spring loaded trim tabs....

[BaDucK]

i just got finished reading the "wings on your outboard" thread and the last post made me think of a question.....

i can agree (with my limited knowledge) that most things can be better corrected with trim tabs, and i have been planning on using a set on my boat....

she is a little 16 foot Starcraft SS, and when my 6'4 275# rear end sits behind the wheel she wants to list a little....actually a lot! so when im single handing i usually stand along the center line........which i actually prefer...

my question is, while window shopping for trim tabs i found a set that have no hydraulics or electrics...they are just spring loaded, and as you increase speed, they are supposed to "fold parallel" with the bottom of the boat....

giving you the nose down out of the hole, and not creating any drag when at top speed.....they constantly adjust to the speed and conditions

has anyone tried these, or are using these now and can give me an idea of if they are worth the money? i really dont want to install a full blown hydraulic system on such a small boat, i want to keep the boat as simple and user friendly as possible.....


so, anyone have an opinion on these ?????????

thanks,
Bruce

 

[5150abf]

Re: spring loaded trim tabs....

There are several kinds of tabs you can get, full hydraulic, gas shock and apparently a rip off of the gas shock that use a spring.

I think you would be fine wioth the gas shock ones, they also adjust to the load, the faster you go the more they retract although they won't correct a list, that is a weight problem.

Sounds like you need to shift a battery or your gas to put more weight on the high side but tabs will help the boat too.

I have a 16 too and she is sensitive to weight also, I have gotten it down to where my weight is just about right, ended up putting a battery clear up in the bow and naother on the port side to get it to sit flatter at rest, I hate walking up hill all night.

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: spring loaded trim tabs....

My boat is a little bigger (21 foot), but I too am 6'4" 280 and cause a list when sitting behind the wheel. I have the gas shock style trim tabs on my boat, and they are the best thing since power trim. They do give you a better hole shot with very little bow rise, lower rpms to keep it on plane and better all around handling. They don't do anything for you for the list, but for the money, they are a good deal.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: spring loaded trim tabs....

take a look http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...3678--submit.Search--submit.x.43--submit.y.12

 

[JimS123]

Re: spring loaded trim tabs....

Trim tabs can be useful for certain issues, but they won't correct your problem. You need to balnce out the weight distribution.

 

[BaDucK]

Re: spring loaded trim tabs....

There are several kinds of tabs you can get, full hydraulic, gas shock and apparently a rip off of the gas shock that use a spring.

I think you would be fine wioth the gas shock ones, they also adjust to the load, the faster you go the more they retract although they won't correct a list, that is a weight problem.

Sounds like you need to shift a battery or your gas to put more weight on the high side but tabs will help the boat too.

I have a 16 too and she is sensitive to weight also, I have gotten it down to where my weight is just about right, ended up putting a battery clear up in the bow and naother on the port side to get it to sit flatter at rest, I hate walking up hill all night.

lol, forget the spring loaded crap i was saying earlier.....the smart tabs are the ones i saw, and now i see they come in composite....so no corrosion!...lol, i like no corrosion......ordering a set later this week, will be my first iboats order feels good to help support such a great place !