Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

[XoDiViAoX]

Hi,

I've got a 15' Polar Kraft Bass America, with a 50HP Johnson. I've tried lowering the engine all the way down, to up as far as it will go, and it porpoises anyway I try it. There is no storage in the front to put any sandbags or anything, but it does this with the trim all the way down with only 2 average size people (one being the driver). I can't use the trim at all, or it gets worse. I was wondering if someone that is pretty experienced with this kind of thing could tell me if smart tabs would correct this problem? I know they're only a little over $100, but I don't want to spend anymore money trying to fix the problem unless I know if it will work more than likely. I've never rode in a fiberglass boat before, I've only owned jetskis in the past, so I don't know if this is a common problem with this aluminum type hull on these particular models, and nothing will correct it.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

Can't say for certain if tabs will correct your porpoising problem. It is typically experienced in a hull that is stern heavy.

I had a 14ft Boston Whaler type hull with a 40hp Merc on it. Boat was fast but had a terrible porpoising problem similar to yours. I put a set of "smart tabs" on the boat and the difference was amazing. No more porpoising, faster hole shot, much more stable in tight turns and I could cruise on plane at a lower RPM. Amazing improvement I would not have believed.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

Unless you have some major problem with the hull it should do the trick.

 

[XoDiViAoX]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

I'm going to buy a set and give it a shot. Should I get the "smart tabs" for my particular boat length and motor size even though they don't list a bass boat only a fish and ski being the closest kind of boat, or should I get a different set of them like the "mobster smart tabs for bass boats" even though my length and horsepower size isn't listed in that category?

I think the transducer to the fishfinder and the thing that goes to the speedo are in the way where I will mount them, what's a good way to plug those holes so they wont leak?

 

[ingalp01]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

Check out the Mobster tabs, they are from the smarttabs company and specifically made for bass boats.

http://www.nauticusinc.com/mobster_tabs.htm

Hope that helps...

I have decided to go with the Smart Tabs II for my 25 foot Cabin Cruiser. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Cheers...

 

[ingalp01]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

Sorry, I just read the OP...

With a 15ft. boat, sure, just buy the regular smart tabs for your length / weight boat, or you could try the Smart Tabs SX.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

I'm going to buy a set and give it a shot. Should I get the "smart tabs" for my particular boat length and motor size even though they don't list a bass boat only a fish and ski being the closest kind of boat, or should I get a different set of them like the "mobster smart tabs for bass boats" even though my length and horsepower size isn't listed in that category?

I think the transducer to the fishfinder and the thing that goes to the speedo are in the way where I will mount them, what's a good way to plug those holes so they wont leak?

After you mount them up and test it, tell us the results.......

 

[GrindKore]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

My first boat was 16' EBKO SkiMaster with 90 HP outboard, it too had a nasty habit of porposing and very high bow when riding at slower plaining speed. Instead of tabs, I mounded the hydro fin on the cavitation plate, it completely solved the porpoising problems and improved the hole shot. Also I could slow down to 12 MPH before coming off the plain. The only negative aspect it reduced the top end speed and caused boat to roll more than usual in turns.

 

[XoDiViAoX]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

I went with the stainless steel model. Got them installed and took it out today. No more porpoising, even at wot. Top speed is same. Might try lowering the resistance on them to see if I get a mph increase. Felt real good, I like them. If they hold up, and I get no leaks or problems out of them since I installed them on an aluminum transom, I will be well satasfied if they last a few seasons.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

That is good news! They fixed that problem on my old Star Craft too.
It was nice not to bounce across the lake...

 

[Arabian]

Re: Porpoising - Will smart tabs fix it?

Just to throw in my 2 cents on how these perform, I have a 75 Century Arabian Vdrive with a 440. We bought it about 10 years ago. It was unusable do to porposing. With the 440 all the way in the back, the boat has some serious balance issues. It also didnt handle well at all at higher speeds, it would take forever to get it to turn around. I installed smart tabs on it around 10 years ago. They completely clears up the porposing problem, and it now handles like an I/O at planing speeds, like its on rails. It will also plane at about 1800 RPM. (Granted, a 440 only turns about 4000 or so that's a little less than 1/2 throttle.) I haven't touched the smart tabs since I put them on 10 years ago. Awesome product.