Dinghy tabs

[Strecker25]

Hi guys, I want to fix a set of tabs to our 310 air floor with a 6hp 2 stroke. I see the maxi marine lifters as well as the nauticus smart tabs. For anyone with we other solution, what are your experiences?

the maxis are much larger, and I'm wondering how easily they're removed? They'll hand over the back of our tubes so I'd like to pull them off during travel.

The nauticus are sled adjusting, but I'm wondering if a 6hp motor is going to have enough push to get them to actually retract on plane.

Thanks all

 

[Creekwood]

Hi guys, I want to fix a set of tabs to our 310 air floor with a 6hp 2 stroke. I see the maxi marine lifters as well as the nauticus smart tabs. For anyone with we other solution, what are your experiences?

the maxis are much larger, and I'm wondering how easily they're removed? They'll hand over the back of our tubes so I'd like to pull them off during travel.

The nauticus are sled adjusting, but I'm wondering if a 6hp motor is going to have enough push to get them to actually retract on plane.

Thanks all

The Maxi Marine's are pretty easy to remove. The strut attaches to the transom at the top with Wing Nuts (that is how I did it) and the bottom is a plastic "snap on" kind of bracket. Takes maybe 2 minutes tops to remove/install both tabs. Here is a video of mine:

[video]https://youtu.be/Zjhc4T7kExw[/video]

 

[Strecker25]

I actually watched your video just by searching this morning lol. Looks good, I think I'll go with them over the nitrogen filled struts, simplicity is my friend here and the maxi's have less to break.

What were your speeds before the tabs, and could you plane with two?

 

[Creekwood]

I actually watched your video just by searching this morning lol. Looks good, I think I'll go with them over the nitrogen filled struts, simplicity is my friend here and the maxi's have less to break.

What were your speeds before the tabs, and could you plane with two?

Before the tabs I had difficulty planing with two people (me at about 200lbs and my son at about 150 at the time - that's him driving in the video). It involved having the second person move right up to the bow until on plane. With the tabs it gets on plane without moving around. With two 200lb+ people, it takes a bit longer to get on plane, maybe 5 to 10 seconds, but it does get up.

With me alone, it pops right up on plane and probably hits about 20mph. With one person, I am not sure that the top end is much better than before since it would eventually get on plane before the tabs too with one person.

You said you have a 6hp. It may not sound like a big difference but that is 25% less power than the 8hp. Your results may differ.

 

[Strecker25]

Thanks, I think I'll give them a go. Although I'm about to start another thread about how to fix this damn dinghy first...

 

[magstang1]

At one time I was planning to make some from left over starboard but that has all been used for other projects now.

Maybe make a set?

 

[Strecker25]

Probably doable, but for $100 that the maxi's cost I may just go for them

 

[Creekwood]

Probably doable, but for $100 that the maxi's cost I may just go for them

The Maxi's are about 1/4 in thick and the plastic is stiffer than starboard of the same thickness, which I think makes it better than starbord. Plus the mounting system on the Maxi's is pretty good.

One installation tip is that the transom on my dinghy is low, meaning that the tabs sat angled too far down using the farthest hole setting in on the tabs mounting. But there is room to drill more holes further out on the mount, which I did. It worked perfectly for me. An alternative might be shorter support arms, but I was able to get the right angle by drilling extra holes.

 

[wakeup 19]

I put the fins on the engine, it got on plane easier but I think the tabs are a better option.