Smart Tabs - Opinions Please
- Thread starter Richiela
- Start date
I'll suggest your 22' boat would be much better served with a full operator-controlled hydraulic or electric tab system which allows you to trim not only fore and aft but port and stbd as well , and have a range of trim settings.
Whereas the relatively inexpensive tabs which are not adjustable underway have helped many smaller boats attain planing attitude with greater onboard loads or at slower speeds, they also tend to retract a bit when they ideally should extend , and vice versa since they are essentially just spring-loaded and give under pressure.
With that in mind , consider what happens when the boat is more heavily loaded on one side(i.e., someone changes seat) causing more pressure underway on the ""smart"" tab on that side which gives and less pressure on the opposite higher side tab which extends. Or if the operator turns the boat to one side with essentially same effect.
And if you were to run downsea when winds pick up, those "smart" tabs would to some degree be trying to keep your bow down into the back of the waves.
Whereas the relatively inexpensive tabs which are not adjustable underway have helped many smaller boats attain planing attitude with greater onboard loads or at slower speeds, they also tend to retract a bit when they ideally should extend , and vice versa since they are essentially just spring-loaded and give under pressure.
With that in mind , consider what happens when the boat is more heavily loaded on one side(i.e., someone changes seat) causing more pressure underway on the ""smart"" tab on that side which gives and less pressure on the opposite higher side tab which extends. Or if the operator turns the boat to one side with essentially same effect.
And if you were to run downsea when winds pick up, those "smart" tabs would to some degree be trying to keep your bow down into the back of the waves.
Hurricane/Yamaha! What a GREAT combination!!!
We have Bennett hydraulic trim tabs on our boat your size. I don't know how "smart" the Smart Tabs are, but I doubt they'll do much side-to-side leveling, and I use that capability ALL the time. My crew shifts around and I simply adjust for it.
My guess is that setting the Smart Tabs to provide the lift the Bennett tabs can when maxed out would be too much for ordinary conditions.
Do you trailer the Hurricane? Or back down hard a lot? Or store it in a High and Dry where Tabs should be retracted for fork-lifting?
I believe that if you could compare two duplicate boats and sets of conditions, you'd choose hydraulic. But you can't so cost and ease of installation can push you one way without being able to find out if the difference is worth it. Or, wonder if the greater capability of hydraulic was worth the price and installation difference.
We have Bennett hydraulic trim tabs on our boat your size. I don't know how "smart" the Smart Tabs are, but I doubt they'll do much side-to-side leveling, and I use that capability ALL the time. My crew shifts around and I simply adjust for it.
My guess is that setting the Smart Tabs to provide the lift the Bennett tabs can when maxed out would be too much for ordinary conditions.
Do you trailer the Hurricane? Or back down hard a lot? Or store it in a High and Dry where Tabs should be retracted for fork-lifting?
I believe that if you could compare two duplicate boats and sets of conditions, you'd choose hydraulic. But you can't so cost and ease of installation can push you one way without being able to find out if the difference is worth it. Or, wonder if the greater capability of hydraulic was worth the price and installation difference.
I have no idea about how they would work on a hurricane. I had a problem with a lighter 24' boat that had too much bow rise and also would porpoise more than I liked. The smart tabs made a huge improvement on just about everything that I was looking to fix at the time:
no porpoising, greater hole shot, lower minimum plane, higher top speed. I have no idea to what extent they would help with side to side balance but I would agree that it would not compare to a full hydraulic system. The tabs could be 'flipped' up on an eccentric for trailer and forklift use but I never did 'flip' them up and always trailered our boat with no issues.
The guys at smart tab helped me size them really well with the correct actuators and after install they are still somewhat adjustable with the ram setting angle.
no porpoising, greater hole shot, lower minimum plane, higher top speed. I have no idea to what extent they would help with side to side balance but I would agree that it would not compare to a full hydraulic system. The tabs could be 'flipped' up on an eccentric for trailer and forklift use but I never did 'flip' them up and always trailered our boat with no issues.
The guys at smart tab helped me size them really well with the correct actuators and after install they are still somewhat adjustable with the ram setting angle.
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Recommend Bennett Tabs with the largest that will fit. 12" deep and wide, I also like the toggle switches vice the joystick.
"Often with passengers sitting in the stern setting, I have prolonged bow-rise of course."
