Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

[Regal LE]

Just ordered a set of Smart Tabs 1290-80 for my 2006 Regal 1900 4.3GXi 2800lbs ......anyone here install on a Regal FasTrac hull would love to see a pic of where you positioned the tabs ...... the hull does not have an even line so a little confusing where to install .I understand they mount 1/2" up from bottom but bottom not an even line .is that a problem <br />Thanks Bill

 

[cm5408]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Do you need tabs on your fasTrac hull? i know the design fairly well and its purpose of low speed planing.

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

My first inboard, had lots of big outboards The holeshot is a little lazy compared to what I'm used to ,your right it does plane pretty easy no real bow rise..... also pull alot of young kids so need to get planning speed lower .....do not need for handling its great ..... I will also try a lower pitch prop 4balde 20p factoy 21 alum 3 balde but don't want to go down too low in pitch and increase my cruise rpm ... if this not a good application then would luv to hear from someone .....not concerned about buying the tabs lots of boating friends with hulls that could really use them ......good info here on them

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Regfal LE; <br />If you can send us a picture of the transom area we will give you our best guess.<br /><br />Please do not change props until you get a chance to run the boat with Smart Tabs. You may very well be able to go up in pitch instead of down. Remember every time you go down in pitch you loose more fuel economy.<br /><br />Regardless of the hull design, trim tabs give you the option of changing (adjusting) the hull shape to match or better suite the conditions at the moment. A fixed hull (all boat hulls are fixed), good design or not, will be improved when you can adjust it to the conditions of weight, balance, speed, water, wind, and current.<br /><br />After seven years and thousand of installations, I have yet to hear of a boat that did not show significant improvement.<br /><br />Don't think that Smart Tabs only help the boat to get out of the hole quicker, that is understating the advantages of the effect on the over all performance improvements.

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

John ....Thanks for the reply ..... yes I won't change props til I install the tabs ...PowerTech with whom I'm discussing a prop told me the same thing ...... Ok will e-mail you a pic of the transom area .. Thank-you

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Installed my Smart Tabs 1290-80 on my 2006 Regal 1900, with placement advice from John here , Thanks install no problem ....hope to get in water this weekend for a test <br /><br />pics <br />

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Results on Smart Tab Install ...still using stock 21 alum prop ...... hole shot was not as good as expected almost zero bow rise but still not what I looking for .pbly need a 4 blade 20p prop but I need to adjust the tabs to full downforce and retry ..but handling in rough water at high speed was improved and my top speed went up 2mph ......so more fine tuning <br /><br />One thing that no here has mentioned after a Smart Tab install ......at skiing and tubing speeds alot of extra spray coming off the back of the boat for short line skiers can be a problem ........hoepfully playing with adjustment of tabs will reduce the spray

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Regal LE;<br /><br />I would not increase the presure (full down force) but decrease it. With regard to the acceleration: you should continue to accelerate with the trim in the full down position, then trim up as you get on plane. What is the max RPM and speed with the 21 alum prop? <br /><br />Reduce the presure and make sure the angle at rest is not more than 25 degrees. You may be able to pick up another 2 MPH, and a bit better hole shot. <br /><br />If you RPMs are closer to the low side of the range then I would opt for a lower pitch three blade. Just my opinion.<br /><br />Thanks for the report!

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Thanks for the reply John .....I do accellerate with trim in down position til on plane .....21P gives me 200rpm over redline .......but since addition of tabs if I'm trimmed up in a corner or have trim where it used to be for best top speed the prop ventilates ......I assume that tells me the tabs lifting the stern to free up the hull ,hence the more top speed .so a stainless prop may be in order so as not to ventilate when trimed ...4 blade 20P will give me the same rpm but more blade in water, PowerTech tells me these Regal hulls respond well to 4 blades .should have the prop in a week or two in meantime will play with tabs as you suggest <br /><br />Decrease !!! the downforce to improve holeshot ?? Ok I'll try that

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Search venting a prop, make notes of before and after, your only in the first step of the process. You need some tourqe to lift that beast.........aka rev's.<br /><br />*note's speed and wot before, speed and wot after. Venting that is........... <br /><br />Post your results and let the expert's take you from there. Umm dont forget rpm's, some pep's take a great deal of stock in that........... <br /><br />Edit: arn't those tabs mounted a bit high on the vee?

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Tail gunner .......thanks for the input ....yes one of the 2 props I'm going to try is ported ....tabs are mounted as per Nauticus and I would think we would want tabs as far away from prop as possible so as not to add turbulance to the prop when trying to grab the water ...

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Maybe I'm missing something here....you're currently 200 rpm over redline and you're thinking about going to less pitch? That's counter-intuitive to me. You'll be over-revving your motor even more than you already are.<br /><br />Or am I misunderstanding your situation? Actual numbers would be easier to understand if you want to post them. If you're ventillating, you need to correct that first and get a true rpm reading. You really have absolutely no idea what your rpms are if you're ventilating. Good luck!

