Trim tabs be helpfull or not

[number45]

I am new to his forum so sorry if this is in the wrong place. I have a 2000 20ft Mariah boat with a merc mag 350 300hp i/o motor on it. I use my boat primarly for skiing, wakeboarding, tubing and cruising. I currently run a highfive 21p prop which I can run wot at 5000 rpm. One of my biggest problems is getting on plane trying to pull larger people and planing at a lower speed when pulling the kids. I bought a 19p highfive to try this year to see if that would help pull the big guys a little easier and see if I can hold the lower speeds easier. I understand that I will be under propping.

I was reading through this forum this weekend and found a lot of positive things about smart tabs. So I have a few more questions on them. First it looks like for a 20ft boat that hp only goes up to 240 not 300. Can I use the upto 240hp tabs on my boat? I also tend to pull a lot of larger guys (250-300lbs) or multiple people skiing or tubing. Will this cause any problems with the tabs? added stress or more prone to causing damage to them? For wakeboarding we have added 500lbs of sand bags in the rear of the boat to help make a larger wake. Will the tabs have an effect on the wake size? If they do is this a case where I would maybe want to consider electric adjustable tabs?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[Jarhead44]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

If you google smart tabs you can go to the companys web site. it is very informative. i just bought a set for my 19' smokercraft with a 150 opti otbd. The web site tells you what size and they have a bunch of faq's. They also have an installation video. They look easy to install. Good luck

 

[kmhattrk]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

I had just ordered my SX Smart Tabs today for my 1999 Mariah Jubilee. I can't wait to see how they perform...

 

[QC]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

IMHO trim tabs are the single best improvement you can make to a V-hull boats. In fact they should be standard equipment. I also love Smart Tabs and have installed a set for a friend.

Despite lots of debates here though I would submit that I have now run four different types of trim tabs and installed all of them myself. While helm adjustable are a much more complex install, I recommend that you at least understand the difference between helm adjustable and Smart Tabs. Both system types will enhance your hull immensely and will solve the issues you note above with the 21 inch prop. However, with helm adjustable, you can get them out of the way when you want to dig a bigger hole for wakeboarders. You can also jam them all of the way down at wide open throttle, which could cause an unsafe condition, but you could do it if you want to. Also you can adjust them for any side to side weight changes that you encounter including uneven fuel tankage, people, gear etc. Whatever you do GET SOME SORT OF TRIM TAB setup. You will NOT be sorry!!!!!!

BTW, welcome to iboats!!!

 

[rndn]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Welcome to the forum!!

 

[cray190]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

I have a 18.5' Sea Ray bowrider with a 5.7 Mercruiser. We use the boat primarily for skiing, kneeboarding and wakeboarding. Last summer I installed a set of Smart Tabs on it and they work absolutely as claimed. There is however an issue if you want to use your boat for water sports. With the Smart Tabs deployed the shape of the wake suffers greatly. Instead of being firm and defined, it crumbles at the edges and basically is just frothy white water. Their tech support is excellent, we tried different actuators and various settings. I even emailed them pictures of the installation and pictures of the wake with and without the tabs installed. I have since purchases a set of their retractors to move the Smart Tabs up when we doing water sports. They definately work as advertised, but they really messed up the wake on our boat for doing water sports.

 

[number45]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

I emailed Nauticus a couple days ago and havn't heard back from them. I found a couple people not recommending them for wakeboarding as it flattens the wake but good for all other uses. Still havn't found anything about if they have a size for my engine or the added stress of multiple skiiers/tubers with larger guys.

 

[QC]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

number45,

The set I installed for a friend are on a 236 SSi Chapparal with a 320 bhp Duo-prop. They work fine, help him maintain a low planing speed, and have not impacted top speed after we got them adjusted properly. If you would rather have a lower cost, simpler install and are OK with a leave it as is and go type of set-up, then Smart Tabs are for you.

