Sea Ray 175 in the waves. Advice needed, I can not seem to trim down enough. Change Prop?

[BillK2632]

I had a SeaRay 185, slightly larger than your 175, but not much. I ran it for 10yrs on Lake Norman, a large lake, lots of boat wakes and at times wind produced chop. That little boat was great, but it would pound your fillings out on a rough day. My new boat is 25ft vs 18 and weighs 6,000lbs vs 3000, it makes a world of difference. You can't easily make your boat longer or heavier, so to a certain degree you just have to accept the capabilities of a small (but very good) boat. I thought about the smart tabs, but never did it and probably should have. If I were in your shoes again, that is what I would do. Like mentioned, your best defense for a small boat in rough conditions is a low planning speed and tabs are the best way to do that. Dolphin fins and different pitch props can help also. Get the smart tabs, and go boating! The other side of this is on a smooth water day you can rip around all day on virtually no fuel while the big guys are still futzing around with their trim tabs and burning copious amounts of fuel!

 

[97Alpha175]

I had a SeaRay 185, slightly larger than your 175, but not much. I ran it for 10yrs on Lake Norman, a large lake, lots of boat wakes and at times wind produced chop. That little boat was great, but it would pound your fillings out on a rough day. My new boat is 25ft vs 18 and weighs 6,000lbs vs 3000, it makes a world of difference. You can't easily make your boat longer or heavier, so to a certain degree you just have to accept the capabilities of a small (but very good) boat. I thought about the smart tabs, but never did it and probably should have. If I were in your shoes again, that is what I would do. Like mentioned, your best defense for a small boat in rough conditions is a low planning speed and tabs are the best way to do that. Dolphin fins and different pitch props can help also. Get the smart tabs, and go boating! The other side of this is on a smooth water day you can rip around all day on virtually no fuel while the big guys are still futzing around with their trim tabs and burning copious amounts of fuel!

Thanks for sharing, I appreciate your experience and thoughts to this. I and others seem to agree with that statement. It seems a majority of boaters start with a similar boat to mine and go bigger when they get tired of other boats or waves beating them up or out performing them. Thanks for the tips.
I took my boat out again in the same conditions ish 1-1.5ft waves this time and I realized probably what the problem actually was.
Lake Ponchartrain is shallow and effected by tides. There are waves coming from 2-3 directions and even if you can find 1 set of waves going in the same direction they are tight like 2-3ft apart. So when waves were coming from different angles maybe 30-45 degrees and 0-3ft apart it gets hard to manage. I can plow through it really no issue until a couple big ones come. A little more trim down, I think, would have solved it. I had two people in the the boat this time and it was no sweat.
As you said it seems like a great boat but obviously smallest in its class. Pros and Cons for sure right. For what I am doing it is perfect so far.
I was given a Stingray Starfire hydrofoil so I am going to try it out. I might do smart tabs if the hydrofoil isn't my magic bean. These things seem to be hit or miss depending on the boat and engine/drive configuration.

 

[ttmott]

It seems a majority of boaters start with a similar boat to mine and go bigger when they get tired of other boats or waves beating them up or out performing them.

Really?? I think you ought to re-evaluate what boating and enjoying boating is all about.

 

[97Alpha175]

I should have said a majority of boaters WHO start with a similar boat... But those are quotes from what I have read.
I can't not reevaluate that. Those are other owner statements.. I do not know why sooo many of you start reading with an intention to knock someone down.. REALLY, yeah really those are other owners statements. But please tell me what I should think without asking my opinion..
I have no personal opinion on that. Even in this thread 2 owners stated that and another 2 implied it. That does not include the dozen other threads across other forums. I think you should reevaluate your education. Maybe 3rd grade reading comprehension..

And what is your point reevaluate what exactly? Some people go to bigger boats in the cruiser/bow rider category those are facts. Hell, look at your boat. I doubt that was the first boat you bought. I would guess you had something similar in a smaller size. Unless daddy gave it to you.
Fact is that boats in the sub 20ft category are the most sold boats. Going bigger seems to be a natural progression.

Boating is a personal experience what you like or don't is to each their own. When your boat under performs your environment you seek more performance. When you get beat up by larger boats wake in the area you boat in you might seek a bigger boat. That is not my opinion. Ask any boat dealer. People trade in 18ft boats all day long.

 

[97Alpha175]

Anyone reading if you are considering smart tabs I spoke with Nauticus and Bennett over the phone (nice people) about their tabs. A few things to consider:

1: Bennett uses springs so the lbs of lift is progressive as you speed up/ apply hp. Meaning at zero mph or low hp output there is a lower amount of force in lbs of pressure/lift. The spring builds up to the maximum of 90lbs of lift as you speed up or apply hp (90lbs springs are in the 10x10 model).
They could not exactly answer how low of lift lbs it starts with or when it hits 90lbs of lift, but they state low to mid range driving may not provide as much lift. Bennett also stated that the springs are not interchangeable they are sealed inside the housing and 90lbs was the only option for the 10x10 in tabs. I do not know the lbs of lift in the 6in Wx 8in L model.

