will smart tabs do anything for me?

[94OMC]

Hi all,

I've got a 1994 Four Winns Horizon 180 with a Volvo/OMC 5.0 ltr I/O. This boat (and seems to me a lot of other Four Winns boats has this as well) has a 'notch' in the transom, which essentially lets the bottom of the hull extend out at least a foot from where the drive attaches to the transom. To me, that seems like two big, fixed trim tabs. Would there be any benefit to installing smart tabs on the back?

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but maybe you know what I'm talking about.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

whats the problem with the boat? are you sure you are not carrying extra weight, as in soaked foam, or rotted wet wood, in the substructure. how long have you had the boat? 5.0 with sx, it should jump on plane. unless you have 10 on board, or carrying unwanted weight.

 

[94OMC]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

A little more background...

We bought the boat last fall, and only had it out on the water for about 2hrs before winterizing it. Didn't really have much time to play around and we're new to boating, so we were just excited to be floating.

I guess I'm just curious if my interpretation of the hull design is correct in that tabs would be redundant (and small compared to the size of the hull extensions).

 

[QC]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

To me Tabs are never redundant and should be standard on all V-hull boats. I must add that I personally prefer helm adjustable, but any type of tab will simply make your boat more boat . . . She will plane earlier, cruise slower, maybe go faster and allow you to run with more weight in the stern. Much easier to control at slow planing speed for tubing and wakeboarding. Remember, those two extensions are "flush" with the rest of the hull and do not alter the hulls running attitude. Really your engine and drive are slightly forward in what else would be a standard V-hull. My answer is, that there doesn't need to be anything wrong. Get Tabs. Don't look back. My only suggestion is get them, run the boat first without, and then install. This way you'll recognise more of the differences since you are not very familiar with your boat yet. Do it.

This is a friend's Chaparral with a similar setup.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

940mc;

What the manufacturer is attempting to do is extend the hull back beyond the motor so as to move the motor closer to the center of the boat. Essentially changing the balance of the boat. It works to some degree, however trim tabs (Smart Tabs or others) also extend the running surface, but they go at least one step further, they alter the hull design. By moving the plates up and down (like flaps on an airplane wing) the deployed tabs provide more stern lift when needed at slower speeds, and then can be rotated up at planing speeds as needed when the extra lift is not required. The effects of changing the hull design on demand are significant. You stay on plane at much lower speeds, plane easier with less throttle, minimize bow rise, reduce or eliminate porpoising, and for sure improve fuel economy.

Helm controlled tabs do this by way of control switches at the helm. They can be independently adjusted, and remain in the position until readjusted.
Smart Tabs automatically react to the water pressure exerted on the tabs by the speed of the boat, weight, and load balance similar to the suspension system on a car. In either case the hull design is altered or can be altered to the requirements as they occur.

Tabs are the single best method of improving overall boat performance.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

totally agree.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

After having them on two of my boats, (Both Bass Boats), I will "NEVER" have a boat again without the Smart Tabs. Added bonus is that now that I am running in the 70 MPH area I have absolutly no hint of chinewalk. Boat thinks it's a Porsche!!!!

Also, the service and customer support are without a dought the best in the business.

 

[tmh]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Yeah, the Smart Tabs are an easy way to make your boat run like a slightly larger boat all the time with added benefits when at no-wake speed and getting on plane. Needed? No, but for the price they are a great add-on.

 

[94OMC]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Thanks for the explanations. I may have to investigate this upgrade. Would tabs help or hinder when pulling a wakeboarder?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Wake Boarding -- ?

You must first determine what kind of wake boarding you will be doing. If you want the biggest wake possible, then tabs will not be what you want. The wake is created by the depth of the draft (how deep the boat sits in the water). The deeper it sits the larger the wake. Thus you will find water bladders to add weight to the boat, and even specially design boats.

Trim tabs will allow you to run slower with minimal bow rise, which is nice because you can now see were your are going, but this also reduces the draft at the stern and therefor reduces the size of the wake. You can always retract the tabs (even Smart Tabs with the PR500 Plate Retractor Kit) which will allow the stern to drop but then the bow will go up and visibility will be restricted.

Assuming you are not going to change boats, and since the tabs can be retracted (helm controlled or Smart Tabs with the PR500 kit) your best bet is to add tabs. By the way you will notice a marked improvement in fuel economy when running these lower speeds.

