Smart Tab Failure

[MyViewGS]

OK, first, Im not slamming smart tabs. Im planning on putting them on my boat as part of my project. I went fishing in the Gulf with my friend yesterday. He has a 20' Angler with 150 hp Mercury. He added the SX Smart Tabs (SX 9510-80) back in November and he absolutely loves them. Well, yesterday while headed out some 20 miles we notice the boat leaning toward port. Well, we shifted around and balanced the weigh and that helped. When we reached our destination we took a peek at the Smart Tabs ....... WHAT SMART TABS ? the starboard side broke off above the actuator and the tab was gone. All that was left was the mounting brackets. On the port side the tab was separated from the hinge mount and dangling from the actuator. Im sure this isn't common but I am curious .... why would this happen? And, since my boat is about the same as his, sould I consider some other option for my own boat? Again, Im not slamming Smart Tab but I was very disappointed with what I saw yesterday.

MyViewGS

 

[Lrider]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

IMHO - sounds odd that both would break at the same (QC guy) sounds like you might have hit something that took them out

Again IMHO - other then that I know nothing

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

First of all, please have you friend call us at 800-233-0194 tomorrow AM or at his convenience. Secondly, it is difficult to determine what failed without seeing the remaining parts. That said, we have made numerous improvements in desing, and materials over the past 3 years, and we will continue to do so in an effort to provide better products. We have not made changes to the SX series for more than a year, and have been satisfied with the results and durability. The product your friend purchased may or may not have been an the most current, however it is apparently under warranty and we will not only replace the parts needed, but with his cooperation we will do our best to determine the cause and resolve the issue for the long term. Again please ask him to call.

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

First of all, please have you friend call us at 800-233-0194 tomorrow AM or at his convenience. Secondly, it is difficult to determine what failed without seeing the remaining parts. That said, we have made numerous improvements in desing, and materials over the past 3 years, and we will continue to do so in an effort to provide better products. We have not made changes to the SX series for more than a year, and have been satisfied with the results and durability. The product your friend purchased may or may not have been an the most current, however it is apparently under warranty and we will not only replace the parts needed, but with his cooperation we will do our best to determine the cause and resolve the issue for the long term. Again please ask him to call.

Thanks for the rapid reply jdeagro. I will pass this on to my friend. Also, I'll try to get some pics of what is left and PM them to you. To add, the boat is less that a year new and he has nearly 600 miles recorded on the boat with about half of that since adding the Smart Tabs. Im certain that we didn't hit anything that would've damaged both tabs without having some impact on the foot of the motor. Like I said, I fully plan to add these Smart Tabs to my boat as well. I find that no product is 100% flawless. I'm more often pleased with great customer service and product support and I commend you for that. I hope you can understand my concern with what I saw yesterday. Thanks again.

MyViewGS

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

First of all, please have you friend call us at 800-233-0194 tomorrow AM or at his convenience. Secondly, it is difficult to determine what failed without seeing the remaining parts. That said, we have made numerous improvements in desing, and materials over the past 3 years, and we will continue to do so in an effort to provide better products. We have not made changes to the SX series for more than a year, and have been satisfied with the results and durability. The product your friend purchased may or may not have been an the most current, however it is apparently under warranty and we will not only replace the parts needed, but with his cooperation we will do our best to determine the cause and resolve the issue for the long term. Again please ask him to call.

My kinda customer service and product support. Kudos. You will get my business if I decide to get tabs.

 

[scca vette]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

I had never seen smart tabs until I read everybody talking about them on this forum. At one time I had considered putting trim tabs on the boat I am working on however I had decided to give these smart tabs a try. Like it was mentioned above, nothing is 100% perfect in life however from what I see here they back up what they sell and that is just more reason to give these a try.

I will be ordering a set in a few weeks when I get to working on the back of the boat.

 

[MRS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

I to will be mounting smart tabs but they will be ss tabs. I just rather have metal than plastic or composite any day. I know that both will work but give me metal any day.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

The SS Smart Tabs are worth the extra money in my opinion.

I kinda wonder if the way they both came off if the bolts on the hinge mount may have worked loose.
I know my SS tabs had nylon lock nuts but i still used a drop of Loc-tite blue on them..
Just a thought...

