Smart tabs vs electric?

El Capitan

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2014
3,828
Chicago IL./Vero Beach, Fl
Boat Info
1970 SRV 180 w 2.5L Mercruiser.
2000 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
Engines
120HP Mercruiser
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I have an 18 ft classic and was going to purchase 12x9 Bolts tabs but found a product by a company called Nauticus ( I think) that has Smart Tab product that stabilizes and trims automatically.

Any recommendations?

My only concern is getting bow down in chop. Do these adjust to those conditions?

Thank you.
 
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If you search on this forum, you'll find that Smart Tabs has been talked about quite a bit. For what you're looking to do on a smaller boat those Smart Tabs are fantastic. It'll be like a night and day difference getting onto plane and keeping the bow from bouncing as much in a chop. I've used on my own boat and put them on countless friends/families/customer's boats. If you're handy, it's a one-hour install.
 
UPDATE: I installed them myself, very easy. It did make a huge difference. The boat self levels according to weight distribution of where passengers sit, and trim is done automatically by the water pressure at the stern. The adjustments happen far more rapidly than I could ever do with my fingers and the auto adjustments happen more frequently as well.

I can run at plane at 1500-1800 rpms on my 2.5L/120hp alpha where before I had to come up to 2500 and then back down to 2000-2200 rpm. I did not check WOT speed due to chop in the lake.

I passed a boat from behind and approached his wake at an angle and I was sure that I would bury the bow a bit as I entered his wake at that angle. Did not happen. The boat stayed straight, the bow did not go down into his following wake, it didn't list from side to side, I was shocked.

This was on 4th of July and the lake was quite crowed and the chop was diamond shaped about 2' and sometimes a bit larger. My lil gal handled it better than ever. I am happy with the product.

Having said that, if I had a 30footer I would definitely want manual control electrics.

Thanks
 
Good deal! You know, when it comes to 'bang for the buck' for smaller boats - these things really are quite fantastic.
 
Bennett makes a self leveling trim tab as well. I just installed them on a friends 18' Nautic Star. Amazing the difference in speed to plane and level ride.
 

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