Enlarging Trim Tabs

My 340 with 8.1s jumps on plane pretty good. It just has slown down on cruise speed. I know the bottom paint has to do with this as its has carpet on it... so that will be fixed this winter at the same time. BUT I ride bow high at 25-28mph. even with full tabs. so some more lift out back will help get her back flat and thus help the boat ride on top better.

maybe save some fuel, and pick up 2 mph. If I can get the boat to cruise around 30mph at 3600 I would be happy. right now its a 25-26 mph boat at same RPM.
 
sbw1 said:
Yes, but........why didn't SR come up with this in the first place, saving you the hassle of refining the design to get your improved performance? The company built a lot of 370s. BTW, I never felt the need to modify tabs on my 370 Express. They worked just fine, so I'm wondering if this is an issue that develops with age as engines begin to produce less power?
Click to expand...

I believe the engineering improves over time. My boat is 24 years old. I would like to think that newer boats are far more efficient than mine is. I just really love the 370 EC layout and it is easy to work on compared to a lot of other boats I have to climb in the ER to work on.

In my case, Sea Ray could not be held responsible for me adding 800 pounds of weight that overhangs the stern of the boat. The same thing applies when someone adds a hydraulic lift and a jetski on their boat. The combined weight will add 2000 pounds of dead weight to the back of a cruiser. If it was a factory option....then you could make the argument that Sea Ray was responsible for the engineering and performance. If it wasn't......the resulting performance is on the owner not on the manufacturer.

Engines do play a role but at least in my case....the weight and where it is located created the problem that required more lift on the stern of the boat.
 
I purchased the Tab Fins from Defender and plan to add them this winter. I'm just looking for a bit more stern lift at slower speeds and hopefully staying on plane at lower RPM's. I was advised against adding additional length for fear of over taxing the existing rams
 
But what about a spacer to change the angle. so the full tab is more tab? will this over tax the rams or not?
 
Mittens said:
But what about a spacer to change the angle. so the full tab is more tab? will this over tax the rams or not?
Click to expand...

there is a different forum dedicated to Bennett trim tabs....might be a good place to post this question....my self and others i am sure are interested in the same thing....

cliff
 
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PlayDate said:
I believe the engineering improves over time. My boat is 24 years old. I would like to think that newer boats are far more efficient than mine is. I just really love the 370 EC layout and it is easy to work on compared to a lot of other boats I have to climb in the ER to work on.

In my case, Sea Ray could not be held responsible for me adding 800 pounds of weight that overhangs the stern of the boat. The same thing applies when someone adds a hydraulic lift and a jetski on their boat. The combined weight will add 2000 pounds of dead weight to the back of a cruiser. If it was a factory option....then you could make the argument that Sea Ray was responsible for the engineering and performance. If it wasn't......the resulting performance is on the owner not on the manufacturer.

Engines do play a role but at least in my case....the weight and where it is located created the problem that required more lift on the stern of the boat.
Click to expand...
The 370 does have a nice ER. I never really appreciated that fact until I bought the Tiara. Its ER is great looking but man is it hard to get around in. You need pads to lay on and lots of swivels and extensions to do routine service.
 
dpvandy01 said:
I purchased the Tab Fins from Defender and plan to add them this winter. I'm just looking for a bit more stern lift at slower speeds and hopefully staying on plane at lower RPM's. I was advised against adding additional length for fear of over taxing the existing rams
Click to expand...

For that reason I put 30 inch tabs on the 270 DA for bow down cocktail cruises. Bennett did not think I needed to upgrade the rams. Your mileage may vary. LOL

MM
 
I have the same boat, and spoke with Bennett Engineering... Our boats should have 12 x 36 in tabs..... we have as
a factory supplied option 12 x 18 due to prop pockets. I just got the boat in time to remove it from the water for the winter... I have purchased the drop fins and made tab extensions to make them 24 wide by 14" long.....The drop fins make them act like the next size up...
I know that they don't recommend going out further however others have done without problems. I think this is gonna make a huge difference at slow speeds,
 
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