 

[brown_one]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

these were the greatest thing i added to my boat. just talked my neighbor into getting a set last week.

 

[JES233]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

Now thats service!

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

The SS Smart Tabs are worth the extra money in my opinion.

I kinda wonder if the way they both came off if the bolts on the hinge mount may have worked loose.
I know my SS tabs had nylon lock nuts but i still used a drop of Loc-tite blue on them..
Just a thought...

Both tabs separated at the hinge. All of the mounts remained attached to the transom. The missing tab had broken off at the top of the actuator leaving just the mount. The other tab was still connected to the its actuator but dangling around and taking a beating from the water. We removed it at sea. It could be that the missing tab was broken off because it was taking a beating as well, but it was already gone by the time we realized there was an issue.

Also, jdeagro, I contacted my friend late yesterday and advised a s you suggested. He was very pleased and will be contacting Nauticus this morning. Thanks again for your timely response and service.

MyViewGS

 

[bhammer]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

Last season, I too had a failure. I lost one complete tab and the other was just flopping around. Jdeagro was great in getting me fixed back up. In the end, I removed the plastic attachment hardware and replaced with bolts and nuts. I double nutted the bolts for the hinge.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

Since there are so many posts to this thread we will report the findings as soon as we see the pictures/Parts. Good or Bad.

 

[milmat1]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

I wouldn't judge the Tabs simply by the Failure. If they had a structural failure then there was likely some abnormal stress on them. I would send the remaining parts and/or any pics, Info about where when they broke etc. to Smart Tabs and let them figure out what happened.
I'm betting that something hit them Or some unusual problem with the mounting, Setup, Adjustment etc caused them to be stressed the wrong way......Just An Outside Opinion !

Remember My Opinions cost nothing, And there worth every bit of it.....LOL

The Above post by JDEAGRO shows the customer service you can expect !!...KUDO'S To Them !!!

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

I got a call from Mike (friend/boat owner) about 30 minutes ago. He said that he called Nauticus this morning and received outstanding customer service. I didnt get all the details but he was very pleased. He was advised that many changes in design have been made within the past year (as jdeagro already mentioned). Im pretty sure he bought them locally from a vendor (they were NO help at all) so they may have been on the shelf for a bit. (Yeah, I turned him on to iboats. Im sure he'll be joining soon).

Kudos yet again to Nauticus for their excellent customer service and product support. I will be buying my smart tabs soon !

jdeagro, my personal thanks to you for your attention to this matter. I will do my best to get photos of what is left before he removes anything. Im sure he already has some. Thanks again,

MyViewGS

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

Ok, here is what I have for now. They are phone pics so not the best quality.

This is the starboard side after install.

This the starboard side as of Saturday:

And here is closer look at the top mount that connects to the Actuator/transom:

Again, sorry for the quality. I honestly dont know much about them so I dont know what to look for as far as signs of damage. From what I understand, much of the hardware is now brass in place of some of the molded composite material. I dont have a pic of the port side.

MyViewGS

 

[Lrider]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

The Close-up pictures are lovely - but when you are trying to show what is happening you really need to step back a bit and take a picture of everything to help show the proportions IMHO

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

The system is one of the first generation manufactured about three years ago. Our customer service department has sent the latest version to you. Stay in touch.

 

[MyViewGS]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

The Close-up pictures are lovely - but when you are trying to show what is happening you really need to step back a bit and take a picture of everything to help show the proportions IMHO

Yeah, I know. Like I said, sorry for the quality. They were sent to me in a text and then to my email and then resized and then to photobucket and then to here ..... I did my best.

The system is one of the first generation manufactured about three years ago. Our customer service department has sent the latest version to you. Stay in touch.

Yeah, that's what I was affraid of was the time on the shelf waiting to be sold. Trust me he is extremely happy with the service received from Nauticus. Without doubt, you've sold me on customer service alone and I'll be buying mine soon. Hey, maybe we can post pics of the changes when they get done.

MyViewGS

 

[overture]

Re: Smart Tab Failure

any ideas... which do you think failed first the top or lower mount