trim tabs on 18' hull?

[barato2]

hi all--started a new thread rather than burying it in my endless Holidaze because this info might be useful to others.

my '64 Starchief has cast aluminum trim tabs that i've seen on a few other boats here, so i suspect they may be factory or at least a dealer option from when it was sold. thinking about adding some hydraulic ones (the passive type, that just rely on pressurinzed piston) to the Holiner. i'd love to get some feedback from anyone on what your experience has been with those on an 18, 19, 21 or 22' hull, particularly if you've used the boat both before and after installation. thanks!

 

[dozerII]

Re: trim tabs on 18' hull?

hi all--started a new thread rather than burying it in my endless Holidaze because this info might be useful to others.

my '64 Starchief has cast aluminum trim tabs that i've seen on a few other boats here, so i suspect they may be factory or at least a dealer option from when it was sold. thinking about adding some hydraulic ones (the passive type, that just rely on pressurinzed piston) to the Holiner. i'd love to get some feedback from anyone on what your experience has been with those on an 18, 19, 21 or 22' hull, particularly if you've used the boat both before and after installation. thanks!

B2 my 72 18 SS had stamped Stainless Steel tabs that were manually adjustable with a bolt that ran from the top of the mount on the hull down to the rear edge of the tab. I played with them and they were very sensitive to adjustment. I turned them both till they were flush with the hull and checked the performance as a base line then I turned them both down half an inch lower at the trailing edges and at wot it drove the bow down so hard I thought it was going to submarine on me. After a little playing with them I found about 1/8"down on the trailing edge worked great. Size wise they were 9 X 6 inchs, so not very big.

 

[Weep'n Willy]

Re: trim tabs on 18' hull?

B2 I can't say I have heard anything negative about tabs. I have heard plenty good on them. I have considered them because it never fails that if I have 3 people on the boat someone always likes to sit on a rail causing the boat to list while trolling or if everyone decides to sit on one side of the boat while running on plane. I am not so much about concerned about pushing the bow down as I have always been able to trim the outdrive to accomplish that but I do understand they help get a boat on plane quicker. I do believe I will eventually put them on the Chief.