smart tab ?'s

[vipzach]

I am getting to ready some smart tabs from iboats, probly the blems. I don't care if they have minor scratches! I think my boat would need the 1290-60's?? Please correct me if that is wrong. My biggest question is where should I mount them. The thing I am worried about the most is the bunk on my trailer. Tell me what you think guys and anything else I need to watch out for.

 

[LFK]

Re: smart tab ?'s

Can you move your bunks forward the next time you boat is in the water? That's what I did to solve the same problem. Otherwise, you may be able to mount them closer to the center and avoid the bunks all together?

 

[QC]

Re: smart tab ?'s

vipdude,

I would not go inboard . . . It looks like you just might have enough room to mount them outboard of the bunk that is furthest out. IMHO the issue will be the height of the ram interfering with your molded swimstep. Take a look at some pics I posted of a similar step issue with a friend's Chaparral (in the Chap section v). I should have been more aggressive and mounted them just to the point where the top mount begins to hit the radius from the transom to the step. If you go as far outboard as possible, I think you may clear that bunk.

 

[vipzach]

Re: smart tab ?'s

I don't want to move the bunks forward, that is hard on the hull! It looks like the ideal spot would be right where the bunks are?? I thought you weren't supposed to place the tabs to far outward?? How long are the rams that come with the smart tabs? Would it hurt the tabs if they are pushed up by the bunks when I pul onto the trailer?

My boat will porpoise some when running across the water and I have a hard time staying on plane when trying to go slow enough to wakeboard. I have a SS vented rapture 17p prop and have a great hole, but want to elimate the porpoise and be able to stay on plane at around 15 mph. I might switch to a 19p prop after I get the smart tabs.

 

[crunch]

Re: smart tab ?'s

The problem I see with Smart Tabs is...

They aren't ajustable (I hope the rep for them comes back on this)

The farther out from center they are installed, the more authority they have... this is good if they were adjustable like your screen door closer is :devil:

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: smart tab ?'s

vipzach;

If you could call me I can give you some tips that may be a bit difficult to explain here but i will try. (800-233-0194)
First, the distance up from the bottom of the boat to the top of the transom mounting bracket will be about 10.5"

If this is too much you can reduce the distance by changing the mounting on the plate. Move the mounting bracket on the plate toward the trailing edge of the plate by one hole. The plate bracket has two holes from mounting to the plate (and two matching holes in the plate). Moving the bracket back (away from the boat) by aligning the front hole of the bracket with the trear hole on the plate will drop the transom bracket down about 2.5". Obviously you will need to drill one more 1/4" hole in the plate. Do this on both sides.

Regarding the bunks: I can not see how much the bunks extend beyond the transom, but if it is only a few inches, you may be able to move the winch stand back a few inches when the boat is off the trailer. Or, you can peel the carpeting back on the bunks and cut the excess off, then put the carpetiong back.

Call me!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: smart tab ?'s

customebycrunch;

I think you misunderstand the Smart Tabs. They are adjsutable - two ways. One they continuosly adjsut themselves to the conditions (speed, weight, water, balance) and two, they can be tuned to the particular need of the boat. However, once you have "dialed in" the best setting, your done.

They are not adjustable from the helm, as they are automatic.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: smart tab ?'s

I believe Nauticus has a kit you can add to the tabs to pull them up for beaching and trailering. I don't have that problem but it would not be difficult to fabricate a simple cord and hook arrangement to pull them up when needed.

 

[vipzach]

Re: smart tab ?'s

I went ahead and ordered them. I talked to John at Nauticus, he was extremely helpful and more than willing to answer all of my questions. I am anxious to get them on the boat and see how it goes. I will post picturesafter they are on the boat and how well they do.

Thank you also to MJ, the very nice young lady here at iboats that I talked to when I placed my order.

 

[crunch]

Re: smart tab ?'s

customebycrunch;

I think you misunderstand the Smart Tabs. They are adjsutable - two ways. One they continuosly adjsut themselves to the conditions (speed, weight, water, balance) and two, they can be tuned to the particular need of the boat. However, once you have "dialed in" the best setting, your done.

They are not adjustable from the helm, as they are automatic.

Ahhhhhhhh... that was what I had in mind with the screen door analogy. I looked at the little bit of info on the sales page and my first thought was, they are sold by size of boat.

But if I put them on two identical boats, but because of (pick your reason) one boat was installed with them 2 ft. apart, and the other was installed 6 ft. apart, the tabs on boat #2 would have 3 times the authority as boat #1.

Back to the screen door, I can adjust the air cylinder to slam it shut, or to stop it, then ease it shut, no matter what the weight of the door. Are the Smart Tabs that adjustable?... or would I buy a larger/smaller size for my boat?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: smart tab ?'s

They have a significant adjustment range, but if that is not enough, we can always change the actuators which come in 20,30,40,60, & 80 Lb. pressure.

Therefore the adjsutment is nearly unlimited.

When first choosing the correct modle for the boat you choose the boat size which dictates the plate size, and then the motor HP which relates to the actuator pressure.

You never want to over or under size the system.