Do I need trim tabs?

[K-2]

When you look at this pic do you think it needs trim tabs? Is the bow up too much?
Props are right size and drives are all the way down .

 

[alldodge]

When you look at this pic do you think it needs trim tabs? Is the bow up too much?
Props are right size and drives are all the way down .

Unless your dealing with the boat listing to port or starboard when running, I don't think tabs will help. You don't have a full planning hull more of a semi planning style. Tabs will just slow you down.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Looking at the pic, if it is an I/O I would be trimming up.

 

[batman99]

I have smart tabs on my small 17 foot Bowrider fibreglass "heavy tail" boat and they work great.

Glad I have "install them / leave them" SX Smart Tabs on my boat.

re: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I34-9Sdelx8

Not too sure if tabs will benefit your much larger size boat.

Based on your picture, your boat's trim needs to be better set.

Especially if your boat is creating lots of wake waves.

Hope this helps.

 

[K-2]

trimming up ? Won't that just raise the bow ?

"your boats trim needs to be better set "
Please explain that better ^

 

[smokeonthewater]

Yep that would raise the bow..... Of course that's just a guess based on the picture.... You have a lot of hull in the water.... But maybe you aren't going as fast as it looks and maybe you just can't get the bow out of the water with that hull.

So no it doesn't look to me like the bow is too high.

 

[Fun Times]

Do you have a similar type photo of the boat at rest in the water?

Is that photo at cruise or WOT?

Is the forward view obstructed?

 

[K-2]

No Title

The first photo is cruise , down 500 rpm from WOT. 3,100 rpm cruise
Yes forward view is a little obstructed .

 

[Tabman]

Actually semi displacement hulls can really benefit from Trim Tabs. A friend of mine (and coworker at Bennett) installed very large Trim Tabs on his Mainship 34 trawler. If he lowered them a little bit when traveling at about 12 knots boat speed increased 1-1/2 knots. This was due to lifting the stern just a little bit and getting the hull up closer (but not fully) on plane. The prop was also running at a much better attitude with a lot less slip.

The trick was really large Tabs, and that could be accomplished since it was a straight inboard, and the tabs could use the entire span of the transom.

I have seen it also work with a single I/O houseboat style hull as well, since there was enough room on either side of the leg.

But looking at the transom of K-2's boat, I do not think there will be enough room with the twin I/Os to fit large enough trim Tabs to get a good payoff.