LubeDude
Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 6,945
Spent the best part of the day on two different lakes testing and adjusting my new set of Smart Tabs. The boat in question is a 1987 (Glass) 1800 SF 18' Bass Tracker with a Merc 150 and a High 5 23 pitch prop. Soon to be changed to a 25 Pitch four blade. I have a 27 to try if I need it. The reason is obvious by looking at the RPM #s You do not see tabs of any sort on Bass Boats much if at all, and I wasnt sure I wanted them on my boat as I thought it handled fine as it was.<br /><br />I installed them several days ago and wired them up out of the way so I could get some #s before deploying them. I modified the Mobster tabs that were sent to me even though John said he would send me angled onesas my transom is angled forward as are some Bass Boats. I wanted to have them the exact angle of my transom not to mention waiting for the others to get here. I think this modification is some of the reason I had to make such drastic changes. Speeds below are GPS.<br /><br />Without With<br /><br /> 58 MPH @ 6,200 59 MPH @ 6,300<br /><br />Slow plane <br />25+MPH 15 MPH<br /><br />Time to plane<br />5 sec. 2-3 sec.<br /><br />This is the final results after adjusting them to the highest angle setting and the easiest preasure.<br /><br />When I first tried the boat with the tabs in the beginning settings, I thought I had made a big mistake putting them on. The boat was horrible, and the trim was usless, the nose was in the water so bad, it was awfull. The prop blew out every time I gave it even the least bit of throtle. I imeadiatly put it back on the trailer and adjusted the tension to the softest position and then launched again. This time it was much better, but was still too much lift while running WOT, Prop blew out way befor 50 MPH. I then decided to go to another nearby lake and before I launched I adjusted the angle up as far as it would go, Im probably at about 20 degrees now. Now the boat is a new boat. It is very stable, dosnt lean into the turns nearly as hard. I do not know why it would make any difference with the steering torque, but you can let go of the wheel at about any speed and the boat goes straight. My wife was with me, and the boat stays flat, I even went out by myself for a bit and it still stayed flat. I wasnt able to use the trim at low speeds before as it would porpose badly if you did at all, but now you can adjust the attitude of the boat while going 15 MPH on up, no porposing.<br /><br />Im sold, and thanks John for taking the time with me and explaining your product, and a great one it is. 
