As for the deck under the bow. It a long story of the evolution of the boats production line. When Allmand bought the Nova from Nova Marine they were going to make center console boats out of the hull. For some reason over the one year they built boats using the hull they built a couple of my boats style. Mine was the last of its kind. The hull # is the highest number for a SuperNova and the hull #’s before and after are both center consoles so it looks like they used the center console hull and inside deck and put a SuperNova top on it to build mine.<br /><br />The blower is for under these center deck hatches. They run the full length of the boat. I think it was also set up for a Vee drive if someone optioned for it. Now the gas tank and batteries sit in there with a couple misc things (all light weight). All the weight is has been moved as far back as possible. If everything in the front now was moved to the back seats a small adult could offset it by sitting in the front. That is not good, that little weight shift change things so much.<br />

<br /><br />GPS? Not on my boat but I ran next to a guy with it and he said I was within a mile or so. I use a paddle wheel speedometer. I trailer and when I get back from a ride I always make sure it is clean. <br />I guess I will have to take them off and give it a run. The only problem is if I take the plane off the cylinder is still there and if I take the cylinder off by unscrewing it the inside is exposed to the water and I take it off completely I have a hole where the lines go through.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Judging by the bow in the tabs, there has to be some pressure on those to do that.<br /><br />I agree with Cat, you need to pop them off somehow just to see how it performs without the tabs. Does the upper part of the actuator pivot? It looks like a solid mount. If so, you could remove the screws and rotate the actuator 120 degrees. That should get it up out of the way of the water to prevent damage. I think your answer is going to be raising them.<br />BTW I have a 280 outdrive which is similar to yours.<br />With them at that position, I would then remove the screws holding the actuator. Then extend the actuator to its limit. Mark, drill, seal, and mount it. Right now you know at its upper most position that you have no problem of bow down. With the new location, you can have more adjustment. <br /><br />I know my boat is way different, but my tabs only go down 1/2" below the plane of the bottom. Raised is about 3.5".<br /><br />Good Luck FN

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

I am with C Cat also. The only problem is to take them off means I really have to take them Off. I have known the tabs have been a issue. Sometimes (like you) the standard way of doing things does not apply to all. I found in a past post by the Tabman to pull a 2” spacer out and I would gain 1” more “lift” of the tab. The only problem is I pulled the spacer and put them all back together and now the cylinders are leaking tranny fluid real bad. It drips when the tabs are extended a bit but if I close them all the way the fluid pours. I am just getting ready to email the Tabman to see what they can do. The nice thing about it I am not worried at all. Bennett is the best company by far I have ever dealt with and I am sure I will have a solution before it is all done. <br />Thanks SS. It is nice to have a some validation to what I thought it was.<br />

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

But the oil makes pretty rainbow colors in the water of course it doesn't look good on the boats finish. Ole Tabman will have the answer for sure. Us 4 digit members are rare anymore. Gotta keep stickin around. Good luck as always!......SS

 

[sloopy]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

testing to see if I am a four digit...

 

[sloopy]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Nope, but my first username was (but I was kicked out )

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Originally posted by SS Mayfloat:<br /> But the oil makes pretty rainbow colors in the water of course it doesn't look good on the boats finish.

Or in the driveway. I had a couple rags but I was not ready for the flood. After dumping a trash bag of oil in the bilge and on to the driveway a couple weeks ago (all my fault, went to pull the bag out after a oil change and grabbed to wrong corner)and now this the wife is not going to happy. <br />

Ole Tabman will have the answer for sure.[/QB]

I am sure of that! Bennett is the best and IMHO will always be what most companies can only try to be.<br />

Us 4 digit members are rare anymore. Gotta keep stickin around. Good luck as always!......SS [/QB]

Ya us 4 digit guys are rare. And even though I have my personal website (below) and share running another marine website and forum I always have time for iboats. They are also the standard to live by and I hope our site meet their standards one day.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lots of tab questions (Tabman II )

Can you not disconnect the ram from the plate than tie them up out of the way?? I have a similar set up but my 270 has trim, without the plates the initial bow lift was horrendous and added a lot of time to the holeshot. Its a much better boat with them connected even if its a mile or 2 slower per hour. I haven’t gone through your whole site but have you blueprinted the hull? Could be a few mph for you there for little cost cept some elbow grease! You may also be trying to achieve the impossible, some hulls just run flat because that’s the way they are and the only way to get them in the air is to launch them off a wake. I know nothing about nova boats but yours looks like a solid, heavy design that was possibly built for running fast in heavy water, which means lots of hull in the water for stability and keeping it in contact with the water as much as possible. BTW what prop are you using, hi performance props to suit these legs are very rare in my part of the world.