Hey Guys-
I've posted a few questions and appreciate the feedback received so far. So I've got another question for you! I've been doing some reading on trim tabs & think that they likely would improve my boats performance. My boat is a '64 Mirrocraft runabout that I'm turning into a fishing boat. I'm removing the full-width console & much of the front cover/deck & am going to install a floor with pedastals. The hull shape is similar to pretty much every other runabout from that era - low in the back, higher in the front. It is 14' long, aluminum, 16" transom, 62" wide. It has a 40hp Evinrude Big Twin, the original motor that came with the boat. The previous owner clocked it at 20mph WOT, verified on GPS. I thought that this was pretty slow for this motor on this boat (the boat is not a larger runabout with thick sides & flooring/seats, it's basically an aluminum shell with a couple wooden bench seats & a minimalist console (which will be going, to be replaced by a smaller side console). This motor, if running properly, should be PLENTY of power for this boat - it's the max HP that the boat is rated for. Looking at the boat with the motor attached, you can't help but think that it's going to be stern-heavy. I'm thinking that the boat wasn't planing/cutting through the water as efficiently as possible, and that self-adjusting trim tabs (either Bennett or Nauticus) might greatly aid in the performance. I'm confident that they would increase the initial acceleration/hole shot, but am wondering what effect they would have as far as top speed goes. The boat falls right in the middle of the two trim tab sizes offered in the self-adjusting style (one is for 10-14 ft boats, the other for 14-20 foot boats). I think that the smaller would be better - could still get the benefits/quicker hole shot, faster to plane, slower planing speed, etc, without having the larger tabs creating more drag than necessary. Any thoughts based on experience with these? Particularly regarding top speed?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
I've posted a few questions and appreciate the feedback received so far. So I've got another question for you! I've been doing some reading on trim tabs & think that they likely would improve my boats performance. My boat is a '64 Mirrocraft runabout that I'm turning into a fishing boat. I'm removing the full-width console & much of the front cover/deck & am going to install a floor with pedastals. The hull shape is similar to pretty much every other runabout from that era - low in the back, higher in the front. It is 14' long, aluminum, 16" transom, 62" wide. It has a 40hp Evinrude Big Twin, the original motor that came with the boat. The previous owner clocked it at 20mph WOT, verified on GPS. I thought that this was pretty slow for this motor on this boat (the boat is not a larger runabout with thick sides & flooring/seats, it's basically an aluminum shell with a couple wooden bench seats & a minimalist console (which will be going, to be replaced by a smaller side console). This motor, if running properly, should be PLENTY of power for this boat - it's the max HP that the boat is rated for. Looking at the boat with the motor attached, you can't help but think that it's going to be stern-heavy. I'm thinking that the boat wasn't planing/cutting through the water as efficiently as possible, and that self-adjusting trim tabs (either Bennett or Nauticus) might greatly aid in the performance. I'm confident that they would increase the initial acceleration/hole shot, but am wondering what effect they would have as far as top speed goes. The boat falls right in the middle of the two trim tab sizes offered in the self-adjusting style (one is for 10-14 ft boats, the other for 14-20 foot boats). I think that the smaller would be better - could still get the benefits/quicker hole shot, faster to plane, slower planing speed, etc, without having the larger tabs creating more drag than necessary. Any thoughts based on experience with these? Particularly regarding top speed?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
