Smart Tabs effecting wake ?

[semo549]

I Have a 77' Sea Ray 187 bowrider. I just ordered the smart tab sx with the 60lbs actuators. My question is for the people that have experience with the tabs. How do they effect your wake? And what kind of hull design was it on? The reason asking is that I do alot of wakeboarding and I've heard complaints of the wake being soft and washy with the tabs. This maybe true however it sounds more like "here say" rather than actual testimony. One more question; if it does effect the wake negatively would it be beneficial to mount the tabs further inward from the outside edge? Inward meaning like 5" from the outside vs. 2" from the outside. Thanks!

Jim

 

[madurodave]

Re: Smart Tabs effecting wake ?

does make the wake smaller on my 21' deep V. i use the 80lb and jus tlove how they handle. we do some wakeboarding and have noticed the difference but my plane time and chine was more important.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Smart Tabs effecting wake ?

It is fairly easy to rig up a cable with an S hook at the end. When you wakeboard, just make sure to hook the tabs in a full 'up' position, out of the water. (IIRC smarttabs makes a lever thingy that does the same thing)

They force the bow down and lift the stern, which is pretty much exactly what you don't want for wakeboarding. I've compared the wake on my boat with them up vs normal position, and mushy/shallow is a pretty good description for the wake with them down.

 

[semo549]

Re: Smart Tabs effecting wake ?

Thanks for the feedback. I saw a video on youtube where a guy had an S hook with a cable that allowed him to run the tabs in the up position. It looked like it works pretty good, I'll have to try it in about 4 months when it gets warmer than 5 degrees!