smart tabs on a q5

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

Thanks for the Q5 pics to show they clear the ladder. Mine just showed up with the PR500 brackets.

I'm also thinking the 19p High Five. Mine came with a 23p though due to the 1.81FD on the carb motor.

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

Smart tabs installed with no issues using the PR500 brackets. On setting 3 it dropped my top speed about 1mph. Setting 2 seemed best with same top speed, limited bow rise, and slightly better hole shot. Wandering improved too but not completely gone... maybe I just need to learn how to drive. I'm happy with the $130 investment.

Mike

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

Re: smart tabs on a Q5

mschmidt33;

I am happy that you are stisfied, however I think you may get even more from Smart Tabs, so let me give you a few suggestions. At slow speeds the wandering is usually caused by what we refer to as bow steering. When the sharp "V" of the bow is too far down in the water it tends to make the boat move side to side (wander) with very little changes in water pressure (current). You may have people sitting up front while you are going down the channel at 5 MPH. See it it helps to move them back in the boat. The tabs usually help, but remember not to over correct your steering (be patient).
At cruising speeds you should remember to trim out to the point when the prop begins to ventilate, then bump the trim down a few bumps. You may have not been able to do this in the past because the boat would porpoise, however the porpoising will be eliminated by the Smart Tabs. In short, you should get a few extra MPH, and no porpoising. Also, note that it should not be necessary to give the engine 3/4 to full throttle to get on plane. Simply push the throttle forward slowly and the boaqt should walk up on plane with minimal bow rise.

 

[bunkerwood]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

I installed Smart Tab SX's on my '09 Q5i a couple of weeks back. I allowed the mounting bracket to follow the contour of the stern. I was concerned that this would put too much stress on the nylon pens used to install the tab...took the boat out this week...so far so good.

One of the main reasons I installed the tabs was to reduce wandering at low speeds (<10 mph)...they work like a charm.

Also installed my fish finder transducer just to the left of the starboard tab. Fish finder performs very well from 0 to 40 mph...didn't go any faster that 40.

Find attached a couple of pictures.

Hello, any issues with SMART TABS since install? Also, if you don't mind me asking, what are your engine and prop specs? I'm still running factory aluminum, but was considering SS. I have the 4.3 190HP engine...

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

Hello, any issues with SMART TABS since install? Also, if you don't mind me asking, what are your engine and prop specs? I'm still running factory aluminum, but was considering SS. I have the 4.3 190HP engine...

No issues after a 100+hr summer. Great product for this boat. PR500 are a MUST imo. The tabs kill the wake when wakeboarding and make a nasty tail in a tubers face depending on trim. I simply rotate the tabs flat with watersports. Very easy to do from inside the boat too.

I also have the 190 carb. Switched from stock 23p prop to a 19p high five (go to progods.com for info). Lost a couple miles per hour on the top speed buy it pulls hard out of the hole now. With just me in the boat I can hit the rev limitor when trimming up so a 19.5 pitch high five would have been perfect! The high five holds speed better and does not spin out nearly as much. Another great investment for our use. Waketower and rod holder install in process... no snow for snowmobile so this is keeping me busy.

 

[bunkerwood]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

No issues after a 100+hr summer. Great product for this boat. PR500 are a MUST imo. The tabs kill the wake when wakeboarding and make a nasty tail in a tubers face depending on trim. I simply rotate the tabs flat with watersports. Very easy to do from inside the boat too.

I also have the 190 carb. Switched from stock 23p prop to a 19p high five (go to progods.com for info). Lost a couple miles per hour on the top speed buy it pulls hard out of the hole now. With just me in the boat I can hit the rev limitor when trimming up so a 19.5 pitch high five would have been perfect! The high five holds speed better and does not spin out nearly as much. Another great investment for our use. Waketower and rod holder install in process... no snow for snowmobile so this is keeping me busy.

Thanks for the response. I'm new to a this whole experience. Haven't had my boat out on the water yet, but definitely plan on lots of tubing with the kids - can you elaborate on the issues with the tail in tubers faces? How do you rotate the tabs flat (?) I have the SX model, not readily seeing how that would work. PR500?

Thanks again for sharing.

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

Thanks for the response. I'm new to a this whole experience. Haven't had my boat out on the water yet, but definitely plan on lots of tubing with the kids - can you elaborate on the issues with the tail in tubers faces? How do you rotate the tabs flat (?) I have the SX model, not readily seeing how that would work. PR500?

Thanks again for sharing.

I understand the new thing, we were all there. The water in the face of tubers only occurs when we go fast (25mph+) and the tabs are down. It is sort of a mini rooster tail in the prop wash that is very annoying. Might be due to a number of factor including trim level, high five prop, or the position and angle I have the trim tabs set at. Don't know if you will have the same issue. It goes away with the tabs up too. Cleaner wake as well but we have some bow rise.

I have the SX too. See below for pictures showing the two positions and how the PR500's work. Good luck.

 

[Wayne0832]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

Hey msmidt33, I'm thinking of putting these on my 2011 Q5i. I currently have a hydrofoil on mine.

Have you had any biding or wear due to the mounting bracket curving with the transom?

How far from the outside of the boat did you mount them, hard to see the pics.

We wakeboard and tube, how is the wake and rooster tail at 20? Is it worth investing in the PR500? My concern is without using the tabs during water sports, the bow will rise out of the water and the boat will get squirrely.

I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

I have no experience with a hydrofoil but from what I read > ditch it. I am beyond happy with my setup. My boat can run with the wakeboats, then be setup for trolling in 5 min. Tabs down for fishing, cruising, airchair, tubing. Up for wakeskate, wakesurf, or wakeboarding. 1-2 sacs for wakeboarding, all 3 for surfing. The 19p highfive and perfect pass help a ton. The high five likely being the most critical component.

Have you had any biding or wear due to the mounting bracket curving with the transom? Not that I can tell, the plastic bolts were bent a bit from the install but everything moves freely still. I did tighten everything up this spring. Got a half rotation from a couple screws.

How far from the outside of the boat did you mount them, hard to see the pics. I can send better pics later if you need, but there is really only one spot that worked if I remember correctly.

How is the wake and rooster tail at 20? With tabs down it is is nice. Wake is clean on one side or the other depending on weight. This is where the fat sacs help clean it up and heighten the wake. With the extra weight, perfect pass helps maintain speed. PP is not needed without the sacs. No rooster tail at all with high five. PR500 are a must imo. Well worth the $20-30. Call Nauticus direct they are in stock as of today. As for bow rise, it is minimal with the high five since there is so much torque. You can keep it on plane well below 20. This boat is never squirrely, it is rock solid except it will wander badly as low speeds with the tabs up.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[black cherry tahoe]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

i have the Q5 with the 190 carb,, just put a high five prop on,, havent had it in the water yet, kept the same 23 pitch,, i see you changed to a 19. hope my boat will take the 23. why did you drop so far in pitch? was that recomended.

 

[mschmidt33]

Re: smart tabs on a q5

i have the Q5 with the 190 carb,, just put a high five prop on,, havent had it in the water yet, kept the same 23 pitch,, i see you changed to a 19. hope my boat will take the 23. why did you drop so far in pitch? was that recomended.

I dropped to 19 since these truck motors make more power at higher rpm... with a 23p I was running about 400rpm low, so the 19p put me right up to the rev limitor to get the max amount of torque out of the engine. I also lost some top end but gained a great deal on my holeshot. This was what I was looking for since we do a lot of watersports.