Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On 5 Jan 2007 06:38:40 -0800, "Tim" wrote:


I do like the comment on getting better economy, even though it's hard
for me to imagine that a couple plates dragging in the water can
improve your gph.


I'm not convinced of that actually. The main efficiencies are gained
by the angle of the drive to the water - it you can move the prop to
gain efficiency, trim tabs are meaningless in that context. Same with
getting on plane. I also don't buy the slower on plane bit - that's a
function of weight and hull style, not trim tabs.

Then again, folks will convince themselves of anything.

Trim tabs are for boats like cruisers or larger vessels. Boats like
ours they aren't really necessary except for stability or like in my
case with the Contender stability and prop torque.

Well I disagree with you on several points. I could keep my 21ft cuddy
on plane so slow with the tabs down it was almost like I could walk
faster then it was going :-) As far as faster planing, Major difference.
Not really needed when it was just the me the wife and kids. But when we
had friends and gear it made a major difference.

I have no idea about fuel consumption, never had a way to really measure
it that closely

I had that boat 10 years - The difference in using them or not was easy
to see.
Sure they are not for everyone, but if I got another cuddy or small
cruiser I would most likely add then.

Cheers:

Capt Jack R..

Jack Redington wrote:

Well I disagree with you on several points. I could keep my 21ft cuddy
on plane so slow with the tabs down it was almost like I could walk
faster then it was going :-)


jack, I'm taking your word for that comment.

So, if a person was going for a nice river cruise, I take it the tabs
would be benificial, to not have to plow along at slow speed?

Tim wrote:
Jack Redington wrote:

Well I disagree with you on several points. I could keep my 21ft cuddy
on plane so slow with the tabs down it was almost like I could walk
faster then it was going :-)



jack, I'm taking your word for that comment.

So, if a person was going for a nice river cruise, I take it the tabs
would be benificial, to not have to plow along at slow speed?



Yep - Slow speed planing can be much slower with trim tabs.

It would stay on plane at very slow speeds. One time on Lake Murry
outside of Columbia SC we got caught in a pretty bad thunderstorm. Spray
was really bad with the wind angle we were dealing with. I tucked the
drive leg in and put the tabs all the way down. As it was easier to deal
with the conditions remaining on plane. But not going to fast. But I
didn't want to run at displacmewnt speed either. Heck I don't even think
the speedo was registering anything. When one looked back you could see
the "whole" that was being created from the plans pushing down.

Sold that boat last year as we now have a small place on Lake Hartwell
on the Ga/Sc border. So we sold cuddy and went with bowrider.

I will say this, all boats are different and the tabs need to be matched
to the boat. Hull design is bound to make a difference. My 210ccr
Crownline was 21ft 3900lbs dry weight and had 18 degree deadrise at the
transum. Power was 5.0lx merc Alpha drive. It was not a speed demon, but
was very nice for running around and hanging out in coves.

Not sure how long you have had this boat. Seems like I recall you have
aquired one not too long ago. Thus i would run it a few times first and
see if it performs the way you want before changing it.

If it were me I would most likely add them

Cheers:

Capt Jack R..