Nauticus recommended Smart Tab or SX tabs with 60lbs actuators/struts of lift for my boat and they are filled with nitrogen gas and hydraulic fluid that has a consistent 60lbs of lift through its full compression range. Nauticus also stated that if I decide after I use them that 60lbs is too strong/weak they would be happy to exchange the actuator at NO charge for another strength 80lbs, 40lbs, 30lbs, "as long as I didn't wait a year to ask.). Also the retailer where purchased did not matter.

2: Nauticus has 5 manually adjustable tab positions to adjust for more or less lift and Bennett has 3 positions of adjustment.

3: Nauticus and Bennett are different surface areas of the tabs themselves. Nauticus SX 9.5in W x 10in L tab (Nylon/Rubber composite tab and bracket) have 95 sq. in. of surface area and are smaller than the traditional Smart Tab 12in W x 9in L (stainless steel tab and bracket) with 108 sq. in. of surface area. About 12% more surface area.
Bennett offers 2 size tabs with stainless steel tab, and composite bracket. They recommend the 10 x 10in tab for my boat which has 100 sq in of surface area, their smaller tab (not recommended for my boat) has 6in W x 8in L tab with only 48 sq in of surface area
More surface area = more lift.

My Conclusion:
Ability to adjust angle for more or less lift is important. How much surface area or lbs of lift is debatable. Material is debatable but if the boat is stored in water they recommend bottom boat paint for the stainless version. Also if stored on a trailer stainless steel was recommended. To me this implies that UV rays will slowly wear out the composite.

To me I would choose the Nauticus Smart Tab 60lbs (stainless tab and bracket) do to the material, adjustability and the option to switch to a different strength actuator/strut was the winning factor.
Slow to mid operation with the Bennett spring actuator and not having the full amount of lift seems like a down side and will possibly cause unpredictable behavior as you slow down or trim out.
I do like white composite to match my boat, but some boat launches are oily from leaking boats and this will possibly stain the composite. Even though I trailer my boat I would assume they would last a few years at least with no degradation from UV or otherwise. If your docks are clean oil free I really see no downside in composite constructions when properly installed (some reviews claim they break, but that is most likely due to over tightening of the hardware based on the location of the breakage/damage) But maybe a couple years of UV rays on a trailer might really wear them out.....?

To me Stainless is the right choice of material. I do not know if the Bennett springs are the right choice or not, but Nauticus flexibility and ability to change the actuators is what leaned me in that direction.

 

[Woody]

 

[GBGraham]

I have just ploughed my way through all these threads and I must mention my observations.
You Yanks are quite savage and unforgiving towards someone who is wet/green behind the ears.
On the other hand the O.P. is far too sensitive but he doesn't have prior knowledge of how the pack operates and obviously being a sensitive soul he has taken all to heart instead of giving the culprits the bird, trying to stop posts in other ways is just futile.
For me there is far too much BS in this world and on a like minded forum like this one should only be as helpful as possible . . .SO PLEASE!

 

[Althepal78]

What do you want to learn Grasshopper?
5 people in an 18 foot boat in 2 foot seas.
Common sense man.
Blocking is still an option if you can figure it out. HAHA

Not to people who are inexperienced and this is not Facebook no need for useless trolling comments. Give better advice for beginners you were once a beginner too

 

[Althepal78]

Hello All! I have a Sea Ray 175 (18ft bow rider) with Mercruiser 3.0lx with Alpha one gen 2 drive and a 14.25 x 21p 3 blade aluminum prop.
I

So because your gas tank is in the back, it will start off going up but most of the time you just keep it all the way down. Don't gun it off the start ease in it and it will plain faster. Your boat with just you in it might hit 40 but it's not going faster than that. If you have people in the back it will be harder to plain so tell them to get to the front. If you notice yourself going left or leaning a little left your gas tank is in the back left side. Love my boat but I need a new prop as of Thursday. 22 to 27 mph is best cruising speed depending your load as well. I hope this helps I only had a boat since last year but it is a 1998 sea ray 180 bowrider

 

[Althepal78]

You have to learn to ride the waves as well with these boats. They really designed for lakes not the ocean. However, the lakes near me are not deep so I go into the Gulf of Mexico all the time. Gale force twins have a YouTube channel you should watch they will teach tricks. I mean there are many YouTube videos on that subject but I like them. They driven to the Bahamas and everything by themselves.