With this as the only concern stated the smart tabs will likely make a huge difference. Although cost is a large part of the equation sometimes unobstructed space to install hydraulic tabs becomes as an issue as well. Having both the width and the height to mount the tabs and hydraulics without interfering with the existing stern design and/or props can be a challenge with some boats. Having electrical controls with hydraulic rams offers flexibility and more control but they are much more complex to install and maintain on a smaller boat.
With this as the only concern stated the smart tabs will likely make a huge difference. Although cost is a large part of the equation sometimes unobstructed space to install hydraulic tabs becomes as an issue as well. Having both the width and the height to mount the tabs and hydraulics without interfering with the existing stern design and/or props can be a challenge with some boats. Having electrical controls with hydraulic rams offers flexibility and more control but they are much more complex to install and maintain on a smaller boat.
Yup. I've used them on a 21' Pro-Line WAC, and most recently on a 16' Sylvan aluminum Fish 'n Ski. Good results both times. I will say that 'best' is a pair of helm-adjustable Bennetts, but I saw recently that Bennett is now offering tabs similar to Nauticus'. I'll also note that BOTH companies are known for terrific customer sevice, so I'd suggest you contact them with your specs and issues before ordering anything.
BTW, I ran that Pro-Line in head seas, following seas, beam seas... no issues with the tabs. Whatever you do, don't mount a 'whale tail' (Doel-Fin or similar). The Sylvan had it, and the boat was slow to plane and 'twitchy' at 30+ mph. I trashed it and put a $100. set of Smart Tabs on it. Amazing difference.
wow, great advise from everyone. We keep the Hurricane in a slip from April-October, so there is no concern about hauling damage. The cost difference is not really a concern, It more of a convenience factor. I had Bennett's tabs on a larger cruiser and they performed very well. The Yamaha is a beast,
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On my last boat I put the auto trim tabs onto my Bennet's. They worked great. Easy set up and never had to touch them again.
GeorgeKohler
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I put Smart Tabs on my 22 foot Chappy a couple of years ago, and it made a TON of difference. It helps the bowrise problem when first taking off, gets on plan much quicker now, and even helps with side to side motion issues. They're spring loaded, so they automatically adjust to the conditions. For the price, there is no better. Very easy to install, as there is no electronics or hydrolics or wires of any kind to run. WELL worth the price.
George - Could you clarify what conditions you believe the spring loading adjusts to correct, that would not respond better to tabs without springs which give under greater pressure and extend with less pressure on their bottom surface?
"Could you clarify what conditions you believe the spring loading adjusts to correct, that would not respond better to tabs without springs which give under greater pressure and extend with less pressure on their bottom surface?"
I cannot speak about Georges smart tab install but on ours the ability of the boat to run in quartering seas was much better with the gas loaded struts on the tabs. That and the elimination of chine walk at higher speeds was much better. Bow rise and porpoising was not really too much different between the two approaches on our boat.
I cannot speak about Georges smart tab install but on ours the ability of the boat to run in quartering seas was much better with the gas loaded struts on the tabs. That and the elimination of chine walk at higher speeds was much better. Bow rise and porpoising was not really too much different between the two approaches on our boat.
Smitty - I think you would find results would be even better if those tabs were locked down without the gas loaded struts that allow them to give a bit when you would be better having them extend. Any tabs extend aft the potential planing surface of the hull without adding any significant weight, so that provides a true noticeable benefit in most circumstances except when trying to keep from stuffing the bow.
But the marketing for economical tabs with springs or gas struts tends to fool people into thinking they somehow defy physics and automatically adjust in same manner and direction as we would adjust hydraulic or electric tabs, when they really respond to pressure in the opposite direction. But fortunately only within a pretty limited total range so they essentially still act as extended . They can't be retracted like the spendier tabs so they will have a bit more of a detrimental effect "shoveling" when you are in reverse , - generally not a big deal at all at such slow speeds in smaller other boats/inflatables other than perhaps sometimes getting a bit wetter at a transom O/B cutout.
I just don't agree with the marketing , but readily agree at budget price they help plane and lower the bow-up attitude on many smaller boats and dinghys in budget manner. I think in most circumstances they would do that better without the "smart" or "automatic" struts or springs.