 

[proctor232]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

I was wondering what everyone thought about using Smart tabs or Bennetts on a 19' Bass boat w/a 150 Yamaha? My main issue is the pounding I take everytime i go out on Big water. This is my 1st year owning a boat, so I know their is lots to learn about how to react to different bodies of water, but i felt like i was getting airborn in only 2foot waves! I was assuming that the Smart tabs were the best options for me because they dont require controlling them while driving, but in terms of the up and down slamming of my bow, would bennetts be a better option for me? Thanks alot 4any input.
1st time Post

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

slowing down, and may be crossing the waves at a different angle would reduce the bow slam. you have to boat according to the conditions. most bass boats are not built to handle really rough water.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

As Tashadady suggested, adjust the speed to the conditions. That said, you may not be able to reduce the speed to a comfortable level ride without coming off plane. The Samrt Tabs will allow you to run at slower speeds, and provide engough stern lift / bow pressure to keep the boat from pounding. Most people are amazed at the difference in ride.

 

[frankie g]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

go with either Bennett hydraulic, or Lenco electric trim tabs. much more control than smart tabs. more expensive but over the long run, not so. I have the
lenco electric for my 23' Trophy WA, and they are great to have.

 

[dave11]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

How do Smart tabs affect handling while backing?

 

[nlain]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Under normal backing conditions they do not affect backing, unless they help you back a little straighter.

 

[mdunn]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

I was wondering what everyone thought about using Smart tabs or Bennetts on a 19' Bass boat w/a 150 Yamaha? My main issue is the pounding I take everytime i go out on Big water. This is my 1st year owning a boat, so I know their is lots to learn about how to react to different bodies of water, but i felt like i was getting airborn in only 2foot waves! I was assuming that the Smart tabs were the best options for me because they dont require controlling them while driving, but in terms of the up and down slamming of my bow, would bennetts be a better option for me? Thanks alot 4any input.
1st time Post

I just recently put Smart Tabs on my Smokercraft 17.5 footer. Being a fairly light boat but with the maximum size o.b. (115 4 stroker yamaha) it really pounded me hard in moderate chop and porposed like flipper in smoother conditions when using any up trim at all.
What a difference! The first time after installing them I took the boat out and it was pretty darn choppy so couldn't run wide open but it handled so much better and cut through the waves without going airborne on me and slamming back down.
Yesterday I went out in smooth conditions and was able to test it better in wot conditions. Took off great with minimal bow rise and I think I may have picked up just a little top end speed but next time I may try a lower setting and see what that does. I didn't feel like I was able to get the bow up much at all with up trim on the motor so I think I'll try the #2 position.
Right John?

 

[cbavier]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Mine is a Horizon 190 with a 4.3 I/O 185 Hp No trim Tabs. I can get on plane in about 6 seconds with three adults a little longer with four. People on shore have commented they are amazed on how fast it will get on plane. The only thing I wonder is if it would stop the slipping I feel in tight turns at high speed. I always run with trim full down. Am I doing something wrong? I always slow down in tight turns because I don't like that feeling.

 

[QC]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

I didn't feel like I was able to get the bow up much at all with up trim on the motor so I think I'll try the #2 position.

Also try shifting some weight aft Now that you have the porpoising under control you can shift some weight around to help you get the bow up. I'd try that before I adjusted, get her as good as you can without adjusting, and then see if changes to the tabs make a positive difference . . .

 

[Maclin]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Cbavier,

I realize we may be hijacking the thread somewhat, but 6 seconds to plane is a long time in my opinion. Usually 2-3 seconds is what a boat should experience with correctly sized prop and good power to size ratio like yours.

My 22 footer with 270hp will plane in 2 seconds, hit 30 in 3-4 seconds, 40mph cruising speed in 6 seconds and top speed (48mph) in 7-8 seconds. I think these are typical numbers as my boat is just stock. I am underpropped somewhat but we tow a lot on a smaller lake and rarely cruise more than 15 minutes or so.

A typical aggressive launch for me goes like this.....I start out with trim all the way in, push the throttle all the way forward then begin to trim up just after I hit the throttle and the boat is moving. The bow comes up some, but not enough for bad visibility then the boat kind of hops up onto the wave and flattens out. I start moving the throtle back some (unless I am going full goose bozo after a jetski or something) and when I hit 35 or so I adjust the trim for max speed for the rpm or max comfort for water conditions.