Smart Tabs
 

Hello
Anyone using smart tabs, & do they work?
thanks in advance

Re: Smart Tabs
 

A quick search would have returned quite a number of threads.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

I think you get the picture. Anyway, yes, provided you're not wake boarding with the boat, they're a good addition. I've yet to read a thread that someone says they _didn't_ like them.

Re: Smart Tabs
 

I just put a set on and I can already tell that they will make a big difference once I get them dialed in a little better. Right now they area too stiff and probably a little low. As it is my cuddy has absolutely NO bow rise, and an instant plane. (Down from 3-4 second plane time.) But you can tell they are slowing the boat down overall due to being too low. Seemed to stabilize it out better as well. For the money I think they are a worthy investment at this point.

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Hello
I ordered mine yesterday.
Are they adjustable after installation?
thanks

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Yup. You have 10 - 20 degrees of adjustment in height, then 5 spots for pressure. Just make sure you follow the directions and set them up in the 'mid position' when mounting the top of the piston so you can adjust them either direction down the road.

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Did you get the SX or the stainless 12 X 9's (I'm assuming you got 80 lb ones) and where did you mount them? I'm ready to order some, but haven't decided whether I want to do the stainless 12 X 9's outboard or relocate my transducer and speed wheel and do the SX's inboard.

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Nauticus highly recommended the 80lb stainless 12 x 9. Something about me having a big a$$ :D

I did relocate my transducers / speedo inboard, and the tabs actually mounted more outboard than I thought they would've. I'll try to get some pics. Definitely a huge difference in the planing department at the mid setting. Just feels like the brakes are on once you hit mid0range cruising speeds. Gotta pull them up!

Re: Smart Tabs
 

I suspect that with the size of your boat the SS version would do a better job. You got the same 'ass' problem that Stereoman duz.... ;)

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Hello All

Got the smart tabs installed & tried them out this weekend,
I set them up at the 25 degrees, and the middle hole on the lower brkt. I have noticed faster plane, I can run at slower speeds on plane, and I didn't lose any top speed 50 mph.
I think I'll leave them alone for a while.
thanks
Anyone want any pics?

Re: Smart Tabs
 

My SX smart tabs (80 lb) - both of them - ripped off... Found the hull attachments dangling. Nauticus was nice enough to send replacements, but I'm wondering if the second set will rip off as well.. when they were on, the boat handled superbly..

here are pictures...

Re: Smart Tabs
 

However, I did read an article (linked from somewhere here, maybe?) where the author recommended against them, if possible. His opinion, IIRC, was that if you could trim the boat properly with the outdrive, trim tabs were a waste of money. ISTR him specifically mentioning that using trim tabs to eliminate porpoising resulting from trimming the outdrive up was counter-productive, as the drag induced by the tabs would offset any speed gain from raising the outdrive. (Which makes sense to me.)

Not questioning anybody's judgement, investment, etc., but his comments kind of mirrored what I'd been wondering: If the boat was properly designed, she shouldn't need such things, should she?

Jim

Re: Smart Tabs
 

I see your points, but I think the idea behind trim tabs and Smart Tabs are to allow the boat to almost "ride" on the tabs. It's not the same as trimming the bow down (although you can do that more efficiently with tabs since the drive doesn't actually thrust downward). They also help with planing by providing an "extended hull". They're more like adding 2' to the length of your boat and providing a little push to keep the bow down. Once up to speed, they really are an extension of the boat, and you practically ride on them when fully trimmed and going at a good pace.

Take a look at the Nauticus website. They explain it quite well there. I know it's an advertisement, but I don't think it's all smoke in mirrors. Great point, but after growing up on boats, using the same boat with and without Smart Tabs, and seeing/feeling the differences... I can fully appreciate their functionality and can honestly say there's NO WAY I could trim the boat to ride/plane the same without them.

Re: Smart Tabs
 

Did the tab itself break apart at the hinge or did the screws pull out of the hull?

Re: Smart Tabs
 

The hull attachments are still on as are the hinges, but there are no tabs or actuators... very weird... I keep my boat in a slip all year round, so not sure if the composite weakened or something...

One more thing.. the transom attachment was also cracked... Nauticus has wonderful customer service and they're sending me some replacement transom fittings. Also, nauticus suggested that I reduce the pressure on the tabs by moving to setting "5"... I'm beginning to wonder if the SX series are good enough for Z225 cuddy though... If they crack again, I'm going the Bennet tabs route