Mounting Smart Tabs on a Tinny

[JoLin]

It's a 16' Sylvan fish 'n ski. Do you guys put backing plates inside the transom? Any problems with the transom flexing? Nauticus doesn't say anything about it n the installation instructions.

 

[Georgesalmon]

If you are going through the 1 1/2 inch wood transom no problem, I'd use fender washers. But if only aluminum I would for sure have a substantial backing plate.

 

[JoLin]

The boat isn't accessible right now. It's in FL and I'm in NY, and I was having a hard time picturing the transom. Come to think of it, I think it's aluminum clad wood down to where it meets the hull. Thanks for the feedback. If it isn't as I'm picturing it I'll fabricate a backing for it.

 

[GA_Boater]

Maybe this Sylvan pic will jog the the memory, JoLin. The red line is just below the the rivets for the Z bracket the bottom of transom plywood nests in. Under the bracket is just the thin transom AL skin. A backer might be needed for the tab hinge.

 

[JimS123]

If the boat is an outboard and only 16 feet, put a DoelFin on it and skip the tabs. I don't have anything against tabs, but for your situation they just aren't the optimum solution.

 

[JoLin]

I'm going to disagree with you, Jim. It has a wing on it (came with the boat) and I don't care for the way the boat handles. It has an 85hp Yamaha on the back (it's rated up to 115) and it gets a little twitchy over 30 mph. I put Smart Tabs on my first boat eight years ago (21' Pro-Line OB) and they helped a lot. I can get a set of SX tabs for a little over a hundred bucks. I'm willing to spend that much on the experiment.

GA_Boater, thanks for the pic. I'll have to wait until I get down there to decide how to mount them.

 

[GA_Boater]

I don't like the wings either. I think it weakens the AV plate.

iboats has the factory blems for under a hundred. By a penny. :smile: http://www.iboats.com/Nauticus-SX-S...6288509--session_id.842861298--view_id.352485

 

[JoLin]

Okay, that's funny. iboats has 'em listed on eBay at $106.94 with free shipping, which is where I saw them. On the website they're $99.99 + $6.95 shipping.... or $106.94. I'm torn :joyous:

 

[GA_Boater]

Buy the cheapest one, LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

Get the cheaper set. LOL

 

[Watermann]

The lower hinge mounting point for the tab goes on under the transom wood. What I and others have done is to mount the tabs with closed end blind rivets and 5200. It's a solid set up and the upper piston mount is on the transom wood secured with screws and is also mounted in 5200.

 

[JoLin]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Yep I would do the same... Closed end aluminum pop rivets with stainless mandrels... Also I would use a backup washer on each rivet along with 5200 to seal each hole.

The washers should be more than enough and a plate should not be needed.

Regular steel mandrels would also be ok if you don't mind the mandrels slowly rusting and leaving a bit of rust stain below them.

 

[b.gagnon]

I have a 17' seanymph. I made backing plates out of 1/4" aluminum and tapped the holes in the plates so I would not have to use nuts...Put a little loctite on the screws and use 3m 5200 on everything else. 5yrs and no problems!
I have also just used sheet metal screws and 5200 on another boat Tin boat and never had a problem...
I don't think you will ever find wood that low on the transom...