Smart Tabs Report

[SoulWinner]

Greetings,<br /><br />Several weeks ago I posted that after reading tons of posts on the topic of tabs and A/C plate fins and speaking to the guy that sold me my boat I decided to go with Smart Tabs. I called the number on thier web site and spoke to John, the owner of the company. After describing my boat (which is a skiff, and does not exactly match any of the applications on the web site) John suggested the ST1290-60 set up. He then said they had a special running that would save me $50 I ordered the tabs and installed them to find that the boat planed quickly, but plowed the bow into the water. I called the company and John helped me properly adjust the struts, the problem was deminished, but perssisted. He then sent me a set of 40# struts. Now the boat handles like a dream. It used to really struggle to get on plane (17' Sundance Skiff w/ 50HP O/B) and didn't handle rough chop well at all (typical for this kind of boat). Now it pops right up on plane, planes at lower speeds, turns better and handles rough chop way better than it did before. Also, at WOT I can trim the motor out a little and I picked up a couple hundred RPMs.<br /><br />Overall I am a very happy and satisfied customer and strongly recomend Smart Tabs. My boat dealer said that from experience, the A/C plate attatchments work for these boats, but reduce top end speed. With only 50 ponies this boat slow enough already, and the Smart Tabs gave me everything I hoped for. I was very meticulous during the installation which took about an hour, they look great <br /><br />Hope this helps anyone who is considering a modification to aid in planeing.<br />BTW, As an added bonus, I had to move my transducer to install the tabs, and now my bottom machine works at higher speeds than it did before

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

SW - Did you try a hydrofoil before you went for the tabs?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Soulwinner;<br /><br />I very happy we got you outfitted correctly. It probably feels like you added another 25 HP to the motor. It's all about balance. <br /><br />Happy Boating & God Bless<br /><br />John

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Ralph, No I didn't. I did talk to the dealer that sold me the boat and several of his customers had installed hydrofoils. They were happy that the boat got on plane much easier, however, it knocked off top end by 5mph. That is why I chose the Smart Tabs, they are not generally know to reduce top end. In my research what I noticed was that more boaters gained top end or had the same top end as before.<br /><br />Nautijohn, Hey!. Imagine bumping into you here I am soooo happy with the Tabs, they have made the boat "perfect" It really gets up and goes. The wife got the 60# struts in the mail to you today. You guys are great!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Soulwinner;<br /><br />Thanks for the good words, it is a wonderful feeling to know that we have helped. It's a large task trying to change 25 years of thinking and misconceptions, and people like you who do the research then share it with others are a big help. Glad you and your wife are happy.<br /><br />Thanks Again!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Ralph S.<br /><br />Soulwinner's boat was a bit out of the norm so when the built in adjsutment did not completely fix the problem, the actuators where changed to a lower pressure. The low speed perfomance is generaly not effected with the adjustments to pressure, but too much pressure when cruising can cause too much stern lift and bow down attitude. It does not take much to scrub off speed. The hydrofoils continue to lift the stern more and more as the speed increases (even after planing), and that is why they usually scrub speed. Call me if you wish!

 

[bay5884]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

nautijohn, I have an 87 14' bayliner with a 50hp force engine. It came with a hydrofoil or "whale tail" when I bought it, which at first seemed to work nicely, boat was always at plane. After taking the boat out a few times, i noticed that with the tail, the prop would come right out of the water if i did something like a figure 8 or crossed waves (usually going with the wave). I have since taken the tail off which solved the problem of the prop coming up, but now I have no low end on take off.<br /><br />Someone suggested that the tail might have been on upside down, which I suppose could be a possibility. When I bought the boat, it was mounted in a concave fashion..with the side wings pointing down. Is this right? If so, what would you suggest I do at this point? The tabs sound like they might be an alternative. Thanks in advance!

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

nautiJohn,<br /><br />Thanks for the explination. It makes a lot of sense. Nothing comes for free...

 

[bay5884]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

nautijohn, I just noticed that you had already replied to my previous post on this subject..thanks. <br /><br />Also, after doing a little more investigating, it looks like the hydrofoil that i have was mounted correctly. I guess my question now is just what you think I should do from here and what an approximate price would be for smart tabs for my boat?<br /><br />Also, last weekend I noticed that even without the hydrofoil mounted, my prop was still popping out of the water when going at any speed moving with the lake waves (the slower I went, the less it came out). I boat on Oneida Lake in NY, which is about 26 miles long and 5 miles wide, so the water can be anything from glass to 4-5 foot waves depending on the wind only. Last weekend the waves were about 3-4 feet. I'm just wondering if this would be a normal occurrence for a small boat in that size waves. Driving against the waves, I didn't experience this problem at all. Maybe I should have a longer shaft engine for it? Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

To Ralph S;<br /><br />There in no charge for exchanging actuators when necessary. Name of the game is happy customers.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Bay5884;<br /><br />I don,t think your boat is any different than others in your size, just watch them while you are out in the lake. The bow goes up and down beuase the boat is stern loaded. Just like picking up the boat from the trailer tung, but you can't pick it up from the back. Any wave is enough to push the bow up. The Smart Tabs are always under some load and will resist this.<br />Your are welcome to check the website for more info or contact me jedeagro@sbcglobal.net

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

nautiJohn,<br /><br />Sorry I meant there is a price to be paid (engineering tradeoff) for using a hydrofoil (i.e., lift continues fater reaching plane)<br /><br />I didn't mean monetray costs in any way.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

BAY5884,<br /><br />I would suggest the Smart Tabs for your boat for two reasons:<br /><br />1) Your low end performance will improve. Your boat will climb up on plane the moment you throttle up, as well as allow you stay on plane at lower speeds than you can now.<br /><br />2) My boat used to scare the fire outta me when I would plane it rough choppy water. Now I can plane it and slow down or speed up as conditions require and stays on plane. The tabs actually seem to work like shock adsorbers, helping the boat cope with lumpy or choppy seas without the sevear tossing and pounding it had before, and it's corkscrewing behavior in quarter seas is essentially gone. They turn rough water into glass, but they did dramatically improove my boats performance under such conditions. I feel that the reduction in tossing has made my boat a little safer too.<br /><br />One last thing, everywhere I go people ask me about them (they are hard to miss, bright shiney stainless steel ) and compliment thier appearance

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Report

Ralph;<br /><br />I did not mean to be abrupt, and apologize if it sounded that way. The company position is that we make every effort to insure the boat is performing as good as possible, and if that involves something extra it is worth the effort. Since the characteristics of every boat are different, some times a standard kit adjustments are not enough. The nice thing is that we can interchange parts and get it right.