Smart Tab question ...

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Tab update .. Tried it out with tabs set at highest setting . It still porpoises when I step the rear of the boat .
Nauticus is sending me the 60 lb actuators . If that don't work I will drop back and punt and start fiddling with the outboard I guess ..

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Tab update .. Tried it out with tabs set at highest setting . It still porpoises when I step the rear of the boat .
Nauticus is sending me the 60 lb actuators . If that don't work I will drop back and punt and start fiddling with the outboard I guess ..

Good luck man, your not the first one here to have to get different sized actuators. Hope it all works out for you. Did you raise the motor?

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Have not lifted the motor yet . Gunna wait and see how the 60's work first .

 

[Wheelybin]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Hi to all,
l am watching this thread with great interest, my motor was set up the same way as yours, after watching this link (below) l have over come some of my problems these are, chime walking, bow dos's not lift as high now, gets onto the plain quicker now.

l think that l will still need to fit trim tabs, l have a fiberglass cubby cabin boat that is 1.9 mtrs wide and 5 Mtrs long , so l am keen to see how you go with your smart trim tabs

you might like to have a look at this link, it has helped me to solve some of my problems, just an idear.

Propping correctly & how to test props.....

Regards
wheels.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Thanks for the link it was interesting Wheelybin !
Tried out the 60 's . Set up at mid setting and still getting porpoising although not near as bad when I step to the rear of the boat . As far as laying on it's side/listing while turning . Seems like it made it worse ! I guess with the shape of the hull I am gunna have to live with that . I guess it's lifting the rear and pushing the bow down making the V bow kinda dig in and list really bad . One thing That I noticed with the smart tabs that I don't like is with a 1 to 2 ft wind chop coming from the rear and on angle , I guess you would say following sea , She gets real funky and kinda waddles around .Very uncomfortable !Thinking back maybe I should have trimmed the motor up to lift the bow . Didn't think of it at the time .
Anyway I am gunna punt and start looking at shimming the motor to get more down trim . May take it out with the tabs off and dbl check while on plane how the vent plate runs in relation to the water . I think I can get close to 3/4" more angle with a shim of some sort . I need to start looking around and see what shims are available .
I promise I will get this worked out if it kills us uhmm I mean me !

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Thanks for the link it was interesting Wheelybin !
Tried out the 60 's . Set up at mid setting and still getting porpoising although not near as bad when I step to the rear of the boat . As far as laying on it's side/listing while turning . Seems like it made it worse ! I guess with the shape of the hull I am gunna have to live with that . I guess it's lifting the rear and pushing the bow down making the V bow kinda dig in and list really bad . One thing That I noticed with the smart tabs that I don't like is with a 1 to 2 ft wind chop coming from the rear and on angle , I guess you would say following sea , She gets real funky and kinda waddles around .Very uncomfortable !Thinking back maybe I should have trimmed the motor up to lift the bow . Didn't think of it at the time .
Anyway I am gunna punt and start looking at shimming the motor to get more down trim . May take it out with the tabs off and dbl check while on plane how the vent plate runs in relation to the water . I think I can get close to 3/4" more angle with a shim of some sort . I need to start looking around and see what shims are available .
I promise I will get this worked out if it kills us uhmm I mean me !

Your the first person I have heard that these didn't work for. If its porpoising less with the 60s mild setting, then try the other settings. Its possible your boat just needs the 60s maxed out. Your hull doesn't have a hook in it does it? I would call nauticus and see what they say as well. Think you need to get the motor to the right height regardless. Good luck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

maybe you need to go back to the lighter actuators and change your prop to one with less bow lift and more stern lift

are you running a prop with a lot of rake?

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Sphelps these spacers may work for you. Bob's Machine Shop Transom Spacers

More negative trim will definitely help. You also may be happier with helm controlled trim tabs.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

... As far as laying on it's side/listing while turning . Seems like it made it worse ! I guess with the shape of the hull I am gunna have to live with that . I guess it's lifting the rear and pushing the bow down making the V bow kinda dig in and list really bad . One thing That I noticed with the smart tabs that I don't like is with a 1 to 2 ft wind chop coming from the rear and on angle , I guess you would say following sea , She gets real funky and kinda waddles around .Very uncomfortable !Thinking back maybe I should have trimmed the motor up to lift the bow . Didn't think of it at the time .
Anyway I am gunna punt and start looking at shimming the motor to get more down trim . May take it out with the tabs off and dbl check while on plane how the vent plate runs in relation to the water . I think I can get close to 3/4" more angle with a shim of some sort . I need to start looking around and see what shims are available .
I promise I will get this worked out if it kills us uhmm I mean me !

Just to make sure we understand the turning issue...

Are you saying that in a hard turn the boat leans to the outside of the turn? The opposite of how an Aircraft turns?
That is, the gunnel to the outside of the turn is closer to the water than the gunnel on the inside of the turn?

This would indicate extreme bow down trim is already in effect.
The thrust of the turned prop and drive should produce Left Bank in a Left turn an the opposite in a Right turn.
Pontoons often lean the "Wrong Way" in hard turns.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

^^ Lean is to the inside of the turn ^^.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Your the first person I have heard that these didn't work for. If its porpoising less with the 60s mild setting, then try the other settings. Its possible your boat just needs the 60s maxed out. Your hull doesn't have a hook in it does it? I would call nauticus and see what they say as well. Think you need to get the motor to the right height regardless. Good luck.

