Smart Tabs Question

[John_S]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

John,

Ill pop them off and take a picture. it actually does drop back down again making it tri hull in the back.

Do I have them to far out?

I think so, but want to see the picture of the hull with tabs lifted out of the way.

and do I need to make them 23 deg from the hul not the transom.

It doesn't look like the angle is far off. Lets see the new pics of the hull 1st.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

I also measured the Smart tabs angle. they are closer to 30 deg

 

[John_S]

Re: Smart Tabs Question



I would mount them along the main part of the v.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

THanks John after looking at the instructions again and taking your advice I think you are correct.
Big problem with that. I have to move the pitot tube...

thanks for the input.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

John is spot on. They need to be moved in to follow the angle of the hull. The pitot tube is no big deal to move 3 screws. Fill the holes with 5200. I don't know if your tabs came with a gasket, but mine did and I put 5200 in its place. I think you found your leaning problem as well, the tabs weren't mounted in the right place. Here are mine, there the stailnless ones, but same basic location installed.

THanks John after looking at the instructions again and taking your advice I think you are correct.
Big problem with that. I have to move the pitot tube...

thanks for the input.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Thanks I feel kind of DUMB now.

No gasket just silicone as recommended I still think I need to bring them "up" a little since my transom is suck a steep angle.

Would the "split" line of the top and bottom be the horizontal line I would want to use to line up to? With the transom at such an angle I think they are too far in the water.

Check out the attached. According to AI i am pretty close to 35? down not 25 like Nauticus says they should be.



EDIT I drew that wrong. 35? is from horizantal not vertical but you get the idea from the picture

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Don't feel dumb, everyone makes mistakes. Follow the directions to a tee and you will be good to go! There suppose to be in the water! In all seriousness, mine if I remember correctly were suppose to be about a have inch above the hull line. If you look at the pics above, you can see mine are almost even with the bottom plane of the hull. They have work perfectly from day one of testing. Like I said, follow the directions and you will be happy.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Didn't you get a degree angle piece of cardboard or something that came with the tabs. Been two years since I installed mine, but if memory is correct, I had a peice I held to the bottom of the hull and lined the tabs up with the angle on that piece that was provided, then set the actuators. The transom angle really has nothing to do with the angle of the tabs, the angle should be in relation to the hull bottom, 25 degrees down from the hull plane.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Nope the instructions just said let them hang that would put them at the correct angle. I assume they assumed that the transom was "square"

is it 25 deg from the HULL BOTTOM or 25 deg from centerline of the boat... I huess I should just give them a call, they are awesome to deal with

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Call them, but what your explaining is the tabs are pre set to only hinge downward 25 degrees when you have the mounting bracket on the back of transom That tells me that they are mounted correctly degree wise if thats how you mounted them. The transom angle really has nothing to do with imo. When your actuator expand or contract, the amount of travel is going to be the same no matter what your transom angle is. The 25 degree will be what they are angled at in relation to the bottom of the hull, not the back of transom. Thats why they tell you to just let them hang and then while hanging, install the actuators to the transom.

Your over thinking this, just move the tabs to the proper locations following the angle of the hull, let the trim tabs hang which is 25 degrees by what your saying, then just mount the actuator where ever it ends up being. Your tabs are obviously different from mine, if you let mine hang, they would hang straight down because they are built different than your with just a strap hinge, thats why mine came with a template to run along the underside of the hull. I had to use the template to align the trim tab at the proper angle while holding the template straight outward from the bottom of my hull. The template had the angle maked on it, so it was easy.

When you mount the actuator, take a square, and square up from the mounted tab, centered, so it is at 90 degrees or straight up from the same angle the tab is on.

I'm really excited for you, once you get these right, you will love them. Good luck.

 

[John_S]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Silicone is not "marine sealant". Use 5200. Coat the threads before tightning screws. Use it to seal the old holes, as well. Check the directions, but believe there is a 24 hour cure before splashing.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

ALlrighty. here they are reinstalled.

I am little worried about the starboard side. there was a good size hole where the speedo hose went through. its right above the tabs. i wish it had been lower then the tabs would cover the hole. it's so close I had trouble getting a screw in it to fill the hole up. I used marine sealant on it so I figure it should be sealed. but it sure looks like do do...

Also my trim motor came WOO HOO. can't to get that in. I have to go to the autoparts store and pick up a roll pin to go through the hole in the shaft the old one is rusted beyond use.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

oh yeah, does it mater where the pitot tube goes? can I put it all the way to the right side? between the 4 screws filling the old holes?

 

[John_S]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

oh yeah, does it mater where the pitot tube goes? can I put it all the way to the right side? between the 4 screws filling the old holes?

I would put it half way between tab and the outdrive. Up on the chine will give problematic readings. From the earlier picture it looked like it was mounted too low, but I don't have one. Find some install instructions online.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Thanks for the input on the pitot... I am going to have to get some tubing now to make it reach down there.

I am not to worried if it is totally accurate all the time. but it is nice to have.

what did you think about the smart tabs?? better install now? I have sooooo much to learn

 

[John_S]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

what did you think about the smart tabs?? better install now? I have sooooo much to learn

Yes, I think the installation is in the ideal spot for your boat. Please report back on the splash test.

 

[V153]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Agreed. Much better installation point. Looks better and will be way more functional. I'd stick the 'peetoe' bout halfway tween the drive & the tab on the stb side? Lil closer to the tab if you prefer.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

Yes, I think the installation is in the ideal spot for your boat. Please report back on the splash test.

Agreed. Much better installation point. Looks better and will be way more functional. I'd stick the 'peetoe' bout halfway tween the drive & the tab on the stb side? Lil closer to the tab if you prefer.

thanks guys thats why I come here... I learn a LOT here.. I am really enjoying it too.


Oh and LOL at Peetoe... I like that spelling better.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

The trim tabs look right now. If your going to eventually have a fish finder on the boat I would move the pitot 4 or 5 inches towards the outdrive so you have room for a future depth sounder transducer there also. Also you may check to see if you have some extra tubing inside the boat. The tube sometimes is not tight throughout the boat going to the speedometer. If you have to buy new hose, you can get it at bass pro pretty cheap.

Instead of drilling another hole in the transom, you could use the existing hole that the hose use to be in and just relocate the pitot, then run the hose outside the hull over to the new location for the pitot. Would probably need a stainless clamp screwed into the hull but the screw wouldn't be as deep as another hole drilled all the way through the boat transom. Mkae sure you use marine sealant on any screw you screw into the transom.

Let us know how the tabs work out now that you have them in the right position.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Smart Tabs Question

The trim tabs look right now. If your going to eventually have a fish finder on the boat I would move the pitot 4 or 5 inches towards the outdrive so you have room for a future depth sounder transducer there also. Also you may check to see if you have some extra tubing inside the boat. The tube sometimes is not tight throughout the boat going to the speedometer. If you have to buy new hose, you can get it at bass pro pretty cheap.


Instead of drilling another hole in the transom, you could use the existing hole that the hose use to be in and just relocate the pitot, then run the hose outside the hull over to the new location for the pitot. Would probably need a stainless clamp screwed into the hull but the screw wouldn't be as deep as another hole drilled all the way through the boat transom. Mkae sure you use marine sealant on any screw you screw into the transom.

Let us know how the tabs work out now that you have them in the right position.

Thanks Chris. I will.

I actually do have a fish finder that came with the boat. it was installed really crappy so I took it off while I fixed it up. I gusee I gotta get in there now for the speedo. might as well put both of them on..


As for holes in the transom.. there are a TON of them already.. I think I have them all sealed up pretty good now. This boat was not treated very well before I bought it..