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I am sure I will switch to the smart tabs, probably next season as I have already spent my limit on projects this season. I will be left with holes in cavitation plate, do I need to do anything about that?
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Hello guys,
Has anyone installed Smart Tabs on a Mariah 182 bowrider 3.0 litre? So far l am seeing a 50/50 response to them generally, l can get them delivered for a very reasonable ($180 to the UK) but, as l have not even driven my boat yet (l pick it up on 03rd June), l think it wise to wait and see how she actually handles or can you guys tell me diffently and that they are best things to install on my boat? Does anyone have a straight answer, are they worth fitting on a Mariah 182 bowrider, 3 litre model? It will be used for water skiing and family days out (as per almost every other Miriah boat?). Cheers for now, Gary |
Hey Gary,
Head over to your profile under "user CP" on the upper left, then click on Edit Profile and add in the information for model year of your boat.:wink_thumbup: I have a '93 Diablo B/R 3.0L and so far I have been told that it will help with the low speed wander that I'am experiencing currently with my boat. I have also been told it will plane faster and stay on plane at a lower rpm. But, I have not purchased nor installed them. So real world finding remain to be seen. But based on all the feedback I have read on here and there, they work. MikeyT seems to be the "guru" of Smart-tabs. I seem to have forgotten most of the details. :yes_grin: Quote:
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I think, based on the info / responses i've read over the last year or so on various boating sites, that the Smart Tabs work best on boats under 21' and have far less effect on boats over that length. I know the sales pitch on their website claims lot of things and i was dubious about them at first, but my installation solved all of the above problems. What i didn't get was a higher top speed but as i very seldom run at 40mph or over, that really didn't matter much. I recommend them only because they worked for me. |
Smart Tabs
Thanks for the info on the Smart Tabs,
After numerous mails in my personal folder, l am sold, l have bought a set of the Smart Tabs twenty minutes ago, l pick up the boat next Tueday, by which time l hoe the tabs are in the UK? l will be running her in on Tuesday and installing the tabs on the Wednesday, so by next weekend, l will have some positive answers. Thanks to everyone who emailed me, as said, l will let you all know next week how the boat preforms on the " Bonny Banks of Loch Lomond" with the Smart Tabs installed. Cheers, Gary |
You'll love them. :wink_thumbup: They deliver everything promised. I was most impressed with the improvement in the ride of the boat. It's like someone added a suspension system. It rides like a 20 -22 footer now. You don't have to fight climbing on and off of plane, which is always a problem when teaching someone to water ski.
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Im glad I read your posts, because I was wondering the same thing on my boat. I have a 99 Shabah 182 18'.....and it wanders side to side at low speeds. I usually just let it do its dance and it goes back and forth but still straight...sometimes I have to correct it.
Anyone know if its normal my steering wheel feels like it has a lot of play. Also, if I pull lightly on the steering wheel, it comes up a bit - Is this normal? Someone let me know. |
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Hi Az
A little additional info. The composites work just as well, if not better, than the stainless versions. For your 18' i would suggest the 60# actuators. The 80# units are better suited towards the 20-24' range. Dont be afraid to email John at Nauticus if you are having any problems setting them up. He is more than willing to help you out. |
Based on what I've read on the Trailer Boats threads and my own experience, I would go with the 60lb for sure.
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Installed my smart tabs today. One thing to note is the two brackets that mount to the tab itself, are the same. That is they are not a left and right.
I mounted the left tab first and wanted to keep the two of them as far apart as possible. When I went to mount the right one, I had to bend the stainless bracket 180 degrees, in order for it to fit the same way the left tab did. This way I ended up with a left and right bracket. Hopefully, I can get out on the water soon, and test them. I have a hunch they are going to work well.:wink_thumbup: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...r/DSCN0173.jpg |
The install looks good to me. Now it's just a matter of adjusting them to the correct settings for your boat.
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I set them at 25 degrees, [as recommended in the instructions] and in the middle of the adjusting slot on the tap itself. Guess I should bring a couple of wrenches along the first time out on the water. Hopefully, they will be close to the optimum setting now.:)
Are there any tips I should know about with regards to how the boat performs with them? That is, some way to tell if they need adjustment, and in which direction? Thanks, |
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If you feel like you're plowing through the water with little bowrise or you feel that the boat is acting squirrely, you will need to lighten them.
