Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

[synergy141]

Hi, I have a 1998 Searay 215 Express Cruiser. It takes a very long time to get onto the plane. When my trim is all the way down It wont get onto the plane at all. Im looking into trim tabs and I don't know what type to get. The Options are Bennett Sport Tabs, Nauticus Smart Tabs or Smart Tabs SX???

 

[carlh]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

I have a 17ft boat with a 115HP Yamaha and the bow used to raise about 3 feet while in "the hole" after fitting smart tabs the bow raises no more than a foot. Brilliant devices, fit and forget. Email the men at Nauticus for advice and trust them - I did - even though I had to get the tabs shipped from USA to UK.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Bennet or Lenco trim tabs. don't wast your $$ on "smart tabs"

 

[carlh]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Bennet or Lenco trim tabs. don't wast your $$ on "smart tabs"

Why do you consider Smart Tabs a waste of $$? I am extremely happy with mine, they do the job they were bought for and automatically - like I said fit and forget, almost the next best thing to sliced bread.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

no adjustments at all. with trim tabs you can adjust side to side as well as the additude ( bow up or down )of the boat. Reverse will suck with smart tabs...there always down. there're more $$ but much more refind. you'll save some gas also by adusting just the right trim for the water condition.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Why do you consider Smart Tabs a waste of $$? I am extremely happy with mine, they do the job they were bought for and automatically - like I said fit and forget, almost the next best thing to sliced bread.

A 17 ' boat is alot different that a 21-22' boat. on smaller, lighter boats you can get a way with them. If you had reg. trim tabs you'd see and fell the diff.

 

[carlh]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

..... Reverse will suck with smart tabs.......

Reverse??? Why would you want to do that?? Best performance and mpg in boat is forwards, isn't it?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

On mine I have Bennett.
Love them.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

FYI, Iboats has smart tabs on sale right now for $107..and today is the last day for the rebate from Nauticus. That puts them under $100 before shipping.


http://www.nauticusinc.com/rebate_certificates.htm

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Reverse??? Why would you want to do that?? Best performance and mpg in boat is forwards, isn't it?

backing off a trailer, docking, backing into a slip, pulling awy from a dock, ya know maneuvering your boat...don't you have reverse on your boat? I guess if you just go straight, you don't have to worry about going backwards!

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

FYI, Iboats has smart tabs on sale right now for $107..and today is the last day for the rebate from Nauticus. That puts them under $100 before shipping.


http://www.nauticusinc.com/rebate_certificates.htm

Ya want something cheap...or something that's gonna improve the performance and safety of your boat! Besides...you have a small light boat, and he ( '141 ) has a larger, heaver boat

 

[synergy141]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Ive heard nothing but good about smart tabs, thats the first comment I have heard that they are no good. You think the smart tabs will not be as effective for a 21.5 ft boat like mine?

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

I have a 23' and would never concider smart tabs...and to be honest...I have to tell it like it is....he needs Trim tabs. I've been boating for over 35 yrs and from experence of owning many size boats ( from as small as 8' )

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Ive heard nothing but good about smart tabs, thats the first comment I have heard that they are no good. You think the smart tabs will not be as effective for a 21.5 ft boat like mine?

Its quite clear that frankie g's is only interested in his own opinions. All others are irrelevant. I too have heard nothing bad about smart tabs. yeah there other choices out there. anything you can turn on and off like electric or hydraulic tabs would be better because it gives you more control...but they are also 4X the price.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Ive heard nothing but good about smart tabs, thats the first comment I have heard that they are no good. You think the smart tabs will not be as effective for a 21.5 ft boat like mine?

If your budget is small than there better than nothing...but if its in your budget, you should seriously concider trim tabs. try other forums and ask the same question...and I'm sure it would be agreed for the trim tabs. A fairly good size cruiser really needs them IMO. not trying to be a hard azz, but just give good advice to someone that wants/needs it.

 

[frankie g]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

Its quite clear that frankie g's is only interested in his own opinions. All others are irrelevant.

Not very open mined are you. They have there place. They work for you don't they

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

I have Lenco trim tabs on my 18' Wellcraft and I love them, but I say go for the smart tabs if you don't really want to pop for the Lencos or Bennetts. I too have heard good things about the smart tabs. I do think that the reverse handling would be greatly affected though, but if you don't need to do much backing, then I wouldn't worry about it. I don't have to back up often myself, but it is affected a little even with fully retracted tabs, it would be way worse if they were in the down position i would imagine. If my boat didn't already have tabs when I bought it, I would probably not have spent the dough for Lencos, and gone with smart tabs. Good luck with whatever ou get.

 

[TJDave]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

I have Smart Tabs SX and love them. BUT, my boat is only an 18 footer. Going backwards? For as much as I do it, it works fine. Yep, backing off a trailer, docking, backing into a slip, pulling away from a dock, ya know maneuvering my boat.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

The smart tabs are great for smaller boats in lake conditions. If you boat anywhere with changing sea conditions such as strong currents from weather or tidal shifts, following seas, etc. they are not the best choice because there are times when it is unsafe to have tabs deployed. If you do any saltwater boating I would reccomend the Bennett's they have great customer service and a solid product.

 

[nlain]

Re: Which trim tabs do you reccomend?

I boat in rivers and sounds and run Smart Tabs, they do everything advertised, they make my boat handle the rough water of the sounds much better. I do not go offshore, boat not really big enough plus open bow so I make no statement of what would happen there, inside they are great, they also save fuel and increase speed in the cruise range and may even increase wot speed, some do some do not, you will at worst maintain current wot speed.