Mounting Trim Tabs. Need some help!

[PatinIdaho]

I have the Nauticus smart tabs SX but im not sure where to mount them!
I have tried calling them but no answer and there answering machine seems to not be working.
So here are a couple possible spots but i don't know what is the best place.
One spot is fairly even with the bottom of the boat the other is slanted a lot.
Any help?
Thanks

 

[dozerII]

I think I would go with the first picture , only move them out to the edge of the transom and keep them level.

 

[PatinIdaho]

In the first pic the mount is level. The transom turns down the further out near the edge. In the first pic the edge of the bracket is 2 3/4 inch from the side of the boat. The little black mark it 3 inch from the side.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I would mount them similar to the first picture, but I agree they should be mounted closer to the outside edges of the transom. I'd mount them so they are parallel with the bottom of the boat in that location (not level as the boat sits in the water).

 

[PatinIdaho]

No Title

Ok so more like this?. The mount is level with the boat.
Seems like mounting them there would put a uneven load on them as the transom would block some water flow.
I cant mount them any lower or they will be below the transom on inside part of the mount.
What a PITA!

 

[batman99]

I would mount them on outside, level - as shown within picture:

http://forums.iboats.com/filedata/fetch?photoid=9983828

 

[JASinIL2006]

No Title

I would email Nauticus and see what they say, but my idea was they would be angled such that the plane of the tab more closely matched the plane of that part of the hull. (See below; red line indicates the line I'd use for mounting.) If you mount it as shown in your pictures, I'd be concerned that the water will be applying pressure unevenly across the tab, causing it to want to twist or rack over time. Installing them as shown in your pictures also seems like it would create a lot more turbulence, too.

I'd probably wait to hear back (either by phone or email) from the Nauticus folks before drilling any holes. I found them to be super-helpful and they responded to emails quite quickly.

 

[alldodge]

My opinion: if you have to put them on your boat, then mount them as JA pictured

Something else you need to figure out is how to mount them so they will last and not cause water intrusion. I hope you have given more thought into how to drill and seal the holes to make sure water doesn't make it in later.

 

[PatinIdaho]

No Title

JASinIL2006.
If i mounted them like you suggest they would be tilted to the center. Pretty sure that would not be good.
Im thinking the best place is where the Yellow line is in this pic.
From pictures i see it's almost the normal spot but but it looks tilted to much.

 

[PatinIdaho]

ALLDodge.
Ill be sealing it with lotsa good ol'5200.

Yeah my boat needs them. Its a VP280 with no trim like most. So Bow is way high getting on plane with an extra 250ish pounds of extra weight in the stern.
2 Extra batteries(3 total) trolling motor.

 

[alldodge]

ALLDodge.
Ill be sealing it with lotsa good ol'5200.

Yeah my boat needs them. Its a VP280 with no trim like most. So Bow is way high getting on plane with an extra 250ish pounds of extra weight in the stern.
2 Extra batteries(3 total) trolling motor.

The tabs spring tabs (smart :facepalm or hydraulic tabs don't need to be level with the boat, they just need to be at the same angle of the hull. The further out to the edge of the boat they are the more they help adjust plane. Spring tabs will also slow you down because they cannot be flattened out and are always providing some drag.

Using 5200 is a good thing and one of the best. I would suggest drilling 3/8 holes, fill them with marine-tex, once dry, drill your holes for screws and use 5200 then final assembly. This way if there is a leak of any kind it goes in the bilge and not in the transom wood.

 

[Grandad]

I agree with JA and AllDodge. I think that's what dozer meant too. The water coming off the hull at the transom is not horizontal, but so what? To get maximum advantage from the tabs you want as much surface area of the tab as possible working for you. Putting them other than parallel with the trailing edge of the hull will be a loss. - Grandad

 

[PatinIdaho]

LOTS of good ideas floating around here! Love it:eagerness:
ALLDodge. Yeah Smart. I know exactly what your thinking! but adjustable on the fly tabs are out of the budget. Like the mounting idea and actually had thought of doing it that way.

I wanted to mount them and use them this weekend but might not happen:blue:
I did send Nauticus a email with some pics and measurements but im sure they will not get back to me till Monday at the soonest. Tried calling during there listed business hours and only got a broken answering machine.
They need a forum section on here to answer questions like some others have. Would sure help folks out a lot im sure.

 

[Watermann]

If you follow the directions from Nauticus, the tabs should be installed at the same angle as the bottom of the hull. With 5200 in the holes it will seal up just fine but if you have regular 5200 it takes several days to fully cure.

Here's a pic of one of the tabs I installed.

 

[PatinIdaho]

Yeah. Problem is its all an angle with no 1 place they fit comfortably.

 

[Watermann]

I see that, nothing's perfect, you'll just have to do the best you can with your hull contour. .

 

[JASinIL2006]

JASinIL2006.
If i mounted them like you suggest they would be tilted to the center. Pretty sure that would not be good.
Im thinking the best place is where the Yellow line is in this pic.
From pictures i see it's almost the normal spot but but it looks tilted to much.

Everything I have always seen suggests that you want to mount them as far to the outside of the boat as you can. I really don't think it matters if they are tilted in or out. I think it is more important that they follow the line of the hull.


I would imagine that the most sensible course of action would be to wait until you have a chance to consult with the people at Nauticus. I don't imagine there's any need for them to be installed in the next 48 hours, is there?

 

[PatinIdaho]

No, No need but there is a great want:yo:

 

[Watermann]

In mean time watch their smart tab video.

 

[PatinIdaho]

No Title

I have watched it but it's just a tease with no satisfaction like freshman year at high school:bolt:

I'm betting there going to say fallow the contour of the transom and mount them where i have the yellow line.