If you adjust at the tab, make sure that you adjust at the top attachment also, maintaining the 25 degree angle to your hull. |
SX smart tabs broke off
I instaled my SX9510-80 smart tabs a week ago and gave the 3M 5200 marine adhesive an entire week to cure. Then took my 21'10" davanti out for a test spin. Both the smart tabs broke off at exactly the same point - where the actuator connects to the tabs. And yes, I installed them as per instructions... exactly as per instructions
Tells me that for a boat my size, the SX tabs aren't what I should be getting. I got an email back from John at Nauticus saying I should go for the steel ST tabs as the boat is a bit much for the SX tabs... Anyways, it was too late for that, so I called up John at Nauticus. He knew exactly why they had broken off - because the transom bracket and the trim tab hinge weren't on the same "plane". He's sending some replacement steel connectors that will accomodate the installation. Let's see how it goes after the parts come in. |
I finally got out on the water with the boat, and I must say I'm quite pleased with the results. If any of you were sitting on the fence about buying some of these tabs, "just do it". You will not regret it... :wink_thumbup:
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I've got a SX19 4,3L MPI, should I go for the 80 or 60 tabs? Seems like 60s are the best fit...?
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The steel connectors did the trick. The boat planes much faster and doesn't porpoise. I spoke to John at Nautius for about 10 minutes. Here's what he told me
1. The steel tabs have slightly larger surface area and therefore they are better suited for boats larger than 22 feet. 2. Even though my Davanti is 21' 10" from bow to stern, the effective hull is really almost 18 inches less due to the integrated swim platorm at the end. Good point. 3. If I attach the tabs too close to the center, I will need to go with the steel ones, but if I can manage to get the tabs closer towards the edes, the SX tabs are very effective... I'm having a great time with my new SX 80 lb tabs :) |
Smart Tabs
Morning Guys,
I have recently installed Smart tabs (#60) on my Mariah 182 bowrider with a Mercruiser 3.0 litre, she gets on the plane extremely quickly and rides perfectly while at low rpm or maximum. I installed the tabs soon after buying her last month which meant they were installed the first time l took her on the water, so l have no comparrison from before and after, all l can say is, my boat rides and handles very, very well, the tabs certailnly appear to "do as they say on tin". There is no bow wander and both my 6 year old daughter and 9 year old son can steer the boat without problem. I will post some pictures of the installation later on next week. Cheers, Gary |
Another happy customer! :)
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Okay one more question: SS or composite?
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On a 19' boat i would suggest the composite SX units. There's no advantage to the SS units at that size as per vkrishan's post.
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Very glad to hear that you finally got out onto the water Gary. Also glad that you had a great day. Did you go to that island with all of those Wallabies?? I checked it out and couldnt believe it. Looks like a beautiful spot too, but bet the water is freezing. Please post some photos as soon as you can. Cheers Tony |
HI Tony,
Yes l was out on Loch Lomond four times last month, the boat is simply amazing, l had a load of photos with me and went to down load them yesterday, l am not sure what l have done but the card seems to be corrupted, I hope the IT guy on board can retrieve the photos are there were some crackers including quite a few on me installing the Smart Tabs, the boat rides amazingly well, l initially had the tabs set on the number three mark but flattened them out to the number two position, she gets up on the plane very quickly, l will try the old skis next month when l get home, l will see how to add the few photos l have at the moment and will try to get the others of the card. my wee daughter managed to see a couple of Wallabies on the island, it really does not get any better. Speak to you soon, Gary |
should i look into something different for my boat? i would like it to come onto plane quicker
brett |
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Yep. Smart tabs wont work on a boat the size of yours. You need to consider either Bennett or Lenco hydraulic tabs. |
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how would smart tabs effect low speed wakes for wakeboarding or maybe wakesurfing where you kind of want bow rise and a huge wake? |
Hello,
I have a similar boat to yourself, a 1999, 182 Bowrider (3 litre) and have fitted smart tabs last month. From what l see they will not be good for increasing the wake, they are fantastic and keeping the boat level and reducing the wake, my boat rides extremely smoothly with very little wake and gets up on the plane very quickly. Hope this helps, Gary |
Smart Tabs
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Ok guys.......I installed the Smart Tabs 60lb composite. I am finally getting around to posting a picture. So far so good. I am still experimenting with the tabs to find the best adjustment.
I do notice though, when pulling a wakeboarder.....and they fall.....I would usually cut the boat around pretty sharp with no issues (when I had a hydrofoil installed). Now, with the tabs, I find the boat feels like it almost can flip as I pull a sharp turn. I now have to slow down, initiate the turn and then accelerate to keep from feeling the boat is gonna flip. Is this normal? Any good advice will help. Anyhow, here is the pic. |
Trim Tabs
I ordered a set and them came in. I'm a little scared to dill holes in my baby. I think they are the real thing, but to put holes in a boat doesn't seem like the thing to do. I just hope when I do I will be impressed with the perforamnce.
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Smart Tabs -sx 9510 - 60
Hi Gang, just ordered a set of Smart Tabs SX 9510-60 from West Marine in my local market. Have read the threads and hope this is the right choice for my boat... '97 Mariah 198 SE Shabah. 4.3 Merc with Alpha One. I have a 22P 4 blade prop SS. Looking for better cruising performance. As nervous as any other first time installer. Feedback is too positive to ignore.
Thanks again for the resource and advice. |
Drilling into your hull is just like carpentry^2
Measure 4x, drill once... :D |
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