Best ride in choppy conditions

[bgreene]

So when the ocean is around 2’ + while caps etc in a head sea, and I want to cover distance .I typically run mostly full tabs down, engine down .

Result .....Bow stays down cutting through the waves and I can power up without pounding.
Burns quite a bit more fuel but no matter.
I assume most everyone does same so just chatting here .

Surprisingly .....some on all kinds of boats don’t use their tabs and trim to best advantage.

[phatdaddy]

I wish I had tabs on mine, meant to do it years ago, never got around to it. Now I m scared to drill all those ones in a 37 year old transom

[Pipe_Dream]

Likewise. I'd like to have tabs, especially in a crosswind when the boat leans into it. That's annoying.

[bgreene]

Originally Posted by phatdaddy

I wish I had tabs on mine, meant to do it years ago, never got around to it. Now I m scared to drill all those ones in a 37 year old transom

Hah......I hear you but it's never too late !

Actually trim tabs make a very significant difference in the V boat ride.
Not a little...…...a very significant difference.

Installing the Bennett trim tabs was not difficult. Just have to measure placement and take your time.

[phatdaddy]

Measuring and patience, definitely not my strongest traits. I have heard the tabs really make the hull come alive

Also, like Pipe says, be nice not to keep telling chunky buddies to move to the other side

[bgreene]

You can do it — if I can you can

[Redneck]

Tabs are worth it Major improvement on a magnificent boat Nothing else needs to be said. Had them on my V-21

[randlemanboater]

I never got around to putting trim tabs on my V20, but I do remember being able to trim the motor all the way down in a head sea and getting a greatly improved ride over the motor being trimmed up.

I am sure trim tabs would have been even better.

I had trim tabs on my Grady White Sailfish 25 and I have them on my Ranger 250C, as stated, it is nice to just push a button to get level instead of moving people around.

[pjbrownva]

A little late to the party with a reply... but I picked up my '84 V20 this summer, and already had Bennet trim tabs that I bought on hand, so I installed them before I ever took her out.

Huge, huge difference (Thanks WellcraftV20)... it was thanks to here and one other board (THT)... that I learned just how important they are.

Some people complain that these boats pound in a chop... and they do... if you don't have trim tabs.

I marked everything with masking tape and a sharpie. Measured and did a trial-run dry fit. Checked and re-checked.... then I stopped, and returned the next day (wanted to sleep on it!)... did another dry fit, rechecked everything, and then out came the drill with cobalt bits. A bit scary, but it came out well.

I had a giant tube of 5200 as well -- in a caulk gun -- and was careful to seal everything!

It was well worth it. I've been in 2-4 ft seas with an occasional 5 foot swell, and it's been fine.... had to slow down to about 20 mph, and back off the throttle at the top of the 5 footers, so that I could easy down the back side of them, but the 2-4 footers only required steering to "thread" my way through them, but the ride was fine and comfortable... other than some occasional spray.

TRIM TABS... when I put them up, it was awful.... they are well worth the money. I got mine from Hodges marine... they were drop-shipped to me directly from Bennet (I think!)... and the price at Hodges was SIGNFICANTLY lower than at some other dealers.

[bgreene]

Pjbrownva .....great report, thanks for posting.

Spot on.....there are times I’ve put the tabs all the way down, motor also, and chugged along on plane through 2’-3’ chop without pounding. Can feel that bow digging through the waves and fuel economy must drop a lot but don’t care .....the ride is what’s important !
Tabs make it a whole different boat .