Trim Tabs

[copie]

Why do trim tabs improve the ride on most boats when heading into a sea.
Mark

[ozscott]

Marc - several reasons. Most boats have a finer entry that the v at the stern to allow slicing through chop. It also lengthens the water line length of boat in the water so it bridges more of the chop waves than just having a much smaller section in the water.

Cheers

[wrxhoon]

The main reason is because the boat is always level if you use them correct. When the boat lands she lands very soft because she lands on the point of the V .

Scotts points are valid as well.

[scuttlebutt]

Tabs can force the nose down so it doesn't bounce around as much, thus smoothing the ride. Also as Ozscott says, getting the bow to cut the waves more cleanly.

[NTMID8]

Do they make a boat more stable at rest?

[finding_time]

Do they make a boat more stable at rest?

Not that would be noticeable. there just not that big!

[trueblue]

--------- mine are huge!

2 x 450wide mm tabs x 350 long on a 5.3 boat!

scary in fact

[Flex]

Also if your headed into a sea at a slight angle, some deep-V boats lean into the wind, So that side of the boat is lower which allows more spray to come in I've found. With trim tabs you can straighten the boat up for a much drier ride

I honestly dont know how anyone can live without trim tabs on their big mono's.

When Im headed into a chop, I drop the tabs and can go fast as I like. without I'd be bouncing pretty hard

[ozscott]

The main reason is because the boat is always level if you use them correct. When the boat lands she lands very soft because she lands on the point of the V .

Scotts points are valid as well.

That thought came to me after my post and when I had gone to bed...I guess the levelling of the boat from port to starboard is so automatic I had forgotten about it. If you are level anyway and there is no wind shear then the V sits level, so its about getting the nose down where it is finer and extending the waterline length to bridge more waves. If of course she is sitting at an lean left to right then the V cannot work properly cause she is smacking down more on the flat side of the hull which does not cut through the water. I had that problem in the bay with the Vag in higher wind and chop before tabs and the tabs are excellent.

To highlight the difference that tabs made into chop, even when there is no wind sheer just bring the front down with tabs, and then let it go right up again and see the difference - that ability alone is worth the tabs, but that and the windshear issue make them mandatory in my view on any monos over about 5m especially cabin boats.

Cheers

[Chimo]

All the points regarding increasing the boat length and thus improving ride even at very low speeds (as well as high speed) apply particularly to the tabs that use a plate such as bennetts and lencos for eg.

The point about them being mandatory on monos above 5 m is so true.

Apart from the fact that you would be better off in a longer boat, there is probably a case IMHO, to be made for installing them on even shorter boats if the boat has lots of weight on the stern eg 4 stroke motors

Cheers
Chimo

[ozscott]

Yep - good point Chimo

Cheers

[Lancair]

Im putting a set of Bennett Sport Tabs M80 on my new boat. $901 delivered inc the Electronic position indicator and auto tab retract function.

Lancair

[copie]

So whats the difference if i trim the nose down using the existing trim on my engine, why spend money on tabs.?????
Mark

[krazyfisher]

additional trim and you can adjust the lean your motor trim is only in the center where tabs are on both sides and can be adjust with 1 or both

[indy]

They are the best thing since sliced bread and once you have them you will wonder how you did with out them all those years.