Quick Smart Tab report

[richg99]

I purchased some Smart Tabs for my Carolina Skiff 16. My 16 STD ( 40 hp Yamaha 2 cycle) has not really had much of a problem getting up quickly, but I was not prepared for what happened this morning.<br /> <br />I punched the throttle and tried to count the number of seconds to flat out planing. Well, I couldn't get to the number ONE before she was up and flat. After a quick run, with speeds over 30 mph, I brought her in and tried to adjust the tab pressure to something lighter. <br /> <br />Loosening and re-tightening the bolt(s) was an easy two minute job, while I stood in ankle deep water. <br /> <br />Boom...off she went again. I'm not certain that I noticed anything different, other than she was up fast and plaing before I could count any numbers at all. <br /> <br />Unfortunately, my engine decided to bog down and give me signs of trouble right then. It will be in the shop tomorrow to find out what that was all about. <br /> <br />I did not have, in my two runs, a chance to remove the tabs and run a direct comparison run. Nor did I have time to take my hydrofoil off and run a comparison run.<br /> <br />So, this is what I guess they call "anecdotal" evidence. The tabs performed beyond my expectations. More data and testing will be reported when I get the boat back from the shop. <br /> <br />My initial experience was very postitive and I'm now thinking about a set for my El Pescador! regards, RichG

 

[cdivrmike]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

Great, these are the kind of reports I like to hear when considering smart tabs for my 19' key largo CC....

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

Rich;<br /><br />Pull the tabs up so that they are not functional, run the tests with the hydrofoil only. Then remove the hydrofoil, and run the same tests. Then adjsut the tabs to the middle position and run the test with the Smart Tabs only. If the boat does not run faster with the tabs, adjust the pressure to a lower setting until it does.<br /><br />We strongly advise against using a hydrofoil and Smart Tabs. The lift pressure on the Smart Tabs can be adjusted and is regulated. The low end (time to plane) will not be noticably affected by a lower pressure, however the top speed will. Since hydrofoils are rigid the pressure once on plane increase as the boat speed increases. This causes excessive stern lift and bow pressure. The common remedy is to trim the motor out to bring the bow up. This has the prop running at a slant (it should be perpendicular to the surface of the water) and it looses bite along with a resulting speed loss. Most people think the resulting speed loss is due to extra drag, however at speeds under 60 MPH this extra drag is not a factor, it is prop angle.<br /><br />By nature of the design Smart Tabs never produce more lift than the actuators allow, and that is adjustable.

 

[richg99]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

NautiJohn..Re hydrofoil + tabs. Obviously, I have to get my boat back from the shop and run some tests. <br /><br />My perceived "need" for continuing to use a hydrofoil goes back to the running of my boats in extremely shallow water. I've had motors of all sizes from 150hp down to 25hp blow out when I try to get up in 12 inches of water. Hydrofoils have helped unbelievably well in THOSE instances. <br /><br />Most boaters think that 12 inches of water is already aground. It is NOT aground and we need that shallow running and shallow starting capability on the Texas flats. Only time will tell if the tab + hydrofoil combination (with the motor held a zero angle to the hull) will solve the blowout problem and also solve the excess lift issues, too. <br /><br />One must also factor in that a large percentage of the shallow running boats down here already have setback/jackplates...the engine's cavitation plate is already placed a couple of inches higher than the top of the hull's bottom. This placement, foreign to many deeper water boaters, adds substantial speed and efficiency to boats equipped with a set-back. The rule of thumb is one inch higher for every two inches of set-back. <br /><br />I am now pretty convinced that the smart tabs will do the job to get her up. How they can help with cavitation issues is beside me??? RichG

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

Rich;<br /><br />I have had basements with more than 12" of water. I'll be interested in your findins as well!<br />Thanks for your efforts.<br /><br />John

 

[ASI Imperial]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

Hey there!<br /><br />question to nautiJohn, I was also looking into these trim tabs. So when I receive them I should remove my hydrofoil?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Quick Smart Tab report

ASI Imperial:<br /><br />We strongly recommend the removal. You will run bow down with both. Way too much stern lift which is not need once you are on plane. Pretty much guaranteed to cause handling problem with both. Do not make the mistake of thinking that the tabs will be a little bit better in getting the boat to plane. They will be significantly better! And that is only the begining!