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?

I filled mine in with a tube of "liquid aluminum" to eliminate any extra bubbles going into the prop area. The smart tabs are about $160 delivered and take about an hour to install.

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:

Hi Gary. You might be best to wait & see how she performs on the water before laying out the money on the Smart Tabs. The performance may be satisfactory for you without them. IF you are experiencing the problems i noted previously (slow speed wander, slow to get on plane, quick to drop off plane, trouble pulling a skiier/wakeboarder up out of the water) then i have no doubt the Smart Tabs will fix those problems. There are no 'guarantees' in life though (other than death & taxes) so i would try her first then see what you think.

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.

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.

I have a 99 Shabah 182 18' and Im interested in the tabs. I have all the issues listed in the above post. I read someone purchased the Smart Tabs for their boat recommended 80lb for boats 16-20 feet. The issue he had was it provided too much bow drop..didnt plane properly. Would the 60lb be a better buy though it recommends the 80? Anyone seem to know if the SX composite series works as well if not better than the stainless?

Please read post #21 on this thread, Mikeyt explained it there.