Trimtabs on a sled???

[Salmonator]

Has anyone ever tried to run trim tabs on a jet boat?? Fished the ocean out of newport twice in the last week and realized that a full plane in most cases is too much with a little rough water (12degree V), and anything less than a plane is very slow and a huge waste of gas. Maybe the use of some trimtabs might give a more controlled "prop like" half plane. Dunno, just thought i'd ask.... Joe

[Fish4Fun]

Salmonator,

I have a friend that put trim tabs on a 24 foot Duckworth. They did help under low throttle. My first thought was using the boat in the rivers and the possiblity of ripping one off in a tight spot. Good luck.

[Deleted User]

Joe- I have put trim tabs on 4 of the 5 sleds I've owned, all except the longer Super Vee, which they would also have benefitted. At about an average of $150 to $200 a pair they are the best "Bang for the buck" in boating, even better than 4 blade stainless impellers. You don't see many of them, except on 16' sleds, because people don't want to have what they percieve as unnecessary, or maybe unsightly, add ons. They are a thing of beauty to me. You have about a 20' inboard, maybe a 72" bottom width? Talk to Bob Steven's (at Steven's Marine; he welded all of mine & I think he does them the best around - no relation to owner Page Steven's) about welding a pair of 22" to 24" W by 6" to 8" straight out neutral 3/16" aluminum trim tabs on your boat. In some cases you will need to cut a small cresent notch in one tab for trolling motor clearance. They will help get any boat on plane faster in a shorter distance, stay on plane at slower speeds, and in some cases even help cornering a bit. In addition to the better performance, they will more than pay for themsleves in less engine wear & fuel savings. Don't leave home without it! (non-paid add!!) - Steve -- Outlaw; with trimtabs, sleds will run very slightly shallower because of the longer effective planing surface, including the tabs and slightly flatter planing angle of the boat. So if you were going to hit the tabs you would have hit the hull w/o them. And since with tabs the boat will get up on plane in a shorter distance you may gun it before an unexpected shallow area and miss what you might have hit.- No I don't own "Trim Tabs R Us". (btw- I like this edit feature; can make posts more, or less, annoyingly wordy http://www.ifish.net/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif ).

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 04-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 04-20-2000).]

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 04-20-2000).]

[Salmonator]

RT, I have a 22 footer with a 72" bottom. Getting on plane quick as it is, is no problem nor is top speed. My only concern is an ocean half-plane and so I guess what i'm looking for is a removeable/adjustable tab or the straight out extensions like you mentioned. Will a straight out tab really be a benefit compared to a slight down angle??? Joe

[This message has been edited by Salmonator (edited 04-20-2000).]

[Deleted User]

Joe- Best to talk with expert Bob Steven's (tell him I mentioned his tabs to you). I believe that the straight out neutral tabs would be better than trim downs; because if you trim your bow down much it could easily cause oversteer by pushing the forward V into the water too much. The tabs ability to plane slower will definely help running the slop outside. Also help to more slowly pic your way up & down thru big technical rapids such as on the lower Deschutes R. by giving you a little more time to see and steer around the submerged boulders. Don't know how much help though- depends on the weight of your boat and the size of the tabs. Bob will work with you by tack welding the tabs in straight, then retack in with trim down by 1/8" to 3/8" for you to go river test to see which position works and handles best with your boat- then line weld them in. Unless your boat rides unusally high at the bow I would think that the straight plane with the hull would be best. There are adjustable ones to investigate. Spendy but you might benefit from the adustabilty for different loads and uses. Let me know how it shakes out (post or e-mail). - Steve