Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

[RAT Attack]

New guy here to the forum, but thought I would say hello & ask a question. I have an '88 Glassport Sport Cuddy, 19' with 5.0 mercruiser that I just purchased Novemeber 1st. I have read a bunch of positive reviews about the Smart Tabs Sx and feel like that will be my first performance related purchase. My main issue is the front end standing straight up, boat taking a long time to plane, so this seems like a pretty good $100&(something) to spend for enjoyment. I was also considering a hydrofoil or whale-fin, but not sure if that is just a waste of $$$ if I am going to get the tabs. My main sport/recreational use for the boat is wakeboarding/skiing/tubing. I also heard that the tabs make the wake a little washy so I will probably wakboard with them in the up position, but use them for my friends that are still trying to get up on the board. I figured the quicker it gets to speed will help them out some for the lack of not having a 350ci motor or bigger. Any advice &/or opinions are greatly appreciated...
Happy New Year to All,
Rodger

 

[ddrieck]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

RAT Attack,
First...Welcome aboard!!

You will find a wealth of information from the members on this board.

Second, I have heard more bad things about hydrofoils then good. I would personally go with the smart tabs.

a few things to consider about taking a long time to get up on plane.

- Soggy wet heavy foam under the deck
- Number of passengers and gear weight
- Placement of these passengers and gear.

The more weight you have at the stern the longer if is going to take to get on plane. I'm sure there will be many resonances to your question.

 

[RAT Attack]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

Thanks ddrieck for the advice. For the last several years I have borrowed my brother's '94 / 18' Rinker Bow-Rider with a 3.0 Mercruiser. I never had that problem at all with his, mainly because I had people always sitting in the bow area. With my cuddy, I can't exactly do that and all the weight is in the rear. It is all going to take a lot of getting used to with the cuddy vs. the open-bow. Even going to the dock is a challenge compaired to an open-bow. It is winterized now, but just geting my ducks in a line in EAGER anticipation for spring. This is the first boat that I have actually owned.
Thanks again for the advice!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

Smart Tabs....hands down! The foils can cause handling issues on some boats and can be dangerous at higher speeds..

I have used both and the Smart Tabs were the perfect choice..

 

[df909]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

I'd go with the tabs and maybe a new prop- depending what you have now. I have a 20' Byaliner with the 4.3L Alpha 1. I wanted better hole shot and quicker plane, so I started with a hydrofoil. I used the hydrofoil and took it off as soon as I got home from the lake. I didn't notice much difference in planing and hole shot, but it sure handled much worse. I'd be going straight and the boat would all of a sudden list to one side, the boat would occasionally bank way too far in a turn, and if I didn't have the trim set perfectly the bow would be too low.

I ended up returning the foil and buying a new prop. I had a 3-blade aluminum 21p - so I went to a 4-blade aluminum 19p I bought here on ibaots. I noticed a difference in hole shot, faster planing, my RPM's are where they should be, and I even gained a few MPH's on the top end.

So, I'd look at the tabs and possibley a new prop- depending what you have now. Do you know what your RPM's are at WOT (wide open throttle)? What type of prop do you have now?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

use the right tool for the job. you need to pick up the stern of the boat, smart tabs picks it up in the proper place, bottom of the transon. Foil, picks it up by the outdrive, which puts much stress of the drive, and drive and engine mount.

 

[df909]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

Good point about where you're placing the stress. There was a handy dandy link about the smart tabs and how to install them floating around the forum somewhere. Anyone know where that link is? I couldn't find it when I looked.

 

[RAT Attack]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

Excellent input guys. THANKS. I am not sure what prop is on it currently, but was planning on getting a new one because it is in prety rough shape. I don't have my boat @ my house right now, so I am not sure about the specifics of it, other that it being a 3 blade, and also not sure about my WOT rpm's. I have been reading some threads under the prop section here that has helped to try and educate me a little on the subject. Once I get all the information I need, I will be starting a thread there to try and get help with that. I have not been able to find much information about my boat anywhere. This seems like a pretty awesome forum. I am heavily involved in my M109r ( motorcycle ) forum, but this boating forum is my first...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Smart Tabs & Hydrofoil???

Welcome RAT!

Man...the M109....what a beast of a bike...SWEET!

Here is the Smart Tab thread...
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=313041&highlight=Smart+Tab+Installation