What did I do

[90stingray]

Re: What did I do

Go get a set of Doel Fins and be done with it . You'll get a better ride

Yeah... it will cover it up and you will never know unless you are looking from the bottom. They are like $25 at walmart.

 

[honeys money]

Re: What did I do

Put a whale tail on it and check the prop, simple as that.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What did I do

Put a whale tail on it and check the prop, simple as that.

I wouldn't put a whale tale on it either. They just add drag.


Just run it as is..........A difference that makes no difference, IS no difference............

 

[produceguy]

Re: What did I do

Thanks guys I feel better knowing it will not effect anything. Still like ( THE FEATHER ). I will measure the prop as soon as I can. Thanks for the info.

 

[honeys money]

Re: What did I do

I wouldn't put a whale tale on it either. They just add drag.


Just run it as is..........A difference that makes no difference, IS no difference............

BS, when your on plane they are out of the water, they sure helped me get it up on the water faster and still runs about 44 or 45 mph.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: What did I do

Yeah... it will cover it up and you will never know unless you are looking from the bottom. They are like $25 at walmart.

And $24.99 of that is wasted money. Fix the issues. Look at the prop and if you need to improve planing, look at the appropriate tab system.

 

[redjmp]

Re: What did I do

Well the whale tale debate really centers on how high it rides when the boat is on plane.

I can tell you from experience that it is only really beneficial if iT rides completely out of the water on plane.

Since this is an inboard/outboard, the ride height is fixed when the outdrive is attached from the factory.

Usually the manufacturer sets the anti-cavitation plate to ride level with the keel line when trimmed level.

Installing the dole fins on this set up causes them to protrude out the sides of the wake and ride in the water creating extra lift but also creating drag and lowering top speed and fuel economy.

On an outboard that can be raised so that the fins are completely out of the water at plane is a totally different matter however.

When you hammer down the throttle, the prop starts to move a lot of water over the hydrodynamic surface, even before the boat gets moving and lifts the stern up and out of the water a lot sooner and really helps the boat plane out sooner and gives it the ability to reach plane at a lower speed.

They allow the lower unit and prop to be adjusted so that less is in the water without cavitating which in turn means less drag in the water.

That large surface area right above the prop helps a great deal to keep air out , thereby reducing cavitation.

This in turn allows allows a higher top speed and the ability to reach it sooner, and also to cruise more efficiently because of less leg in the water which reduces friction.

The key is that the prop and leg are adjusted to ride higher which is not really possible with an outdrive....

 

[honeys money]

Re: What did I do

All I know is what my boat does, I have lost no top speed and it does plane at a slower speed, my boys have an air-chair, and knee boards, also I have a 19", 21" and a 23" pitch props to do what I want to do with the boat.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: What did I do

I have never heard of anyone pulling tabs and going to a doel fin. Says something right there doesn't it? A doel fin can improve some planing issues, but mostly creates other handling problems. Band-Aid at best. Again, fix it right, Smart tabs are cheap and effective for small craft with very few negative side effects. I didn't mean to highjack the thread to another fin flame war, my apologies to the OP.

 

[produceguy]

Re: What did I do

Please proceed. The more you gents write the more I learn. What are smart tabs?

 

[redjmp]

Re: What did I do

Smart tabs are flat aluminum plates about 4 to 6 inches wide and a foot or 2 long which are hinged onto the bottom of the transom kinda like the ailerons on a plane wing.

They are preloaded so that they angle down at lower speeds to help get the rear of the boat up sooner.
At higher speed, the water pressure flattens them out automatically.

Trim tabs are the same thing only they are hydraulically controlled by a switch at the helm so you can adjust to suit the speed/conditions.

They are the way to go when you are running an outdrive...

But they are rarely seen on outboard equipped boats as doel fins work better for them in most cases but only if the motor is raised a couple of notches to get them totally out of the water when on plane...

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: What did I do

Available right here from our sponsor. Just type Smart tabs in your key word search in the boat parts and accessories tab.

 

[wire2]

Re: What did I do

Available right here from our sponsor. Just type Smart tabs in your key word search in the boat parts and accessories tab.

I ordered a pair just a few weeks ago, got a better deal than on eBay, fast shipping.

 

[produceguy]

Re: What did I do

Looks like a nice Cristmas gift to me.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: What did I do

They are preloaded so that they angle down at lower speeds to help get the rear of the boat up sooner.
At higher speed, the water pressure flattens them out automatically.

Trim tabs are the same thing only they are hydraulically controlled by a switch at the helm so you can adjust to suit the speed/conditions.

All true.


"Smart" tabs however absolutely will add drag at higher speeds and essentially will reduce top speeds depending on much spring tension you "screw down"

Trim Tabs Like Bennett Tabs and others, allow for cockpit adjustment from all the way down to all the way up (where they add NO drag)........ and everywhere in between.

I have Bennett Sport tabs on my boat that were installed more than 15 years ago when by brother owned the boat......(and by the way, a couple of years ago, the pump failed......... I took it apart and called them to get "rebuild" parts, and they said that they didn't sell rebuild parts.......... they preferred I just replace the pump.......when I asked the price, they said they would take care of it!!!!....how's that for a warranty!!)

I wouldn't trade them for ANY non-adjustable type of tab .....including a whale "tale"


ymmv though....



regards,


Rick

 

[produceguy]

Re: What did I do

Dockwrecker you are good. I measured the prop today and one prop blade is exactaly 1/8 of an inch off. Good eyes and congrats on the 600. Thanks for the directions on how to measure it.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: What did I do

Thank you, thank you very much! Hope you enjoyed the show, be sure to try the shrimp cocktail. Be sure to tip your servers, I'm here all week!

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: What did I do

All true.


"Smart" tabs however absolutely will add drag at higher speeds and essentially will reduce top speeds depending on much spring tension you "screw down"

Trim Tabs Like Bennett Tabs and others, allow for cockpit adjustment from all the way down to all the way up (where they add NO drag)........ and everywhere in between.

I have Bennett Sport tabs on my boat that were installed more than 15 years ago when by brother owned the boat......(and by the way, a couple of years ago, the pump failed......... I took it apart and called them to get "rebuild" parts, and they said that they didn't sell rebuild parts.......... they preferred I just replace the pump.......when I asked the price, they said they would take care of it!!!!....how's that for a warranty!!)

I wouldn't trade them for ANY non-adjustable type of tab .....including a whale "tale"


ymmv though....



regards,


Rick

I agree with all of that, and a BIG +1 on Bennett. With one exception for smaller craft. A smaller craft goes through many more gyrations than a cruiser weight boat, making it difficult to keep up with the undulations of the lighter hull. Yes there's additional drag to the smart tab that may cost a mile or two top end, but the stability is automatic and all around performance is enhanced. Without having to play ping pong with the trim buttons given the light weight of smaller craft, I like the Smart tabs. Easy and efficient. But once you clear 3000 lbs or have any sort of higher profile, I'm Bennett all the way. I wouldn't have a boat without them.

 

[mike343]

Re: What did I do

If the gouge on the prop and the plate happened at the same time it is possible that something was caught between them. I'd get the propshaft checked.

 

[alainc]

Re: What did I do

you can just sand and paint and add a stingray fin.