Smart tabs on trihaul

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

yep Tabman (Bennet) and Jdeagro (Nauticus) have BOTH been EXTREMELY helpful and never pressured anyone that I've seen.

If a person wants to know about a product, who better to ask than the people that build and sell it.
They both have stellar reputations.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Yes, it's very impressive how they and spend so much time. on the forum. I wish more manufacturers reps would be here to answer questions about their products. Nauticus has great customer service; supporting users on these boards is just more evidence of that.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Jestor68;

Have you ever tried trim tabs? .

I have only owned boats up to 23 feet in length, so I have never owned a boat large enough to require trim tabs.

And I'm not a prop vender(or any other type of vender).

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

I have had boats to 32'. All in the 20' - 26' range performed better with tabs. These boats were not used on quiet lakes which does make somewhat of a difference.

I have only owned boats up to 23 feet in length, so I have never owned a boat large enough to require trim tabs.

And I'm not a prop vender(or any other type of vender).

 

[Tabman]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Hello, my name is Tom and I am a Trim Tab vendor

Smaller boats actually benefit more from Trim Tabs than larger ones. Smaller boats are more affected by weight distribution, speed and water conditions than larger ones. If you have a couple of guys and an ice chest in a 19 foot boat it will make a larger impact on its trim then if they were in a 30 foot boat.

Of course careful weight distribution and maintaining an appropriate speed according to the water conditions is vital. However the ability to to stay on plane at lower speeds will make a smaller boat ride much more comfortably in a chop. Keeping the bow down cutting the oncoming waves will reduce pounding and you will be able to see where you are going without having to stand up at the helm.

It's worth noting that just about all the small "Flats Fishing boats" here in Florida fit Trim Tabs for just these reasons (plus staying on plane at lower speeds they draw less water). Boats as small as small as 13 - 14 feet regularly install Trim Tabs

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Guy's

Neither Tom or I are trying to sell anyone a set of trim tabs for the sake of making a sale. Do we believe in our products and the benefits they provide? Of course. The purpose of being here on this forum is that we have the opportunity to work on the front lines and witness the "real" world issues. This allows us to better serve the customers in general.

There is no reason for us to offer advice that would not prove valuable simply to "sell" a set of trim tabs. If we did, you would be back on this forum letting everyone know that we are not truthful.

The notion that smaller boats do not need or can not benefit from trim tabs is simply in error. It is like saying the Cessna 150 two seat airplane does not need flaps on it's wings but the 747 does.

Tom is exactly correct when he states that small boats benefit (proportionally) more from trim tabs than larger boats. On an 18' bow rider, two guys and a beer cooler weigh in at about 15% of the total boat weight which is significant. The same two guys on a 32' sedan weigh in at about 3% of the total weight. Controlling boat attitude on the small boat yields far more benefits.

Keep in mind that the single most valuable feature of trim tabs is that they are adjustable to the needs or condition. Props, or stationary planing devices provide "benefit" in one area and a compromise in another so you need to accept the compromise.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Guy's

Neither Tom or I are trying to sell anyone a set of trim tabs for the sake of making a sale. Do we believe in our products and the benefits they provide? Of course. The purpose of being here on this forum is that we have the opportunity to work on the front lines and witness the "real" world issues. This allows us to better serve the customers in general.

There is no reason for us to offer advice that would not prove valuable simply to "sell" a set of trim tabs. If we did, you would be back on this forum letting everyone know that we are not truthful.

The notion that smaller boats do not need or can not benefit from trim tabs is simply in error. It is like saying the Cessna 150 two seat airplane does not need flaps on it's wings but the 747 does.

Tom is exactly correct when he states that small boats benefit (proportionally) more from trim tabs than larger boats. On an 18' bow rider, two guys and a beer cooler weigh in at about 15% of the total boat weight which is significant. The same two guys on a 32' sedan weigh in at about 3% of the total weight. Controlling boat attitude on the small boat yields far more benefits.

Keep in mind that the single most valuable feature of trim tabs is that they are adjustable to the needs or condition. Props, or stationary planing devices provide "benefit" in one area and a compromise in another so you need to accept the compromise.

For discussion purposes only (because I have 0 experience with these after market products) why don't boat manufactures sell boats with them already installed?
In the case of this guy who started this thread, it appears his boat is smaller, older, and perhaps underpowered for what he wants. It makes good sense to inspect the boat as is, to discover if he has other reasons he isn't getting the desired result. Living in/on the great lakes many of the larger boats use them for the big water conditions we encounter here.
Of the 8 or 10 boats I have owned, none of them have had the tabs installed, and when the boats didn't perform, it was because the boat was either waterlogged or underpowered, or overloaded.
So again my biggest question (so I can learn not because I don't think tabs are bad) why don't manufactures of all the boats offer them as new? Heck maybe they do, but I haven't seen this. Good discussion by the way, we learn every day.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Nearly all boats are available new with tabs installed... either by the manufacturer OR by the dealer... the reason they aren't standard equipment on many smaller boats is that there isn't a demand for them from the buyer and they cost money.... If boat A without tabs is a few hundred $ cheaper than boat B with tabs and the customer (right or wrong) doesn't see them as useful then boat B will not sell.

IE EPIRB's save lives but are not standard equipment on all ocean going boats.

 

[Tabman]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

Smoke on the water is spot on, well over half of the Trim Tabs we manufacture are sold directly to boat builders (and that's a lot of Trim Tabs)!

 

[shawn.54]

Re: Smart tabs on trihaul

as the owner of the boat i can say that the boat is sound not water logged and motor has good compression rebuilt carbs and will do link and sync soon it will go about 32mph 2 adults and 29 with 6, 4 adults 2 kids does not lose speed in turns. this is not a big money deal just cheap fun with wife and kids two boys 11 15. we mostly tube and fish this boat is great for that. When $ and time comes i will get tabs to help me ski and if it helps with fuel that is great. I just pay more attention to how i spell hull next time thanks a lot for all info.