Smart Tabs

[wingtime]

Has anyone on here tried the Smart Tabs?  They look and sound almost to goo to be true.  I like the idea of the design and I'm considering the Smart Tabs SX for my 200XF.

Thanks!

[Capt. Bob]

WT,
Only know what I've read but I'm Bennett biased so.....
There is several posts out there on trim tabs but I'll add this.

If you want control of your boat, helm adjustable trim tabs are the way to go.

http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=2658.0
A totally biased Bennett ad from their users but an interesting side note on the Volvo Penta tabs.  Again, very costly and you have to put some big holes in the transom but still worth checking out.

WT how does your XF ride? My short experience with the WAC is that it is nose heavy already. My thought on tabs would be to adjust for list with people moving around while underway. I noticed my 91 seems to lean to port on the short drive I took.

[Skoot]

I personally don't have experience with them, but my neighbor bought a used 20' boat WAC about a month ago that had smart tabs on it.  He didn't know much about them either, but was curious to see how they performed.  He used the boat 2x then removed them.  I don't remember the exact reason he didn't like them, but he said he's getting hydraulic tabs.

If you want I will ask more specifics. Im sure he still has them if your still interested.

[wingtime]

WT,
WT how does your XF ride? My short experience with the WAC is that it is nose heavy already. My thought on tabs would be to adjust for list with people moving around while underway. I noticed my 91 seems to lean to port on the short drive I took.

Well, Ive only had it out twice and I'm trying to get the right prop for it.   But I can tell you it' rides pretty darn good.  Better than I thought actually.  It doesn't seem nose heavy at all, in fact the reason I asked about the tabs is to get the stern up a bit.  I had expected a "torque lean" as most single screw boats tend to do, but it rides very level.  It doesn't lean too much when someone moves to the side of the boat but I can live with that.  I was asking about the tabs cause I was thinking of getting a dolefin when I found the smart tabs.  Yes full Bennett tabs would be better but I'm not spending that much $$$$ on this boat nor do I want something that complicated.   I also like the dampening effect the Smart Tabs seem to offer.  At a $120 bucks I think they offer a good bang for the buck.

[wingtime]

If you want I will ask more specifics. Im sure he still has them if your still interested.

Yeah if they are in working order that would be great!

[Capt. Bob]

Smart tabs may be the trick then.

I was somewat suprised how the 21 WAC rode. Driving the 225 WAC was much different.
Before I commit to either removing the tabs off the CCP or purchasing the Volvos, I need to get some seat time. I do however like how they changed the performance of the CCP.

The 91 rides much more like the CCP than the 225. It may have to do with the overall length.

Your 200 WAC dry weight is the same as the 200 CCP IIRC and probably handles about the same. With the motor set back on my CCP 26", it squated bad on takeoff. The tabs helped that tremendously.

If you get a set, let us know how they work out.

[seabob4]

Guys,
Yeah, I hate to say it, but at Proline, we have had great success with Smarttabs on our Pro-Lite series, especially holeshot and time-to-plane times.  Can't give you specifics, but a noticible difference.  Nauticus (the Smarttabs manufacturer) is also a great company to work with.

A cheap alternative to Bennetts or Lencos (or Volvo QLs, for that matter), and they seem to work.  We were shut down for so long that we didn't actually have the opportunity to test them to an extent where we could document them on different hulls with different engine combinations to see if they lived up to the companies claims.  But the boat we did test them on, the Pro-Lite 20 Flats had an incredible time to plane of about 1.8 secs., but she is a bay boat, with a lot of stern lift from a flatter deadrise.

There is some good discussion on THT.  Just search "Smarttabs".  Nauticus sponsors the iboats forum, so some caveat is in order there.

Just my $10.02 worth (have to adjust for today's costs!)!

[Skoot]

I talked to my neighbor today and he still has the Smart Tabs.  They look like the SX series, all black.  He said he would defiantly sell them, just make him an offer. (something is better than nothing were his exact words)  As far as he knows they are in proper working order. PM me with your contact info and I will be in touch.

[Ken G]

I installed a set of Smart Tabs on my 19-6 CC yesterday and got a chance to try them out this afternoon for a short time.  I was only in the water for about a 1/2 hour but I'm sold on them.

My current project is a 1977 Aquasport 19-6 center console with a 1987 Evinrude 150.  I've been chasing the correct prop along with dealing with VRO problems and possibly other fuel related issues for the past couple of weeks.  I should have the last of the bugs worked out tomorrow when I correct a minor fuel leak on the #3 carburetor.

While testing various props trying to get my WOT rpms up near 5500 I've had major handling issues while trying to trim the motor up.  The boat has always rode well at slower speeds and jumped up on plane pretty easily but if I've tried to trim the motor up at all the boat porpoises very badly.  I mean 40 mph scary porpoising.  The only way to prevent it was to leave the motor trimmed down all the way which wasn't helping my performance any.

I bought the SX9510-80's which are the black plastic tabs.  I got them on ebay for $117 with free shipping although I did have to pay sales tax since the seller was in state.  I could have saved a few bucks elsewhere but I saved a day or two in shipping.

I don't have any performance records concerning time to plane but I immediately noticed that bow rise was reduced significantly.  As the bow rose I was still able to see over the bow while seated and I know I used to drive blind for a short time before.  The biggest improvement is that at WOT the porpoising is GONE.  The boat rides as smooth as can be expected for the chop I was in and running 44 mph.  I can now try tweak the props to find the correct pitched prop to run.

On the negative side I will need to get used to the fact that the boat doesn't bank in the turns anymore.  Its stays more level and steers like an old tri-hull.  Installation was a breeze and took less than one hour.  There were a couple of typos in the directions thanks to whoever made up the instructions and printed them.  When I got home this evening I pulled them back off and I will remount them slightly inboard and a little higher than the instructions called for.  I'll probably move them in 1/2" and up maybe 3/8".  I'll repost after I make the changes.

[wingtime]

Well I mounted up my Smart tabs yesterday.  I bought the optional retractable brackets that allow the tabs to be lifted up into trail for trailering, beaching etc.  These added about an inch and a half to the height of the installation.  However, I believe having the option of retracting the tabs is well worth it.  The installation was straight forward.  I had to remove the forward "slat" for my swim platform to make room for the upper bracket.  This ended up giving me the added benefit of being able to retract the port tab with out having to reach under the platform.  I didn't have my camera with me but I'll get some pics and post them soon.  Now I just have to replace my stuck carb needle so I can test them out!

[slvrlng]

When you get the needle unstuck you need to load it down with scouts and all their stuff, get someone to follow you so we can see the difference in the ride.

[wingtime]

When you get the needle unstuck you need to load it down with scouts and all their stuff, get someone to follow you so we can see the difference in the ride.

HA!  Thats funny stuff there!  I don't think the tabs will help much with that load!  Thats like putting them on a barge or something!