Hi guys,<br /><br />In a several other threads I have asked about and received good feedback on various propellers, using Smart Tabs to correct for a 'permanent' tilt, and for adjusting that little trim tab above the propeller.<br /><br />I spent the day on the water today, playing around with these things and making notes as I went along.<br /><br />The full note sheet is available here:<br /><br /> Tilt and bow rise note sheet <br /><br />Pictures of the Smart Tabs in place can be found here:<br /><br /> Smart Tabs Installation Pictures <br /><br />Speed was measured with GPS. RPM's measured with original tachometer. All tilt & bow rise angles were measured with a Silva Clinometer:<br /><br />
<br /><br />The day of tinkering has been a complete success. In short:<br /><br />The little trim tab above the propeller : adds stability at all speeds, less sideways drift at low speeds, and better responsiveness to steering. Pointed almost straight back, maybe 1 degree to the left. No noticable effects on sideways tilting. Guess the increased rudder area in the right location is what does it.<br /><br /> The Turbo prop : Higher top end speed at lower RPM as compared to both the Ballistic and the Black Max. Lower slip figures than both. Will not ventilate nearly as easily as the Ballistic and allows for trimming the drive further out.<br /><br />However, the higher pitch and the Turbo being unvented gives a noticably worse holeshot. With the Ballistic being vented, the prop would spin for a second or so before gripping and the accelleration began. The Turbo will take a good 3-4 seconds before the RPM's come up to about 2400, where the turbocharger kicks in and accelleration really begins.<br /><br />On the good side, the RPM's at any given speed are around 5-8% lower now, probably also having a positive effect on noise levels and fuel consumption.<br /><br />Finally, the Smart Tabs : Incredible improvement. Brings planing speed from 15 to 11 knots. Brings maximum bow rise from 17 to 11 degrees (huge difference!), and with proper trim the bow rise stays below 8-10%. Slight improvement in top speed, from 36,0 to 36,5 knots, as the drive could be trimmed further out and there was no porpoising. Makes for a much smoother ride.<br /><br />By adjusting the two Smart Tabs differently, I could also adjust for the typical uneven port to starboard load. With a full load of people, the boat would lean 3-4 degrees to the left on plane. Now, the right tab is set at 1/4 from the lightest setting, and the left tab set at about 1/3. This gives a more even ride with the same load, and yet does not significantly increase the lean when I am alone in the boat.<br /><br />Thanks to all of you for your kind input, especially Walleyehed and NautiJohn.<br /><br />I'll keep quiet now and enjoy the summer on the water...