I will check the height while on plane to make sure we are right . There is a very slight hook just in front of the transom on a couple of the strakes . Maybe 1/4" max laying a straight edge on it . I will get a shot of it and post it .

maybe you need to go back to the lighter actuators and change your prop to one with less bow lift and more stern lift

are you running a prop with a lot of rake?

Not sure of the rake . It has 15 pitch . Sorry I am not the most informed about this stuff . :facepalm:

Sphelps these spacers may work for you. Bob's Machine Shop Transom Spacers

More negative trim will definitely help. You also may be happier with helm controlled trim tabs.

I would need the wedges instead of the spacers . I have found them here locally but most are 5 deg . Which will be to thick at the top for me unless I can grind them down to around 3/4" to nothing . As far as the helm controlled tabs , They are just out of my price range at the moment .

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

.... When I take corners at higher speeds she likes to lay down on her side and really dig in to the turn. It turns on a dime but at times just feels a bit scary . :fear: So I am thinking that the inside tab when turning will dig in and help level out the hull . Anyone with similar problem that the S/T helped correct ? Here is the boat ..

Thanks ! SP...

^^ Lean is to the inside of the turn ^^.

I had to go back to the first post to re-read just what the complaint was.

It sound like you are just not used to normal handling characteristics.
When I lay into a hard turn the boat rolls up just like an aircraft or motorcycle taking a hard turn.
It may be 30-45 deg of bank but sometimes feels like 90!
That is what keeps you in the boat. It should NOT turn flat!

Ideally a plumb bob hung in the boat should stay pointing at the same spot on the floor.
In aviation this is called a coordinated turn. It looks like one heck of a bank but feels like nothing is happening if you close your eyes. That is why in a commercial arline, if you do not look out the window, you do not know you are turning.

The admiral here, loves doing high speed donuts with the boat leaning over so far you can touch the water if you reach over the gunnel. If I push it too hard the boat will actually spin out of the turn like cars used to be able to do in icy parking lots before front-wheel drive and stability control. You see jet skiers doing it all the time.

Learn to embrace the experience.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

I would imagine you would have to be going pretty fast for a plumb bob to stay in the same position while turning . I guess it's just the normal characteristics of my hull and like you said should embrace the experience . LOL ! I have driven other boats that just do not lean the way this one does . It just feels like it would flip on over sometimes but I guess it would spin out before that happens . I hope ! If I slow down some before the turn and then accelerate while in the turn it feels much more stable .

 

[superbenk]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

What's the beam on your boat? My last boat had only a 7' beam and would lean pretty easily too. New boat is 8-8.5' & makes a HUGE difference. What about the deadrise angle too?

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

The beam is 5'-4" and the length is 16.5' .. If I knew what deadrise angle was I would tell ya . Transom angle ? :noidea:

Here is some video of her running . Notice when I step to the back it will start to porpoise .

Had to cut the sound down cuzz my camera kinda s*cks ..

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Other than some mild porpoising , the handling looked normal to me.
Were you trimmed all the way Down/In when it started bouncing?

Your tightest turns did not appear to be too severe and the radio sitting on the dash did not slide to the side in the turns, indicating you were close to the ideal bank angle. Coordinated turns!

Deadrise is the angle of the hull at the transom.
No Deadrise is a flat bottom.
Lots of Deadrise is a Deep "V".

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Yeah, I agree, looked like it was running the way it should. Also with that small length of boat with that many people towards the rear, it definitely can cause issues without extra weight towards the front. The way she is sitting on plane, looks like you can bring the tabs to the strongest setting. You have plenty of bow. The leaning should not have gotten worse with the tabs on though. She should feel better in turns and also not cavitate with the tabs tuned in right Did the motor before tabs loose grip/cavitate in a turn? Take them off and make another video. If you have a hook in your hull, all bets are off.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

The last of the vid was with the 40's at middle setting . Same porpoising at full setting and at middle setting with the 60's .
I am guessing it feels worse on the turns because,if I can explain it better , with the boat flatter on the water with the stern lift of the tabs . The whole side of the boat seams really close to the water instead of mostly the rear half with the bow higher . If that makes sense . Take your hand and and mimic a banked turn with the bow up and with the bow down and maybe it will make sense .
Feel free to insert motor boat sounds if you wish .. :laugh:

 

[superbenk]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Some of that seems like the nature of a skinny boat (the steep lean in a turn). As for the porpoising after the tabs, all the weight in the boat was towards the back when it was doing it after putting on the tabs. Seemed like it was going pretty nicely when the weight was more evenly distributed. On a whole it looked pretty good to me.

 

[sphelps]

Re: Smart Tab question ...

Thanks everyone for all the help . I don't want it to look like I'm :deadhorse: LOL ! I have not had any cavitation on turns as of yet but have not really pushed it either .. I checked the transom angle and I have around a 7 to 7.5 deg angle . So with a 5 deg wedge that would put me 12 or so deg . That's a little over an inch of wedge at the top . Not sure if I can get that much with the steering arm . Would it be ok to grind the wedges down a bit ? Do you think I could make some out of wood or something ?

If I can move the upper arm to the middle setting on the motor that would help some but it may limit my turning some .
As far as the hull hook here is what I have . It would be kinda hard to fix that now but it could be done ..

So the things to do are :
Check the motor height while running .
Install some type of wedge for more down trim .
Then adjust tabs .
If I can get the porpoising to stop I will be happy . I can get used to the banked turns ..
Thanks everyone !