 

[number45]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Smart tabs sound like they will do everything I want except the part about killing the wake for wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is the number one thing we do with the boat so I am not sure that the smart tabs are right for me.

 

[QC]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Go with helm adjustable, any wake, any speed . . . I can dig a massive hole and still barely keep her on plane. I can plane at 12 MPH with my 23 footer . . . If I pull the tabs up I need about 18 MPH, I can do any combo in between.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

I have never used smart tab, but I have used helm operated tabs. They really help your boat to plane quickly and are really helpful with a load. Once planing I usually raise them. Just out of habit I guess.

Cray90, kmhattrk and Number 45 welcome to iboats.

 

[RC]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Nauticus can sell you levers to add during the installation. These will allow you to manually get the tabs out of the way so you can have a decent wake for wakeboarding. When not boarding you put the tabs back down and you're good to go. I did this on my boat and have the best of both worlds with these tabs.

Take a look at this post:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=166894

 

[Boatist]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

I have Bennett Helm adjustable tab and I love them.
My boat is a 1980 21 foot Runabout.
You can adjust the boat for the ride you want in seconds.
Mine are oversized so I can stay on plane down to 9 Mph.
In big chop up at the lake can bring the bow down to best wave cutting and smoothest ride is seconds.
When it Glassy can bring the tabs all the way up and reach my tops speed with the water only hitting the back 1/4 of the boat.

In the Ocean can SLOOW way down and and still keep the bow down and cutting 8 foot swells.
With cross winds can adjust so the back of the boat stays dry and the boat rides level.

Bottom line is helm adjustable tabs cost more and take more work to install.
Hardest part for me was making sure I had them right where I wanted them before drilling that first hole.
Also takes about an 30 minutes of practice to learn how to adjust.
I started with the Joy stick control but about 5 years later changed to dual rocker switches that I like better.

They made my boat ride like it was 4 feet longer.
In Chop and the ocean it means I can stay on plane at slower speeds and save fuel.
In Short chop and the Ocean it means I can adjust for a ride that will not beat up the boat or crew.

Best thing I ever added to my boat and I will never have another boat that does not have Helm adjustable tab.

Still for many Smart tabs are cheaper and probably about 80 percent of the time you can get a pretty good ride. Also after adjusted you dont adjust the tabs, just your motor trim and speed to try and get the ride you want.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Bodega Bay... nice, not far from where I live. So you like over sized tabs? Do they pivot below the transom?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Bodega Bay... nice, not far from where I live. So you like over sized tabs? Do they pivot below the transom?

Not sure I understand the question. They bolt to the transom and in the full up postion they raise at about 2 to 5 degrees from the plane of the bottom.
If put a straight edge on the boat bottom then with the tabs all the way up the trailing edge of the tab will be 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch above the straight edge.

Yes I like the oversize tabs for my boat. Not sure what Bennett would recommend but mine are 24 inches wide by 12 inches deep per side. With them over size I only have to put down a small ways to get the bow down where I want it. So the tabs are not down as much of and angle and do not create much drag at normal planning speeds.

With the tabs all the way down the stern actually comes up at the same rate as the bow and will be bow down solid on the water at 9 miles per hour. Above 9 MPH I have to raise tabs or the bow would be way too low and unsafe. Most of the time I put them down less than 50 percent.

One place I do put them full down is when fishing at anchor on windy days with light current. They will help hold the boat straight and stop the boat from blowing to the side.

Looks like no Salmon Season this year. They have killed so many Salmon, Stripers, Sturgeon, Shad and Smelt pumping water to Southern California there are none left for fisherman. I do not know how the commerical boys will make there boat payments and stay in business.

Arnold still wants to pump more water to his friends in Southern California and change the enviroment so they can farm the deserts in Southern California.

If anyone but the Goverment killed that many fish they would never get out of Prison.

 

[Trophy1903]

Re: Trim tabs be helpfull or not

Call John or anyone at Smart Tabs, AWSOME customer service and will help you get the wright part for your application.