But the marketing for economical tabs with springs or gas struts tends to fool people into thinking they somehow defy physics and automatically adjust in same manner and direction as we would adjust hydraulic or electric tabs, when they really respond to pressure in the opposite direction. But fortunately only within a pretty limited total range so they essentially still act as extended . They can't be retracted like the spendier tabs so they will have a bit more of a detrimental effect "shoveling" when you are in reverse , - generally not a big deal at all at such slow speeds in smaller other boats/inflatables other than perhaps sometimes getting a bit wetter at a transom O/B cutout.
I just don't agree with the marketing , but readily agree at budget price they help plane and lower the bow-up attitude on many smaller boats and dinghys in budget manner. I think in most circumstances they would do that better without the "smart" or "automatic" struts or springs.
I don't know about the marketing or what hydraulic tabs would have done only what I had with the smart tabs. As I posted above I did not have the room or the inclination to add tabs with power and more hydraulics as I already had enough of that stuff aboard.
I ran trails before and after tabs and everywhere in between recoding the engines heights, trim angle, rpm,slowest plane, 0-30mph, top speed and a good guess on things like angle, porpoising and chine walk above 45 or so knots.
- Had the boat about a week and knew I wanted a cure for some issues stated above
- I bought the tabs online without reading enough about which to buy
- Got the tabs with I think 40# actuators (gas springs)
- Got the tabs on easily and tested in all 5 positions of the adjustments
- The boat planed much better and lost most porpoising but was still not completely cured and no top end increase
- Called the company , gteat service, they immediately said I had too low actuators needed at least 60#'s
- They sent the new ones without charge for me to try
- It was Friday and I have no patience so I stopped and Home Depot and picked up a length of aluminum bar stock
- Cut it to of extended actuator at home, hammered the end a bit flat, drilled a hole and replaced actuators with those bars
- That weekend the results I got were much better low speed, much better bow rise, no porpoising at all, but I had even worse chine walk , lower top speed and a tender feel with more roll in any quartering seas.
- The next week I got the 60# tabs and they were in in minutes and set at number 3 adjustment and that was the best
Never a problem in reverse and this was not a slow boat or one that was babied in any way - we used it to ski, explore, have fun and pass 'fast' ferries.
I do not know what hydraulic adjustable tabs would do on that boat but there would not be much time to adjust them other than one spot and go when using it. With the correct smart tabs the Boat was just much more fun, slower on plane when needed, easier to trim, no porpoising, less tender in quartering seas and had little or no chine walk even at 50+ after the tabs with actuators.
Somewhere I have a picture of the transom with the tabs installed - if I find it I will post it back here.
On my larger boat I have 4 hydraulic tabs and they work fine but I have all day to adjust them and they are much less sensitive.
FWIW - for those who are curious about the smart tabs for smaller boats.
I ran trails before and after tabs and everywhere in between recoding the engines heights, trim angle, rpm,slowest plane, 0-30mph, top speed and a good guess on things like angle, porpoising and chine walk above 45 or so knots.
- Had the boat about a week and knew I wanted a cure for some issues stated above
- I bought the tabs online without reading enough about which to buy
- Got the tabs with I think 40# actuators (gas springs)
- Got the tabs on easily and tested in all 5 positions of the adjustments
- The boat planed much better and lost most porpoising but was still not completely cured and no top end increase
- Called the company , gteat service, they immediately said I had too low actuators needed at least 60#'s
- They sent the new ones without charge for me to try
- It was Friday and I have no patience so I stopped and Home Depot and picked up a length of aluminum bar stock
- Cut it to of extended actuator at home, hammered the end a bit flat, drilled a hole and replaced actuators with those bars
- That weekend the results I got were much better low speed, much better bow rise, no porpoising at all, but I had even worse chine walk , lower top speed and a tender feel with more roll in any quartering seas.
- The next week I got the 60# tabs and they were in in minutes and set at number 3 adjustment and that was the best
Never a problem in reverse and this was not a slow boat or one that was babied in any way - we used it to ski, explore, have fun and pass 'fast' ferries.
I do not know what hydraulic adjustable tabs would do on that boat but there would not be much time to adjust them other than one spot and go when using it. With the correct smart tabs the Boat was just much more fun, slower on plane when needed, easier to trim, no porpoising, less tender in quartering seas and had little or no chine walk even at 50+ after the tabs with actuators.
Somewhere I have a picture of the transom with the tabs installed - if I find it I will post it back here.
On my larger boat I have 4 hydraulic tabs and they work fine but I have all day to adjust them and they are much less sensitive.
FWIW - for those who are curious about the smart tabs for smaller boats.
