trim tab thoughts.

[bluedog]

How many out there are running w/ trim tabs and what size are you using?I have heard theis hulls can be pounding and is the answer in trim tabs or is this an overstatement. I will be running off MA and RI coast and I would like to make ride more Lower Back friendly L3&L4 are allready yelling at me! :-/

[macojoe]

Were are you fishing off Ma. RI. ?? It can some times pound and I belive tabs is the deal!! But I have not been able to pay for them yet :'(
Cuddys are a bit more front heavy. Center Con. seem to run much better then them.
I think I looked at a friends and he uses 12X ??

[bluedog]

Hay macojoe good to hear from ya, I'll be mostly off Falmouth in the spring and hopfully off Block Island when the temps rise and Mahi come around, maybe up toward Cape Ann in the fall for cod. Shark fishing is starting to temp me this year as well. I'm thinking 10x12 for tabs most likly hydro to many mixed info about electric, any thoughts on a outdrive fin?

[AirborneJarhead]

Hi guys...thought I'd chime in..

I too am saving for a set of tabs though I'm going with the electrics. I posted earlier about those Smart Tabs but after some further research, decided against them. Why pay $300 for something I can't adjust or control?

As for the fin...BE CAREFUL! I lost part of my cavitation plate from the 2 piece version. It was bolted on (2 bolts per side) and damned if the plate didn't break were the bolts went through. Mechanic said the combination of a heavy boat and the power of a 350 caused too much strain and off it went.
If you get the tabs, you'll have no need for the fin.

[macojoe]

Bluedog
I go out of Falmouth almost everyday in the summer!! We will have to get toghter!
I have a one piece Stingray fin on mine and it works great!! I bought one about a month after I started to use the boat!! Does a good job, but I have side tanks and when the tanks start to drain I will list toward the tank with less gas and this has pi$$ed me off for a long time now!
I had a 165 I/O when I got the boat and now with the conversion I run a 175 Yamaha and I took the same fin off the I/O and put on Yamaha with no problems.

I to like Airborne are going to get Lenco trim tabs and I have heard of the 2 piece fins messing up! so if getting one get the one peice!

[simple_gesture]

I would definately add the trim tabs. We put them on 4 years ago and they made a huge difference. They have helped in a chop or if you have the boat loaded for fishing. I forget what size I have on the boat but i will check out this week.

John

[chumbucket]

Hey bluedog...........welcome to the site. Good to see another local New Englander on here. For the hydraulic tabs, I think either the Bennett M-80 8"x10" Sport Tabs or the standard 12"x9" would be a good selection. My preference would be the M-80 Sport Tabs. The standard tabs are the plain flat plates where the sport's have the down turn on the sides and give more lift for a smaller tab.

[macojoe]

Bluedog no listen to chumbucket!! He no's nothing!!
And if he wants to meet you at the ramp some day, look out cause he has to drive there from P-Town you no!! :o

[chumbucket]

:PDon't be jealous MJ just because there's a new guy on the block. :-*

[Crusher]

Blue dog, and others considering trim tabs. There is some interesting threads about trim tabs being posted on other boards we all read. On www.thehulltruth.com go to vendor forum trim tab discussion read the thread Considering Trim Tabs 03-02-04. there is a lot of information about lenco & bennet products. Also go to www.iboats.com forums Boat topics read thread Smart Tabs for Me posted 02-29-04. In this thread you have Nutijohn (Smart-Tabs) & Tab Man (Bennet) posting in the same thread. Crusher

[Seakindly]

What are the odds? ;)

[AirborneJarhead]

Seakindly... :D ;D

I am a regular lurker on a number of other boards including the Fla Sportsman BBS...those 2 are regulars there too!

[bluedog]

I have gotten a lot of great info on the hull truth site as well but I wanted to see what v20 owners are running and their input. Thanks for all the help guys. Just trying to figure out a way now to keep the swim step I don't see how maybe one of those over the side removable ones? I don't know but hauling myself over the side sucks!

[macojoe]

you can put a small setp on one side. Or like someone here has done cut a hole in a full size platform so you can lift the leg up. There is no reason to give up the step up for trim tabs

[Crusher]

Bluedog, I've seen pictures were they cut a u shaped hole approximately 2"W x 3"L from the transom out in the step (platform) to mount ram for tab. Ram may stick slightly above platform. Crusher