Trim Tabs ???

[Turn-n-Burn]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I use mine for the holeshot once in a great while.....but 80% of time they get used for conditions of the chop and weight distribution that can't get adjusted though manual means.....as for adjusting for more speed.....I don't think my experience is up to it yet.....

 

[QC]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I never want a boat that needs trim tabs to survive a hole shot or to make time-to-plane bearable

They are worth a whole lot more than time to plane. Not why I own them at all. Try dumping power trim. I'd give up that before tabs . . .

 

[rwidman]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I have this thing about trim tabs. Maybe it's me. I am hung up on hating them. I'll give you that. I like to exhaust everything else before trim tabs are resorted to. Call me crazy.

OK, I'm calling you crazy.

Read Tabman's post. OK, he sells them, but he knows what he is talking about. Read the airplane analogy.

How are you going to account for Uncle Bubba (at 300 lb) sitting on one side of the boat without trim tabs? How are you going to account for current from the port side and wind from the starboard side without trim tabs?

 

[rallyart]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

A hydrofoil is very cheap and will help your boat accelerate out of the hole faster than any other mod. If you get too much bow rise they make your boat much better when you are not on plane, idling fast, or starting out.
Because they are on the leg they affect your steering feel and can slow you down. I would recommend them as something to try in the situation described. They do have a downside. Stingray is a good brand but there are others out there. If it doesn't work you are out $50-100 if you don't sell it.
Trim tabs really help adjust the attitude of the boat and correct for weight issues. If you are caught in a storm it is really useful to have trim tabs. Your boat would be safer and more comfortable. Bennett is a good brand, but again there are others. You can use both as they both create lift. The tabs will cut bow rise but not as much as a hydrofoil. The tabs will help your steering and not hinder it because they can help level the hull for maximum efficiency. It's easier to push a button than to get your wife to move around in the boat.
A prop won't help bow rise but a good one can give you more push so you don't spend as much time with the bow up.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I have had the Bennett Trim tabs on my boat since 1981 when it was 1 year old and to this day it is the best thing I have added.

Mine are probably oversized some and are mounted only 1/8 inch above the bottom of the transom.
Mine are also 12 inch cord so trailing edge is 12 inches behind the transom and only ? of an inch above the straight edge on the hull.

First trip out after installing was a 25 mile trip down a shipping channel against a 2 foot short chop. When I put the trim down the ride was much better.
Now that the ride was near perfect I trimmed the motor for best speed.
Since the trim tabs set you hull trim you can now trim the motor to push straight forward.
So you are using motor to push straight forward and none of it is wasted pushing the stern up to get the bow down to cut the chop or swells.

My one concern with trim tabs is the sharp edges on the tabs. Being a fisherman I have always worried about them cutting a fishing line and loosing a big fish or a swimmer cutting a foot or something.
However my tabs wire installed in 1981 and have not lost a fish or cut any feet yet.
I will admit when get someone new on the boat before we launch I take them to the back and point out the tabs then when fight a big one make sure they walk to the stern when a fish swims back there and use the pole to keep the line away from the trim tab edges and the motors.

Another big improvement on my boat is to level the boat side to side.
Offshore here it is common to have 25 to 30 knots winds every day with higher gust.
My 21 foot Aluminum boat will lean into the wind when maintaining a course with a strong cross wind.
Offshore when my boat leans into the wind the back of my boat gets very wet from saltwater spray.
With the Trim Tabs I Simply lower the tab on that side to level the boat and the back stays very dry.
What happens is when the boat lean into the wind the spray comes off the side of the boat and is thrown up into the air. The wind then blows the saltwater Spray all over the stern of the boat.
With the tab down enough to level the boat then the spray comes off the bottom of the boat and is shot out to the side.
The wind still try to blow the spray on the stern but by the time it does the boat has moved forward and the stern stays dry.

My perception of a hydro foil is the lift in right in the center of the stern almost like ice shaking on a single skate or roller boarding.
A condition where the chimes are not in contact with the water making the boat more unstable side to side ands more apt to roll side to side.
Also I believe this would make boat lean even more into the wind when have a cross wind.
Also to trim the boat how you want it still have to use motor trim and motor power to raise or lower the stern.

 

[Philster]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I never want a boat that needs trim tabs to survive a hole shot or to make time-to-plane bearable. If it comes to that, I'm not owning a boat.

 

[Bobnfl]

Re: Trim Tabs ???

I have a 3 blade 18p vengeance prop that was on the motor when I bought the boat. It was even slower getting out of the hole with that prop. so now I have it up for sale. I started trying a lot of different props that is how I ended up with a 3 blade 22p prop. so far it is the best, but the boat is still a little slow on hole shot. maybe it is just something I have to learn to live with.
Thanks for the help Bob