smart tabs affect on top speed?

[90sunbird]

hi, i was wondering what affect smart tabs had on peoples boats. i installed them on my old boat and noticed loss of speed due to extra drag but it did help me stay on plane slower and prevent pourpsing, a 1-2 mph drop was seen on top speed i check all by gps and in calm conditions. with my new boat i have no ballance issue or pourpsing at any trim hight but i would like to stay on plane slower i was gonna buy them again or just suck it up and get real tabs, what do you think?

 

[RL Gman]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

You will always lose top end speed with smart tabs, since they use the force from the water to raise up. In some instances, I'm sure the drop in speed isnt very noticeable. I figure you were more than willing on losing 1 to 2 mph on top end to mitigate those issues you mentioned.

I still believe in helm controlled tabs. This way, you can raise them out of the water and not lose that top end speed. Plus, it just gives you more overall control of the boat.

If you can afford, I vote helm control tabs.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

If that's your boat in the picture definitely helm controlled tabs. Smart tabs work well on smaller boats, but yours looks in need of "proper" tabs. No loss of speed either.

 

[Enigma]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

If that's your boat in the picture definitely helm controlled tabs. Smart tabs work well on smaller boats, but yours looks in need of "proper" tabs. No loss of speed either.

I would agree with these comments. However if your boat is smaller I have seen a 2mph increase in top end with smart tabs in addition to all the other well documented benefits I have a 19ft Maxum. I think the increase in top speed is due to the boat riding on the tabs with more of the hull out of the water and no porpoising with the trim all the way up.

 

[RL Gman]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I would agree with these comments. However if your boat is smaller I have seen a 2mph increase in top end with smart tabs in addition to all the other well documented benefits I have a 19ft Maxum. I think the increase in top speed is due to the boat riding on the tabs with more of the hull out of the water and no porpoising with the trim all the way up.

Touche, and good point! +1

 

[90sunbird]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

very good, you convinced me to go with real tabs

 

[pjrogers]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

Well, we have a Sea Ray 230 BR w/ a Merc 6.2L. It weighs around 5,000 lbs. A set of Smart Tabs on it did a it a world of good. The top speed was unaffected, but bow rise on acceleration was basically eliminated and the boat rides much more smoothly in rough water. It has a B3 leg, so slow speed steering was pretty good to begin with, so the Smart Tabs did not add much there. My son liked the fact that with the Tabs the boat can stay on a plane at relatively low speeds - good for wakeboarding, apparently.

My favorite thing about Smart Tabs is that you don't have to fiddle with them. So long as the gas shocks are the right weight for your hull and power, they are truly automatic.

 

[bigd652]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I just installed on my boat today and but her in the water. Not sure why it took me so long to get these things. 2mph increase on top end no bow rise and no slow speed wander. Love them so far. 1987 four winns 190 horizon 4.3 merc.

 

[bhammer]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

It sounds like you don't have your tabs adjusted properlly. When I first installed them, I lost 3MPH GPS average runs. After I got them adjusted, I gained 2.5MPH GPS average runs. Mine are set at the second hole from closest from transom.

 

[45Auto]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

LMAO!!

Don't you just love these totally unverifiable forum claims??

After I got them adjusted, I gained 2.5mpg average runs.

Doesn't matter if you have Smart tabs, Genius tabs, Stupid tabs, or no tabs, there ain't NO WAY you increased your fuel economy by 60% or 70%. In reality, your boat gets around 4 MPG or so if you're lucky. Exactly what kind of flow meter and testing procedure did you use to come up with this revelation in hydrodynamic performance?

In the real world (not the internet keyboard world, where you can claim anything you want) a 10% difference in economy at speed would be significant. 10% of the 4 MPG or so that you get with your boat is less than .5 MPG. In the future, you may want to do a little research before making your bogus claims.

Here's the Trailerboat test on a 5.0L 19' Maxum with and without Smart tabs. It's from the link on the Smart tabs website under "Testimonials":

http://www.nauticusinc.com/pdf/TrailerBoats.pdf

Note the MPG data in the table to the right, with and without Smart tabs .....

If you don't want to try to analyze the data yourself, here's their conclusion from the second page of the article:

Forum readers may feel free to decide who you want to believe!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I think that was a typo- mpg for mph g and h are right next to each other and I think gph meant gps.

So he meant he lost 3 mph then he adjusted them and gained 2.5 over his original top speed on his GPS.

 

[QC]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I agree with NSB . . . I did a double take too.

I am a helm adjustable guy, but Smart Tabs can increase top speed as noted by allowing higher trim levels than before. Remember to adjust weight placement after tab install of any type. Boats like most of us run (45 - 55 MPH) are usually fastest right at the point they begin to porpoise, so you want the tabs to have enough pressure to lift well at low speeds, but low enough that they have very little affect at top speed except controlling the porpoise.

 

[45Auto]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

Sorry, my bad if he meant 2.5 MPH GPS. I can live with that.

The initial "lost 3 MPG GPH" combined with "gained 2.5 MPG" looked to me like he was using a flow meter to determine fuel economy.

Unfortunately, my mind reading abilities were not working this morning, I replied to what he wrote!

 

[virii01]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I plan to get the boat out this weekend with the smart tabs on for the first time. Unfortunately, I changed props as well so I won't be able to get an accurate take on if/how much the tabs affected the top speed and how much was the prop.

 

[bhammer]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

As I pull the daggers out of my boddy.... Yes, I menat Miles Per Hour on the GPS. I have edited to fix that. Sorry for the spelling mistake.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I think I may have lost a 1-2mph after my smarttabs, but i was so happy with the boat and how it handled that i really didnt care. Only had it out a few times after i installed them last year.

 

[bhammer]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

Sorry, my bad if he meant 2.5 MPH GPS. I can live with that.

The initial "lost 3 MPG GPH" combined with "gained 2.5 MPG" looked to me like he was using a flow meter to determine fuel economy.

Unfortunately, my mind reading abilities were not working this morning, I replied to what he wrote!

Ohh, come on, that is no excuse. You should always know what I am meaning to say. I don't want a fuel flow meter on the boat. Then it always reminds just how much it sucks down the fuel. Right now it's only when I show up at the gas pump to fill the 50 or so gallon tank...

 

[bhammer]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

I plan to get the boat out this weekend with the smart tabs on for the first time. Unfortunately, I changed props as well so I won't be able to get an accurate take on if/how much the tabs affected the top speed and how much was the prop.

If you have a GPS, you can still make average runs trying the different hole settings to see which ones give you the handling and speed that is best for you.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

We lost about 1mph or so top end. BUt that is a welcome trade off to gain no porpoising no bow rise and very little slow speed wander.

All in all we love the tabs!!

To the OP though I think that a set of adjustable tabs would work better for a boat of that size. Just my .02

 

[virii01]

Re: smart tabs affect on top speed?

Per the smart tabs instructions, you can change the actuator position lower if you notice a decrease in speed after the install.

Pressure Adjustment:
Top Speed: Trim motor to vertical until top speed is 2 to 3 mph more than without Smart Tabs SX. If speed is less, adjust for less pressure (holes 1 or 2)

Porpoising: If the boat porpoises with vertical trim, increase pressure (holes 4 or 5)

Listing: Permanent lists can be corrected by increasing the pressure on the list side and reducing the pressure on the opposite side. Make sure that the cause of the list is known (i.e.: Weight balance or prop torque)