The Mariah Owners Club

The Mariah Owners Club (http://www.mariahownersclub.com/forum/)

- Original Mariah Talk (http://www.mariahownersclub.com/forum/original-mariah-talk/)

- - Smart Tabs (http://www.mariahownersclub.com/forum/original-mariah-talk/136-smart-tabs.html)

Good day!
Just read all the posts here about Smart Tabs... Got sick of electric powered tabs on mine Mariah Shabah 218 2001 that were installed when I bought it.
Last year end wanted to buy Nauticus Smart Tabs SX, but was unsure if they are going to fit. According to the chart (http://www.nauticusinc.com/pdf/smart...dimensions.pdf) they don't (height 10.5 inch appears too much), but reading posts here and watching pictures starting to think I have a chance.
So could anyone help me please with an advice whether it is possible to install Nauticus Smart Tabs SX on my boat? Transom looks similar to this one pictured http://www.mariahownersclub.com/foru...-photo-10-.jpg
Thanks in advance!
p.s. sorry for my english

Looking at all the posts, it seems I should get the composite w/60lb actuators for my 99 202 w/ 5.7l. I want to stay on plane but I still want to cut it sharp when turning around to pup a skier. any thoughts? I figured this setup would give me the benefits without being overbearing or intrusive to other aspects of the boats performance. Seems like everyone on here with a similar boat has gone to 60lb cylinders in a middle position... suggestions welcome!

There are hundreds of threads and posts relating to your issue. Even discussions on your exact same boat.
Your boat will turn way faster with the Smart Tabs than without! :) You'll just turn flat instead of digging a hole in the water.
Performance will only increase , as long as you set them up properly.

I thought digging the hole is what made it cut around wick and sharply. I read the posts about having to turn slower and wider with the tabs?? Which one is the truth?

Used em for over 6 yrs now with no turning issues. Can't see why you would have to extend the turning radius with them.
I'm very happy with mine as is 99.9% of the people who install them.
I guess nothing is perfect , but I'll keep mine.:yes_grin:

Mine turns quicker and flatter with the Smart tabs.

Same here. Like it's on rails. I can really whip a tube to the point of being scary.

I will be ordering mine in the next day or two I think I'm going with the 60 pound actuators composite tabsI can't wait to try them!! I'm going to add the PR 500hinges so I can move them out of the way to wakeboard

I have had my boat out twice since installing the smart tabs (SX 60) and here is my results.

First time I took the boat out was with just my gf and I and not that windy of a day. I was intersted in them to help fix the porpoising problem i was having and get the bow down. I took a trip to Table Rock lake last year with my gf and the kids and the water was really rough in the main part of the lake and my boat did not handle the waves good at all. Even going at a 15-20mph clip....the kids were bouncing so bad a couple times I thought they were going to come out of the boat so I had to put them in back...needless to say they weren't happy with that but safety first.

I had the actuator set to the middle setting #3 to start out with per the instructions.

Results:
The wander was gone, the boat got right out of the hole and on plane and the tip of the boat never raised up to the point I needed to stand up either.

However the ride over the choppy water was better than before but I was expecting better. But I kept the setting on the tabs the same that day to get the full spectrum of calm, choppy and stirred up water to test the tabs out on this setting.

Second trip was yesterday on another not so windy day but this time with my gf and our two kids and two coolers and all of our stuff loaded in the boat.

I did change the tab setting to position #4 reading in the instructions that that would help more with the porpoising.

Results:

Wow...the boat road like a 30' boat that weighed 10,000lbs! The boat performed better on all fronts and cutting across the lake looking for other boats waves the new setting ate the waves like they were ripples and at one point the kids actually turned around from the front of the boat raising there hands saying "This almost isn't fun anymore without the bouncing" but the times that i remember them last year getting bounced around and looking a bit worried I was completely happy for this result.

So if anyone is on the fence of buying or installing these....these are a must have for any boat.

I agree.. I was very impressed with the way they changed our boat's performance with turning, wandering at low speeds in the wake zones, and instant planning. However, one of the biggest benefits was the way the boat handles another boats wakes. It crosses over them much easier, and stays much more steady if locked behind another boats wake. We are on the river, so unlike a lake we are constantly running along side other boats - and the occasional Tug/barge. Crossing or getting behind another person's wake is a given, and the tabs made our boating experiences much more pleasant. The first season without them - there were times that I did not feel comfortable with the kids up front - even with my wife. I'm really looking forward to getting on the water this season (haven't been out yet). I'm currently on the middle setting - but I plan on testing it out in a few other places to see if I can find a sweet spot (as I set it there when I installed them and was blown away enough to never touch them again lol).

Thanks for the feedback - this thread is very helpful for anyone looking at the Smart tabs - it's the same thread that sold me on them.

Nick