Trim Tabs

[blueline]

hang on guys, this is more of a qustion then an answer, but i use my trim tabs to level my boat side to side, but trim my motor to put the nose down into the big sea's, am i doing something wrong. on the way out if a bit choppy i will use both as my fule tank is back a bitand more wait at the back when fully loaded.

[Greg P]

Use the tabs to trim your boats running attitude for sea/wind conditions. Trim the motor to run at it's most efficient position - you can pick up the sweet spot via the increase in rpm as you trim out the engine.

[Jarrah Jack]

I was going to ask this seperately but its worth mentioning here I guess.

I've seen mention of some tabs the same as trim tabs but without the adjustable function. I think they are set on a spring/dampener or something. Anybody come across them? They sounded like the poor mans trim tabs to me but apparently the yanks use em.

[stue2]

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

Chimo, I prsume thats still your current boat with the twins. Do you run trims on it and are they worth it on the twin rigs as ive read else where that you dont need them on twins?

Also some boats like the trophy i think it is have molded trim tab inserts as standard in the hull.

cheers, Stu

[Chimo]

Hi Stu

Yes it is my current boat.
Yes I run a set of Lencos on it.
I also have a set of foils on each motor.
The foils were fitted first and were beneficial in lifting the stern and aiding the transition to planing and also allowing a slower plane speed.
Some months later the basic Lencos were then added, by Seafarer, and even when not engaged they also add lift as they have effectively lengthened the hull. Obviously when tapped into action they ensure the hull is kept level which gives a smoother ride without the shoulder smack which occurs with deep vees when they run unlevel and the vee does not cut the waves.

I asked Lindsay Fry, previous owner of Seafarer, why trim tabs are not fitted to all the deep vee Seafarers and he said it was an issue of cost that buyers decided against even though he knew that the boats were better with them.

IMHO spend the money and you wont be sorry.

Cheers
Chimo

[stue2]

Thanks Chimo. I have now got myself a vag with twin 90 etecs but she sits in the shed .
If trim tabs can make even a twin rig run better then they will be fitted. I imagine that the tabs will trim more effectively and easier than the motors can.

Cheers, Stu

[Wayne_Red]

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.

So true, the brother fitted QLs to his 6m victory, truely amazing. Put one fully down on flat water and you almost fall over the side with the boat at @30degrees (even with 3/4 people on the high side).
To answer the original question, as other have said,
1. keeps the boat square to the water in all conditions allowing the V to work as is was designed
2. trim the nose efficiently to allow the pointy end to cut into chop the way it was designed
3. Lift the stern and get the boat level and perform as it was designed to counter the weight of people/fuel/heavy outboards, especially 4s
Wayne

[Angla]

I was going to ask this seperately but its worth mentioning here I guess.

I've seen mention of some tabs the same as trim tabs but without the adjustable function. I think they are set on a spring/dampener or something. Anybody come across them? They sounded like the poor mans trim tabs to me but apparently the yanks use em.

They are called Smart Tabs from www.nauticusinc.com

I have a set of the SX on a CruiseCraft 575 Outsider. For the 100 I paid I think they are giving me a better ride. Still playing around with the settings to see different outcomes on sea going ride when heading back in on a following sea and also fuel efficiency and cavitation as I had to take off my SE sport fin from the motor.

Cheers
Chris

[Snapperscott]

I appreciate some help here.

I've just started using my trim tabs on my 2301 striper and yes it absolutely puts the nose down.. What a difference the boat just bumps along rather than crashing into the holes.

Question is at times they are bloody terrifying because I rarely get to go head on into the sea as im always running west to east with either a southerly or northerly sea. At times the boat will just start steering left or right rather quickly and I have to turn the wheel pretty quickly to adjust or slow down.

Does anyone else using trim tabs get this type of very uneasy feeling when using them.

Im mostly in 1m confused sea up here in Cairns.

I can really feel the benefit of them but it just feels a bit scary at the moment.

Any help would be appreciated.


Scott.

[Flex]

Hi Snapper,

I have a 2101 striper with tabs, Which make the ride fantastic

When you say you have to turn sharply, Im assuming your travelling in some kind of following sea? or a sea coming onto one of your fear quarters? which causes the sharp nose dig in a bit?
You will need to fully disengage your tabs most likely or partially engage just one to flatten the ride and trim your motor our correctly. I find with my boat I cant just leave the motor trim and forget about it.

And Alot of people forget they have Motor trim when they get tabs.

I notice my striper is a bit sensitive to motor trim,But most deep V glass boats will be.
if Im in any sort of following sea I trim out and I can fly along no worries. Good indication if your steering starts to get heavy if you have incorrect trim in a following sea

[Snapperscott]

Hi,

Definately not a following sea more of a right to left sea coming through the front right quarter that im trying to go through. What happens is the boat just starts to head right as if you were in a plane making a turn. I need to over correct it to get it back straight. The problem is it just feels really uneasy for me and for passengers.

I should say trimming my motor does very little for bringing the nose down. Very little at all. But I'm about to put on a stainless prop and lift the motor up a notch.


Anyone else have a sense of lack of control using the tabs?


Scott.

[death_ship]

na mine produce quite the opposite effect! i have the lencos on a haines 580 breeze.

[Chimo]

Hi Snapperscott

Anyone else have a sense of lack of control using the tabs?


Certainly not with my lencos, I find them consistant and useful.

Have you hav a fiddle with the tabs?

ie try one full up and one full down and then accelelerate from stationary. Keep your hand on the throttle so you can back off quickly when you see their affect.

put them both fully down then accelerate from stationary, watch the bow lift as you ease the tabs up

trim you motor out to the sweet spot (after you have the height right) and then fiddle with the tabs but just tap them to adjust preferably both together after your initial individual tapping on one to get the boat level

Tabs are great things after you get your head around just how little adjustment you need on well installed units.

Did I mention I luv mine! and the foils on both motors too

Cheers
Chimo

[scuttlebutt]

Hi,

Definately not a following sea more of a right to left sea coming through the front right quarter that im trying to go through. What happens is the boat just starts to head right as if you were in a plane making a turn. I need to over correct it to get it back straight. The problem is it just feels really uneasy for me and for passengers.

I should say trimming my motor does very little for bringing the nose down. Very little at all. But I'm about to put on a stainless prop and lift the motor up a notch.


Anyone else have a sense of lack of control using the tabs?


Scott.

I get that Scott, happens when I put the tabs down too far. When using them to put the nose down you can only push them so far before it gets a bit doughy.

steve

[DAZMC1]

Iv,e got a set of Bennett sport tabs on my Edencraft 565 and it juest goes straight ahead , no bad habits at all. When I go with a following sea I lift them just about all the way up , you can feel where they should be at with a bit of practise, thats why I just leave them as manual. I usually trim the tabs down and trim the motor up, but I,m always making small changes on the go.