will smart tabs do anything for me?

[cbavier]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

I'll time it out but it just shoots up on plane out of the hole shot. It seems to leap depending on how many people and their size. I was just guessing the timing. The boat is still in storage and getting the boat into the water is at least three months away in Northern Michigan. I was thinking 2 or 3 seconds but that didn't sound reasonable. I was also thinking of distance and was thinking maybe 40 yards to plane from dead stop.

 

[Maclin]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Good deal......I bet yours doesn't need the 40 yards either, that is 120 feet, have you ever seen the Boat in the Pool video? That one planes out then turns in half the length of an olympic sized pool....pretty cool PR stunt.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

CBavier;
If you are running with the trim all the way down and tucked under, (negative trim) then you are wasting a lot of thrust / HP / gas. The prop is most efficient when it is perpendicular to the surface of the water. Typically trimmed out until it begins to loose bite then bump it back down a bit. Don't slip the prop with either too much or too little trim.

Trimming out may cause the boat to porpoise, but that is where the trim tabs come in. Don,' use the prop to correct boat hull issues and balance.

Also, getting on plane quickly is nice but can you plane while accelerating slowly? It's much less costly.

 

[cbavier]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

CBavier;
If you are running with the trim all the way down and tucked under, (negative trim) then you are wasting a lot of thrust / HP / gas. The prop is most efficient when it is perpendicular to the surface of the water. Typically trimmed out until it begins to loose bite then bump it back down a bit. Don't slip the prop with either too much or too little trim.

Trimming out may cause the boat to porpoise, but that is where the trim tabs come in. Don,' use the prop to correct boat hull issues and balance.

Also, getting on plane quickly is nice but can you plane while accelerating slowly? It's much less costly.

I do go up on plane slowly at times but I wondered if that used more fuel. Thanks!
I also wondered about the trim all the way down and read an article this winter in "Trailer Boats" talking about trimming up. I suppose when up on plane you trim up until the Bow starts to lift then just bump down to keep the boat
parallel with the water. Correct me if I'm wrong. By the way I seldom run on plane. I usually run slow to just 1/4 throttle below Bow rise.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

CBavier;

Get a boating magazine that shows the speed vs RPMs at various RPMs. You will note that when the boat is off plane the fuel consumption is high, and then drops significantly when the boat rotates to plane. If you use the trim tabs, you will be able to reduce the speed (seems thats what is most comforable for you) and maintain plane. The ride will be better, the visability will be better (bow down) and the fuel comsumption will drop.

The effect is the same as flaps on an airplane wing. Given the way you use your boat, you could pay for the tabs in one average use season, not to mention the other benefits.

 

[proctor232]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Thanks 4the thoughts about my debate of whether to get the smart tabs or the bennett/lenco's. I was pretty sure that the smart tabs were the best bet for me, now i am just not sure which one to get.
Frankie G, I understand that the bennetts/lenco's can have more control, but do U think they are pretty easy to learn, especially with little experience? This is my 1st year with a boat&when i actually get on big water(rarely) i feel like my brain is occupied enough, that i dont need another button to worry about pushing. Basically,i dont care about how fast i get on plane, or how fast i can turn, or anything that has to do with "high performance." I just want to be able to cruise along,knowing the tabs will help my safety,& something to reduce the pounding i take in anything over 1foot waves. With all of that said, do U still recommend the bennetts/lenco's for me or do you think the smart tabs would be better for me,because they are easy? Thanks again!(sorry for the NOVEL)

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Proctor;

Your choice should always be made based on how you use your boat, and what you are comfortable with. Frankie g has a 23 ft boat (5 feet longer than yours) and is obviously comfortable with helm controlled Trim Tabs. That is the correct choice for him. My guess is that he has never used Smart Tabs, and is not aware of how effective they are, especially as an active system.

In the end it is your choice.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

Smart tabs are perfect for your boat.

 

[nlain]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

There are some bassboat people running the Smart Tabs and they are very happy with them, I do not remember if they are on iboats or trailer boats forum.

 

[proctor232]

Re: will smart tabs do anything for me?

OK. Thanks everyone! Now I feel more confident about getting the smart tabs!(Plus, they are so cheap that if i wanted lenco's or Bennetts down the road, it wouldnt be a huge loss of $)
I read that someone recommended getting a slightly bigger size tab than what the Company suggests. I dont know how many sizes Nauticus makes&i dont remember if he was talking about smart tabs or another brand... Any thoughts? I cant wait til the fish start biting!!!!!!