smart trim tabs

[sea-fever]

does anyone have experience with these nitrogen filled trim tab cylinders...do they actually keep the boat on level like you can obtain from the hydraulic ones??any nitorgen filled cylinders i have worked with needed a recharge at some point..
the price is right but do they work..
rich

 

[ufm82]

Re: smart trim tabs

Just do a qick search here and you will find tons of threads expressing satisfaction with the Smart Tabs. I've had a set on my boat for 4 years now and they still look new. They changed my boats behavior completely. Well worth the money and a fraction of what adjustables cost. That being said, adjustables are the cat's meow but I don't think they make sense on a boat of less than 20'.
You don't recharge these- if they pop, you replace them. You could replace 10 rams and not hit what a set of adjustables will set you back.

 

[nlain]

Re: smart trim tabs

They work great, you cannot make adjustments on the fly like helm controlled tabs. So far on my boat I have not needed to do that. If you have a permanent list to one side you could possibly make a permanent adjustment to fix that, but if aunt Sue moves from one side to the other and changes the attitude of the boat you live with it. If you go to their website and read the advertisement material, they do everything advertised, at least they do for me. I have had mine for 5 or 6 years, I did have one cylinder fail, it was still in the warranty period and they sent another right out, no problems since.

 

[sea-fever]

Re: smart trim tabs

ok thank you all for your replies, my question has been answered.. i need tabs that will change the list of the boat while underway and electric or hydaulic seem to be the only remedy for that..
rich

 

[H20Rat]

Re: smart trim tabs

ok thank you all for your replies, my question has been answered.. i need tabs that will change the list of the boat while underway and electric or hydaulic seem to be the only remedy for that..
rich

Is it a permanent list or are you trying to adjust for varying load conditions? If you have a permanent list (heavy batteries all on one side), you CAN use smart tabs for that, just set one to be stronger than the other. They have different mounting holes, and if you use a clevis pin instead of a bolt, you can changing settings in seconds, just not while moving.

 

[sea-fever]

Re: smart trim tabs

its a changing list as people not use to boating move around, not serious just annoying to have your boat travelling at a minor list.