Trim tabs

[magnum350]

Is it ok to leave your hydraulic trim tabs down while running on the lake?? Thanks

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Trim tabs

What do you mean Ok?
When going slow I leave mine down and the boat handles much better...as speed increases I lift em up. Or if weight shifts to one side i'll adjust accordingly.

 

[nlain]

Re: Trim tabs

NO. You need to adjust the tabs up to get the best ride and fuel consumption, you also adjust the tabs to handle the water you are running in, little bit down in rough water to handle it better, smooth water trim up, drive and tabs to get the best speed and fuel consumption. Tabs down all the time causes excessive fuel consumption and a loss of speed. You need to play with the settings, Outdrive or Outboard and the tab settings to get the best performance from your boat.

 

[magnum350]

Re: Trim tabs

NO. You need to adjust the tabs up to get the best ride and fuel consumption, you also adjust the tabs to handle the water you are running in, little bit down in rough water to handle it better, smooth water trim up, drive and tabs to get the best speed and fuel consumption. Tabs down all the time causes excessive fuel consumption and a loss of speed. You need to play with the settings, Outdrive or Outboard and the tab settings to get the best performance from your boat.

I am wondering if it is bad since I left them down for a few runs.

 

[magnum350]

Re: Trim tabs

I was wondering if it will effect them in a mechanical sense ( bad for them physically). I left mine down on a few runs

 

[nlain]

Re: Trim tabs

It will keep the bow down, plowing, in the water, more load on the engine, possible bow steer, darting left or right. If you are going slow, no wake zone, they will help keep your boat straight if down, running on plane you want to adjust them to get best performance. Did you kill your boat by running them down for a few runs, NO. You get better performance if you make adjustments for the conditions and performance.

 

[magnum350]

Re: Trim tabs

Thank you Commander. I will start using them more often.

 

[QC]

Re: Trim tabs

Some large boats run with tabs down 100% of the time. You aren't hurting anything. It has to do with weight, speed, power etc. But you aren't hurting anything. Use your tach, speedo and your body to decide how to run them. It depends on a variety of things including weather. If they make a rough ride smoother, then go for it, if they make your boat slow down, and you can't go faster, lift them up. There are no rules other than don't run them in a position that makes you unsafe.

 

[Don S]

Re: Trim tabs

On the next cloudy, rainy, cold and windy day, sit at your computer and play with the trim tabs on the simulator.

http://bennetttrimtabs.com/simulator.htm

PS, you can have fun with the wind and wave speed and direction, lighting, snow. Fun program.