Trim tabs

[cmassa]

I have a 2005 185 sport with 4.3L V6. I have to leave the drive trimmed all the way down or I get bad porpoising, even in faily calm water and with the family sitting in the bow. Also, when carrying 5-6 people it takes quite a bit of throttle to get the boat on plane. I've been thinking about adding some trim tabs.

I've read about Smart Tabs on this forum and people seem happy with them. My potential problem with them is that I beach frequently at our cabin. The beach is quite shallow and I'm wondering if they will hit the bottom and then become damaged when I push off again. From the pictures I've seen they hang down when at rest. The SX version which is plastic might be better but are not supposed to be installed on curved transoms.

I've also seen Bennett Hydraulic Sport Tabs. The installation is more complicated and they are more expensive but it seems that they are more easily adjusted and can be lifted up out of the way on the trailer and when beached. I can't really find much other info on these, especially on the smaller boats like the 185.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[Firerooster]

Really cannot make the call on the smart tabs vs the bennetts for ya. I will say the hydraulics are nice, but on mine they have a pretty good size pump box mounted in the engine bay, right inside of where each tab is mounted. Dunno how much room u have in the inside trannsom surface.

As for the beaching issue and the tabs hitting. Ur drive will be stuck in the beach before the tabs will be. Even with the drive all the way up the keg and prop are going to hit the sand first. ( and I doubt you ever have have tried to drive boat with drive up like that more then one time, oops)

 

[Noland]

Nauticus makes an addapter that allows you to rais the tabs. Check out this link http://www.nauticusinc.com/pr500.htm

But I aggree with Firerooster, your outdrive should hit before the tabs.....

 

[cmassa]

After this weekend at the lake I don't think I'll be beaching any more. I had put a keel guard on the boat but people in other boats kept cruising by about 30 ft offshore going about 10 mph throwing up huge wakes which kept moving my boat around on the beach. The bottom is now covered in scratches, all the way to the stern because the boat was going up and down and side to side so much. Guess I'll have to swim for it from now on!

Does anyone have any advice regarding the Smart Tabs vs the Bennett hydraulic Sport Tabs?

Chris

 

[beernutz]

Here is a video of a guy who added Smart Tabs SX but made them easily adjustable for beaching. That might be a cheaper alternative than the Nauticus product Noland linked to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smaXSZQSUMI I beach all the time with mine, which are stock, and have never had a problem though.

Personally I think my Smart Tabs are the second best money I've spent on the boat, and only a close second to the swimplatforms.com platform I added. For me, they have improved every facet of the handling of the boat--from idle speed, to planing, to riding in rough chop, to backing up. Everything is better and not by a little bit. YMMV.

 

[cmassa]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll be going with the smart tabs since they are a lot cheaper and easier to put on. I have also considered putting on a swim platform from swimplatforms.com. Looks great.

 

[beernutz]

Thanks for the info. I think I'll be going with the smart tabs since they are a lot cheaper and easier to put on. I have also considered putting on a swim platform from swimplatforms.com. Looks great.

You may have already seen this page but the very bottom is a picture of an 05 185 Sport with a platform:
http://swimplatforms.contentpros.ne...ay182BowRider185Sport/tabid/2690/Default.aspx

 

[cmassa]

Thanks, I had seen that page. They look great. I've gotten a quote but will probably wait until winter to order. Too much going on right now.

Chris

 

[beernutz]

Thanks, I had seen that page. They look great. I've gotten a quote but will probably wait until winter to order. Too much going on right now.

Chris

You are welcome and I understand completely about waiting until the time is right.

 

[Birel186]

You may have already seen this page but the very bottom is a picture of an 05 185 Sport with a platform:
http://swimplatforms.contentpros.ne...ay182BowRider185Sport/tabid/2690/Default.aspx

Think there is a preference in clearance to get the swim platform installed first vs. the trim tabs or vice versa?

I also got a quote for the swim platform, do you think buying it in the winter the price would be cheaper?

Thanx

 

[Lazy Daze]

Cmassa: It is quite normal for the newer 185/195 to exhibit porpoising. The hull is an extremely quick-planning type hull and depending on conditions/load, that will translate into the bow bouncing up and down at higher speeds with these boats. As mentioned, moving the load around and keeping the trim down a bit will take care of it.

It's also normal to have to use more and more throttle to get on plane as you increase the load (people). Trim the drive down and gently/smoothly push the throttle all the way down. As you feel the boat get on plane (lighten up), you can then back off the throttle while at the same time trimming up a bit.

 

[beernutz]

Think there is a preference in clearance to get the swim platform installed first vs. the trim tabs or vice versa?

I also got a quote for the swim platform, do you think buying it in the winter the price would be cheaper?

Thanx

I have absolutely no idea.