Permanent Trim Tabs?

[55Crestliner]

Some old aluminum boats, Feathercraft for one, had an aluminum 2" angle bracket attached to the bottom of the transom. See pic..<br /><br />

<br /><br />Are these considered permanent trim tabs? The angle of the transom would cause this 90 degree angle aluminum to stick down a hair lower than the bottom of the boat. What are the thoughts from those in this forum - is this a good idea to add to my 12 foot Crestliner? I'd like to get Smart Tabs, but I can't afford them right now.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

If your rig is handling OK I'd leave the/it off. Tabs can do a lot in some situations but in all do create drag.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

I have a simular set up on my 14 foot aluminum boat. I added it to keep the bow down when I was alone on the boat. Before I added it when I was fishing alone when the boat would get up on plane the bow was so light I felt like it would flip over backwords. After I added it much beter. With the family on the boat with me the boat would not plane and the home made tab seemed to make no difference at the sub planning speed.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Good looking piece ya got there....Neat!<br />

 

[Terry H]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

That's a very nice boat you have there...

 

[55Crestliner]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Thanks, but the picture isn't mine, just an example of the Feathercraft tab angle bar doohicky. <br /><br />That is a nice boat, hope mine is as pretty as that some day.<br /><br />SoLittle, Boatist, It just feels like my boat isn't up on a full plane. It still has a bit of a wake when at full throttle, and unlike others I have seen post here, there isn't a definate feeling of on or off plane. I'm sure it's planing, because the bow comes back down, and the wake moves quite a way back, (front 1/3 has no wake). But the bow is still higher than when going 3mph, and there still seems to be a bit of a hole being carved out behind me.<br /><br />This is with 2 adults in the front, and 2 kids in the back, each under 50 pounds.<br /><br />Boatist, do you feel your mod to your boat allowed it to plane at a slower speed? It's more stable by yourself, but did it slow it down also? I know without a GPS, you probably don't really know

 

[Solittle]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Tabs will aid in planing at a slower speed. This is useful not only for the hole shot but for some rigs it allows you to pull the toys (tubes, wakeboards etc.) at a speed that is comfortable for the riders.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

55 crestliner;<br /><br />The problem with any fixed trim device (hooks in the hull, fixed tabs, hydrofoils) is that it can only be optimized for a specific set of conditions (Speed, weight, water, balance etc.)<br /><br />Anything either side of this will be a comprimise.<br /><br />If you have a cliassic and wish to keep it classic then stay with what was origional and deal with the performance as is. If you are looking to increase the performance, the most effective device is trim tabs (variable) which can be purchased for as little as $90.00 for that boat.<br /><br />You can down load a booklet on "Understanding Boat Balance and Performance" from the left menu on our web site www.nauticusinc.com

 

[Boatist]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

55 CrestLiner<br />Your right I do not know. My boat is a 1967 14 foot Klamath aluminum,with a 1975 15 HP Johnson no deck, tiller stearing, just floor boards and seats. Boat very light, as a teenanger I loaded it alone on top of a 4 wheel drive suburban hundreds of times. Alone I would say it nearly doubled the speed I could run, because was so unstable on plane I would back off untill it was off plane. On plane I think the speed is about 18 MPH. Messure by a friend driving along the levy while I ran wide open. I made this mod long before GPS and have no Loran C on this boat. But took about half as long to get to favorite fishing hole. With a fishing buddy took the same time as before. Mine is made with a 1 inch square aluminum tube and when I first put it on made some difference but not as much as I wanted. I took it back off and formed the tube to not be square so angled down just a little for more stern lift. Mine is actually two peices with a break in the middle for the motor. I had also raised my motor almost 2 inches on the transom, not for speed but because I used boat in a lot of shallow water frogging and duck hunting. Mine is just glued on with silcone seal, no bolts or screws. <br /><br />If your looking for more speed think larger MOTOR not trim tabs.

 

[55Crestliner]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Originally posted by Boatist:<br /> Mine is just glued on with silcone seal, no bolts or screws.

That's not a bad idea, I could do the same, and see if I like it or not. I will have to get my dad's GPS and test it out first, take some before notes. I can always take it off if it's just glued.<br /><br />I really like the idea of keeping the boat traditional for it's era, but I'm really more inclined to change things if they really improve performance. Money's a little tight right now, so real trim tabs or a bigger engine is just not in the cards for now. In another post I'm discusing raising the motor - I'm building a new transom. That should help a bit too.<br /><br /> Here's a pic that some of you may enjoy, no trim tabs, it seems to be planing just fine - amazing what 35 horsepower will do on a 12 foot boat... <br />

 

[55Crestliner]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Boatist - I did some test with the 2 inch angle aluminum trim tabs I made. They were 8 inches long, and I glued them to the outer end of the transom. I sat in the back for the first time, and I got to 24.9mph. Boat was real smooth.<br /><br />I then took them off, and sitting in back was real rough, and frankly kinda scary. They made a huge difference. I don't usually sit in back, so they don't really help. They made the boat about 1-2 mph slower when sitting in front. They seem to add to the stability over waves though, even when I'm in front. <br />I'm thinking about trying to make some adjustable ones, but only if they are quick and easy to change while leaning over the back.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

ah, smart-tabs anyone????<br />That would be a sweet addition...and they adjust themselves as you roll the waves.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

55 crestliner;<br /><br />Apparently you like to invent your own solutions. I can relate! As I said earlier, any permanent modification to the hull (fixed trim tabs) will cause improvements in one area and problems in another, as you have learned first hand. <br /><br />If you really want to fix the problem and are not concerned about keeping the boat in perfect "original" condition, then your answer is Smart Tabs. Do some research.

 

[55Crestliner]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

I agree - Smart Tabs sound great. I work with a guy who just loves his.<br /><br />To be honest, I don't like the looks of them. Would they still function without the black rubber boot? If they were more classic looking, I'd be interested.<br /><br />Maybe that's just being vain, but I want to keep with the classic look. It's the same with the motor issue, I wouldn't even think about puting a new motor on this boat, even if money was no object.<br /><br />I'm not intending to put the angle aluminum back on - I got great advice here, and It was proved to me they are a compromise. I guess I just need to learn for myself

 

[Maximerc]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

I have a 8 foot Minimax that the hull extended past the transom , it was called a afterplane. brought the nose down quicker . 10 hp merc on it you could get it to hop at low speed with the throttle and nail it at the right time and make the boat Skip ! fun fun !!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

You could remove the boot but the actuators would not last, unless you cleaned them every time you used the boat, and kept it out of the water when not in use. Not a good idea. I understand the classic thing. Good luck!

 

[richg99]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

If the black boots bother you, I'd imagine you could come up with a metalic (aluminum color) flexible sleeve that would cover OVER the black boots. That way, they would at least, LOOK a little like original equipment. However, I go by the adage "function over form"...RichG

 

[rwidman]

Re: Permanent Trim Tabs?

Originally posted by 55Crestliner:<br /> I agree - Smart Tabs sound great. I work with a guy who just loves his.

I had them on an 18' bowrider and they made a great improvement getting on plane faster, maintaining plane at a lower speed and reducing "bow wander".