Smart boards??

[olddawgsrule]

Talk to me about these.. Please.
I have a 14ft Grumman with a 25hp off the back and she stands in a troll like she's more excited than I am!
Need to get her excitement, bow down a bit.

Yes, I've put bricks up front and rather tried of this..
Yes, I have friends to fish with, but those days I'm alone.. or a 'light weight' with me..

If these are spring driven, and run full until force pushes them up, they could be a solution.
Also like the idea of a pair to balance the boat.

Talk to me about these or suggest another.
They're not cheap, but if they do work..
I'm all about it!

 

[MRS]

I have Bennett SLT 10 on mine best thing I ever did to the boat. I think the smaller size would work on yours springs only in them nothing to leak out

 

[jbcurt00]

Do you mean 'smart' tabs?

 

[olddawgsrule]

Like that, yet seemed singular..
Lead me to this though..

Kinda liking the pair idea for leveling..

Thank you very much!

 

[smokeonthewater]

YES you will LOVE smart tabs... they HAVE to be in a pair because you have a motor in the middle..... the sx tabs you have pictures are not what you want tho.... I suggest that you pick up the phone and call nauticus in person... they will work with you to make sure you have the right product for your application

http://www.nauticusinc.com/

8080 Snowville Rd.
Brecksville, OH 44141
Toll Free: 800-233-0194

 

[Chris1956]

I presume you have the motor in the lowest trim setting? Is that a "semi-Vee hull"?

 

[gddavid]

Talk to me about these.. Please.
I have a 14ft Grumman with a 25hp off the back and she stands in a troll like she's more excited than I am!

When you say "stands in a troll", are you referring to trolling speed or something else? If so I would not expect your trolling speed to be fast enough for trim tabs to be very effective.

 

[Maclin]

Smart Tabs do have a Pro-Troller option with the bracketing that allows the tabs to be set at 90 degrees full down as an aid in controlling speed and wander.

 

[olddawgsrule]

Yes I meant 'tabs'.. So many different brands sayin' so many things..
Semi 'V' would be mine..
And set at the lowest trim..

In slow troll she's semi flat (well at least with a mate onboard, or the dog, or some bricks..)
I've always wondered what she'd be like without those..
I come from a canoe background and know to move up in the craft to balance out.
Can't do that with a tiller...

I will contact Nauticus and have a conversation.
Very good suggestion!
Most of what I've seen is above 'my' horsepower.

What I'm reading into this is: Nauticus fans.

Are they the only?
Or really the best? (Just askin')

 

[kjsAZ]

Nauticus are longer on the market with self adjusting tabs. Bennett Marine came out with their version(s) a while ago and naturally don't have the same installed base but they lead in adjustable ones.
Nauticus has two versions, a plastic one which are the cheapest and a stainless one which are more expensive. Bennett's are stainless and close in price to the plastic SX tabs plus carry a 5 year warranty.
Tabman, a member here, is from Bennett and could tell you which ones fit best for your application. Then you can compare them to the Nauticus.

I don't have tabs on my boat but helped install both types on friends boats. In the AZ sun the lifetime of stainless is definitely better. The plastic ones seem to get brittle after 5 years in the sun. They both operate equally well.

Both can be ordered from iboats....

 

[MRS]

I do have the bennetts SLT and they are wonderful I went with them cause nothing to leak only have springs in them. I know both tabs are great but that is why I went with the Bennett tabs just my 2 cents worth witch ever ones you chose will definitely solve your problems. After putting tabs on mine I will never run a boat of mine without tabs....

 

[Tabman]

Thanks Juergen!

Oldawgsrule,

On a lighter boat like your Grumman, a set of Bennett SLT6 6" x 8" Tabs would be a very good choice.

 

[gddavid]

Trim tabs are not going to lift your stern noticably at trolling speed while the boat is still in displacement mode. They only start impacting the trim of a boat as your boat starts trying to plane. Assuming the water line of your boat is about 10' with you sitting in the back, your boat won't start trying to plane untill about 4.25 knots. I believe you would have better luck with an extension of your outboard tiller (which are kind of awkward but cheap and effective) or a forward steering station.

 

[olddawgsrule]

Thank you all again for the input!

The goal is to aid in moving around from spot to spot and gain more control of the boat.
Currently I put those bar-bell weights to good use.. Just don't like adding weight if there's another solution.
I do have a tiller extension, and they are a bit of a pain..
I am debating some sort of forward steering, not a station though.. That takes up too much deck space.
If I do go that way, center (and pull the two bench seats) may be the direction..

I will check out the SL T6! Thank you!

Question: Will this effect my stern mounted transducer? More turbulence, more noise effect?

 

[dan02gt]

My transducer is about 5" from my trim tabs and I haven't noticed any issues.