Best ride in choppy conditions

[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 .

[Duke01]

Does anyone have experience with the Bennett SLT10 Self-Leveling Tabs? Certainly inexpensive ($100 at Hodges Marine) and easy to install. Curious about how effective they would be quarterly 2-3 footers or in a beam sea.

I have used hydraulic tabs on other boats, but nothing on my V20 thus far.

[Destroyer]

If they are what I think you mean I had them on my 25' Almand. Basically they are tabs held in the down position by a strong spring. As you go faster the water pressure on the tab forces it up so it's less effective the faster you go. The trick is to match your speed to the wave action so you get enough tab downward force to cause your bow to knife thru the water but not so much as to slow you down. They definitely work, but not as good as electric or hydraulic tabs where you can fine tune the amount of tab needed. Additionally, unlike adjustable tabs, they are only good for fore and aft boat trim. They cannot trim a boat from side to side like what you need when your 200 lb buddies all sit on one side of the boat.

[Dschaffer]

Could someone please share some pictures of trim tabs on your V-20? The ride into 2-3 footers on Lake Michigan makes be feel like the boat is going to fall apart. Thanks