 

[stevens]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Regal - you're getting some good advise here....<br /><br />It could be educational for you if you rig up NautiJohn's "string & rubber band" indicator to monitor the movement of the tabs. It could also be fun to have somebody else drive while you hang over the back and observe how the tabs move and why there is such a spray.<br /><br />Yes - you probably do not want to increase the tab pressure. Too high pressure could be causing the excessive spray you are experiencing now. When properly dialled in, the tabs will fold up and basically stay out of the way when you are at speed.<br /><br />You have also mounted the tabs so far out that the wash from the outer chines may be bouncing off the top of the tabs, thus causing the spray. Had the tabs been mounted a few inches further in, this may not have become an issue. By getting the tabs to fold all the way up at speed, this stream from the chines will pass under the tabs instead of on top of them.<br /><br />The pressure setting basically affects two things; the treshold speed at which the tabs fold up, and the stabilizing force at higher speeds. It doesn't affect holeshot much as the tabs are fully down at low speeds anyway.<br /><br />So, less pressure setting and maybe a better higher-pitched prop. I think I'd want to try a 22P four-blade Turbo or Stiletto if I were you.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

I think what he's hoping is that the 4-blade will hook up better and keep the revs close to the recommended WOT range. Should help hole shot too....

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Thanks for the feedsback it all helps..... I understand props and WOT rpm etcetc .....yes a 20p 4 blade will hook better and WOT rpm will be about same as alum 21P 3 blade as it takes more torque to turn a 4 blade than a 3 blade .I have tested the stock prop prior the Tabs so know where it WOT rpm's at and all down with only me in boat so when loaded I kinow it wont hit the rev limiter ( rev limiter on my boat set a 400rpm over printed redline for my motor 4800).only difference is now the prop ventilates when trim at same setting as pre tabs ....tabs lifting the stern I assume Stock prop 5000rpm 56mph stock prop with tabs 5100rpm 58 mph ECM rev limiter set at 5200rpm printed reline for the 4.3 GXi is 4800 I have no problem with going to 5200 when lightly loaded for short bursts ....loaded it won't get that high ..... I can make the stock prop ventilate with the tabs but i can also trim down or accerllate slower so as to eliminate ventilation .I know the rpm cabaliteis of the stock prop just pointing out the effecvt of the tabs ......ultimnately I wiil go to a good SS prop with the tabs for best performance so need to tune the tabs for holeshot and select the prop that can grab the water at high trim to get best speed .or the tabs will free the hull enough that alot of trim not needed either way I dont want a prop that ventilates even under too high trim<br /><br />The tabs were positioned with input from John at Nauticus but some good info here on the spray situation ..makes sense to me the Fastrac hull is a little different than most hulls so wanted guidence where to install may have been better to install closer in and away from those big chines but I sent John a pic of hull before install....I will make adjustments to the tabs before I try any other prop .with the tabs sounds like the boat needs less trim ....movig the tabs inboard is not a huge issue once youv'd drilled holes in a new hull a couple more is not a big deal to get the perf I want ...so any idea how far inboard I might try <br /><br />My boat has a huge swim platform so could never see tabs in action ....tell me more aboutthe rubber bqand indicator <br /><br />.so if undersatand correctly the tabs control holeshot by the initial angle 25* and the other handling issues / top speed by the actuator pressure spray issue is a problem between 25-32 mph so less actuator pressure should help

 

[stevens]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

No, I wouldn't bother to move the tabs, I think the reduced pressure will take care of the spray problem.<br /><br />Rubber band indicator: here's a copy of that page in the manual: Page 14 <br /><br />As for the prop, you may find that you'll need to experiment some before you stumble across the right one. Good luck!

 

[Regal LE]

Re: Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Thanks for that info on the indicator ..will do that .....I really was not going to move the tabs I agree some tuning of the tabs should correct most of the spray issue ..going to tale an angle guage with me to lake and check that both are 25* then move the actuators to the sofstest position and start from there <br /><br />Props I have experience with so don't expect a problem to sort out .......have a very good prop dealer i work with for PowerTech Props he will repitch add cup etcetc until we have it just right .tabs I have no experience with so appreciate the feedback here

 

[Regal LE]

Re: UPDATE Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Re: UPDATE Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Ok checked my Smart Tab install ......both were set at more than 25* I guess I was not fussy enough when using the cardboard template ......checked with angle gauge and readjuted to 25* also reset pressure to the softest position .......... NOW we have a decent holeshot ...just a slight bowrise and nice steady acceleration I evewn think starting with trim up slightly is a sgood or maybe even better .......top speed did not go up because my stock 21P 3 blade prop now blows out before the redline

Tried PowerTech 20P MQS 4 blade ....ski version with no cup ......again improved holeshot but the 20P blows out as well at high trim also WOT rpm 200 below the 21 3 blade alum

Powetech sending me 18P 4 blade SFS cupped and ported .....this is a very tough prop to turn so lower pitch will help and dont expect it will be much over redline since its cupped and will grip the water at high trim

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: UPDATE Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Re: UPDATE Smart tabs on Regal Fastrac hull

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead... my buddy just bought a 06' 1900 4.3L carb and it is a dog out of the water with the stock prop. The SX tabs helped my boat a bunch so I'm looking for an install picture with location as I noticed his hull has a distinct transition in the back.