Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

[kazza138]

I am about to install some Smart Tab SXs to my 2008 Q4 (following the rave reviews on the forum!) and have a question to pose that is probably obvious to all of you but I'm a complete noobie
Do you still manually trim the boat in exactly the same way as before, ie. when getting out of the hole?
or do the Smart Tabs self-adjust the trim in all situations?
(ok you can stop laughing now!)

 

[maddog2112]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I`ve got the tabs on my Q6. The tabs are stationary so you still have to have your trim all the way down out of the hole, to plane quickly. The tabs will help u plane quickly. I don`t usually touch my trim when pulling, except maybe when already at 18- 22 mph to keep a steady speed, I may trim up a little.Also when at cruising speed or higher for trips across the lake you can trim up until u start to hear cavitation, then trim down just enough to make the sound go away. This will give you more speed with less throttle and your outdrive will not be working as hard. You will find that the tabs help tremendously when the water gets a little rough, and instead of porpoising they will keep you on plane and hopping over the chop. Good luck!

 

[jack_pine]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I will do these as well when I take the plunge (so to speak). Can I install them myself? Drilling the boat makes me nervous and how do you know where to mount them exactly?

 

[grendelsniper]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I just installed mine last week, and get to try them out this weekend at a new to me lake, I installed them 5" from the outside edge of the hull 1/4" up from the bottom

 

[kazza138]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I will do these as well when I take the plunge (so to speak). Can I install them myself? Drilling the boat makes me nervous and how do you know where to mount them exactly?

According to the very helpful guys at Nauticus, they are very easy to install. Like you, I'm quite nervous about drilling into the transom but if you look through all the threads about installing the tabs, it seems to have been pretty straightforward for most people.
If you speak to Nauticus after buying your tabs (8002330194) they will talk you through it. They also send you adapters (free of charge) specifically for the curved Tahoe transom. As someone mentioned on a previous post, if the Smart tabs are as great as Nauticus customer service, I'll be thrilled! Good luck & I'll definitely post pics on here when I get them installed

 

[splicer]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

They were easy to install and position. I just used lots of tape to hold them in position while I drilled. Only difference in trimming that I've noticed is that when trimming up, I no longer look for the porpoising, but listen for cavitation, as my boat will not porpoise with the tabs installed.

Almost no bow rise anymore, and I can cut it as hard as I want and as fast as I want, and I get no chine walk, just a hard dig into the turn.

 

[sigfire]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

Installed my nevously last month. Have had the Q4 out on the water the last two weekends and noticed a huge difference. Less bow steer at low speeds, less throttle to plane out. I used about the same dimensions as sniper. I did not use the adapters and found install easy even on the curved transom. Has a slight bend on the mounting plate when installing but it went in fine, just needed an extra set of hands while i marked drill holes. I too was nervous about drilling into the fiberglass, but persistence prevails and glad i installed them! Have had the position of the trim set at three (default), i may up it by one notch. Other than that, great product!

 

[Trooper583]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I've got to chime in here. I installed about two weeks ago and I love them. As for mounting, the old saying "Measure twice Cut (drill) once" really helps out here. I used a sharpy to mark my mounting locations and the outsides of the transom mounting plates and then measured a final time. A couple of other suggestions, 3M 5200 marine sealant and adhesive is great stuff. Also, be sure and obey the instructions on NOT using a a drill to drive your screws in. I do a lot of fabrication and repair and think that most anyone with a tape measure, drill and phillips screw driver should not have any problem. Oh yeah, and don't over-tighten the nylon hex bolts and nuts. Good Luck, you're going to love the big difference they make. Best 129.99 I've spent on this boat by far.

Here's the link to the thread I started a few days ago.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=505503

 

[maddog2112]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I also agree that you will love the tabs and definately will not be sorry. I won`t give you advice on the install, since mine is the Q6. I did use the 3m sealant on the screws and all has held up perfectly. I can plane out very quickly now with very little if any bow rise with 3 or 4 adults in the back of the boat and a couple of kids or not in the front. Good luck

 

[grendelsniper]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I got to try mine out this last weekend, awesome, what a huge difference, althought my boat is tuned for sea level I was at 6000ft elevation the sx made the boat perform awesome, no wondering, way less bow rise well worth the $.

 

[sc0tty2h0ttie]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

i installed mine about 3 weeks ago and they are worth the money.. only thing i thought was weird for me is the wake behind the boat looks weird as in it like comes together in the middle about 30ft back and makes like a splash when i am around 30+ mph.. but as far as low speed wondering and bow rise and turning they are an awesome addition.

 

[Stamey]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

I installed mine last week and tried it over the weekend. I no longer need to trim down to get on plane. It gets on plane quickly even with the trim up about half way. I had zero porpoising on a rough lake, from weather and other boaters. My boat is a 1983 Chaparral 198XLC with a Merc 228. I was impressed.

I did not use 5200 at first, and just followed the instructions, but upon advice from a friend, I figured you can't be too safe, so I just removed all screws and put 5200 in the holes before reinstalling them last night.

The instructions were not as clear as I would have liked. I was unsure as to whether is was OK to install them offset over a chine, but I saw in the instruction pics where they did install them over a chine in the center, so I was able to find a spot where I could center over a chine and not interfere with anything else, including a possible depth finder transceiver in the future.

Chris

 

[kazza138]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

Well, I finally plucked up the courage to install my Smart Tabs over the weekend & I'll, hopefully, get to try them out sometime this week! It all went pretty smoothly (although, I'll admit I did feel kinda sick as I drilled into the fiberglass ) I followed someone's good advice on here and measured twice before I drilled, but I have to say it all went okay & I fitted them in just over an hour. I'll let you all know how they perform, but in the meantime I'll take a photo of them later today and post my handywork for all to see...and criticise

 

[jack_pine]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

Please post pics. We are buying next month or so and want to do this (even though the dealer said it was unnecessary) Iam mechanical but a wimp (drilling into the boat)

 

[kazza138]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

Please post pics. We are buying next month or so and want to do this (even though the dealer said it was unnecessary) Iam mechanical but a wimp (drilling into the boat)

I know exactly how you feel about the drilling, but once you've drilled the 1st hole it gets a lot easier....I used plenty of tape to avoid chipping the gel coat and a squirt of 3M 5200 Fast Cure in each of the drill holes. To be honest, the sound of the screws going into the fiberglass set my teeth on edge more
Here's a photo of my install - can't remember if I've said but it's a 2008 Tahoe Q4 4.3L 190hp.....hope it helps!
Good luck.View attachment 109548

 

[brown_one]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

it is hard to drill that first hole. make sure you use the 3m sealant. better to do it just once than to find you have a little leak and have to do it again. after i put the tabs on mine i decided it was the best money i have spent on the boat. and ive spent alot.

 

[kazza138]

Re: Trimming with Smart Tabs installed

Just a quick update - finally got the boat back in the water on Friday and have spent all weekend on the lake The lake was really busy, with lots of chop and wake from other boats but my Tahoe just glided across the water with no porpoising whatsoever. If you're in two minds about installing Smart Tabs - don't be, you will NOT regret it! They live up to everything they promise - my only regret is that I didn't install them at the start of the summer.