Smart Tabs?

[smokeonthewater]

Too bad you didn't try em Ferm.... I think you'd have a much different opinion...

I've seen before and after on a bunch of boats and several of them were tested bare, with a foil, and with smart tabs.... The tabs, far and away worked the best in every case.

Being able to adjust tabs is a benefit most of the time tho there are a few times that the smart tabs are actually better than the adjustable.... Admittedly being in the big water, the adjustable have a big advantage with the following sea thing....

That said, smart tabs are soooo much better than a foil on the motor...

I actually considered retrofitting my (inland only) 28' twin V8 cruiser from hydraulic to smart tabs but they don't make em for a boat that big.

[step up here]

Their is no doubt about it adjustable trim tabs are the way to go! But look at it this way, the cost factor you will get back half your money if not satisfied since they fit many boats. Also we spend a lot more on fishing STUFF that may not workout. I have Bennett SLT 10" tabs and am satisfied with the fact that they take out the porpoise and gave me about 4 more knots in a 3' sea. Just that difference in the ride kept them off Craigs List.

[inaforty]

I wouldn't want a non retractable tab. Tabs down in a following sea can be scary.
Kind of like running a downeast hull with a full keel in a following sea only..... WORSE.
Been there done that.

[Blue_Runner]

I am jonesing for some tabs.

[smokeonthewater]

They do make a retracting device for em but it is a manual lever on top of each tab.... Not sure how practical that would be in the big water

[SkunkBoat]

So thats an Absolutely YES and a Positvely NO....
How did I know that would happen?

I know of several boats with hydraulic that never get used. I ask, don't you use the tabs? they say "Eh...I don't even know if they work" or "the left one sticks sometimes and ...eh...too much hassle remembering if they are up or down" or "what are tabs?". Nobody I know,who has them on their boat, uses them except you guys on this site.

I saw the brackets for raising the Smart tabs. thats a must.

I figure I'll smash em on the dock first time out, trying to back in with a cranking cross-tide and wind...so I might as well go cheap.

A handful of screws from the outside and done... I think I just talked myself in...

[inaforty]

Skunk,
Running off the coast of NJ I would opt for either Lenco or Bennet.

I have never run a V 20 with tabs. I would imagine it would be an improvement on a already great hull.
I have run a 2120 sport cabin Parker, 25' Rosborough,23' Wellcraft and a 35' Bertram with tabs. All of these boats were/are affected by following seas with tabs down. Some more then others but you know the tabs are down when you're at the helm in a following sea.

Of course this from my experience in our local waters off the coast here in MA.
What might apply here might not apply somewhere else.

[Striper80]

Originally Posted by SkunkBoat

So thats an Absolutely YES and a Positvely NO....
How did I know that would happen?

I know of several boats with hydraulic that never get used. I ask, don't you use the tabs? they say "Eh...I don't even know if they work" or "the left one sticks sometimes and ...eh...too much hassle remembering if they are up or down" or "what are tabs?". Nobody I know,who has them on their boat, uses them except you guys on this site.

I saw the brackets for raising the Smart tabs. thats a must.

I figure I'll smash em on the dock first time out, trying to back in with a cranking cross-tide and wind...so I might as well go cheap.

A handful of screws from the outside and done... I think I just talked myself in...

My old Striper road like crap before I put tabs on it. I would face to constantly have people move around to keep the boat from listing when underway, tabs changed that. The first few times I had my wellcraft out i didn't have tabs and I really missed them. I have lencos, but it lives on a trailer so I don't really worry too much about them.
Hopefully the smart tabs workout for you.