Noob trying to understand relationship between motor trim and pulling to the side

[jim_s]

Re: Noob trying to understand relationship between motor trim and pulling to the side

Update - heard back from Nauticus (they were away at a trade conference) - they agree that the next-lighter actuators are mostly likely what is needed. They are putting a pair of 30 lb actuators in the mail today, and I should have them early next week. I'll, of course, be anxious to try them out ASAP (both out of interest in seeing how they do, as well as recognition that the season is quickly drawing to a close).

Working w/ Nauticus was simple - no fuss, no muss, no problems - they truly do want to do the right thing for users of their product. (BTW, they assured me that none of the benefits I'm seeing from the SmartTabs would be reduced - just the listing at WOT and the slight top-end speed decrease should be affected - they say the speed decrease should pretty much go away w/ the lighter actuators).

Will update again after I've had a chance to try out the lighter actuators.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Re: Noob trying to understand relationship between motor trim and pulling to the side

Hot Damn, make a guy want to just run out and buy a pair

 

[jim_s]

Re: Noob trying to understand relationship between motor trim and pulling to the side

Finally got a chance to get out w/ the 30# actuators today, and all is well - these are definitely the right ones for my little boat! The left list is essentially gone (I think there's just the slightest bit, but I also found that I can remove it altogether by trimming the engine now - too much down trim in the engine, and it pulls right and leans left at WOT. Once I trim it up farther, the pull and the lean go away. Prior to the 30# actuators though, I couldn't trim the WOT list out.)

The other nice thing is that I picked up my missing 1mph on the top end again - its now doing 44mph at WOT (w/ just me in the boat...) with the tabs engaged. (This is w/ the 4-bladed prop.) 0-30 actually fell to under 6 seconds w/ me solo. (It had been at or just above 6 seconds w/ the 40# actuators and just me in the boat.) It was a bit too cold to get in the water, so unfortunately, I wasn't able to try pulling anyone up on the ski, but I trust that the slightly-improved 0-30 time will translate to the same basic pull-out time on the ski, which I am very happy with.

I did notice that I was porpoising just the slightest bit at WOT and w/ the engine trimmed about as far up as it would efficiently run (any more up-trim, and speed started decreasing), but the porpoising was very, very minimal, and the increased top end and quicker 0-30 time is well worth something that can be resolved with (probably proper...) engine trim. Bow rise was still just about non-existent, though just the slightest bit noticeable w/ the 30# vs the 40#. Still effectively zero though (no problem seeing over bow or such), and lasts only for about a second or so.

I'll play with the actuator position on the tabs in the Spring - I suspect that I can get things dialed in further with a bit of playing with that position, but the sanity check has been completed, and the 30# actuators are most definitely the right answer for me. I am very satisfied w/ the tabs, and am especially happy that the 4-blade prop is working well with them. At the risk of sounding like a SmartTabs commercial, I will echo the common theme of those who have installed them - best $100 I've spent on the boat thus far.

Thanks for everyone's input and interest!

 

[Rick Stephens]

Re: Noob trying to understand relationship between motor trim and pulling to the side

Thanks! Great report. One more thing to toss money at.... after the chartplotter/fishfinder, of course.