Smart Tabs - in rough weather, advice to remove?

U

uptimejeff

Member
Jul 20, 2010
61
Tampa
Boat Info
2010 185 Sport, Garmin 540S, Smart Tabs SX
Engines
Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha
Hi All
I was out with 6 passengers yesterday on my 185s.
We launched on 1 side of tampa bay (ft desoto) and ended up on the other side (anna maria)

Winds around 15, water was rough (maybe 3' swells, hard for me to judge). We decided to find shelter and wait out the weather. Waiting it out was the right move, and we had a good lunch :)

---

For the return, seas were still rough for an 18' bow rider and in retrospect I don't believe I should have made the return in those seas. Crossing the channels of tampa bay make you feel really really small... I won't likely ride with such weather again (lesson learned)

Many waves crashed against the bow and everyone was soaked.
The boat stayed relatively level due to the smart tabs.

A friend advised that I should have removed the tabs for such weather.

Any thoughts on this?

It would be easy enough to jump in the water and remove a few nylon screws to release the tabs...

I appreciate any bits of wisdom

Jeff
 
uptimejeff said:
Hi All
I was out with 6 passengers yesterday on my 185s.
We launched on 1 side of tampa bay (ft desoto) and ended up on the other side (anna maria)

Winds around 15, water was rough (maybe 3' swells, hard for me to judge). We decided to find shelter and wait out the weather. Waiting it out was the right move, and we had a good lunch :)

---

For the return, seas were still rough for an 18' bow rider and in retrospect I don't believe I should have made the return in those seas. Crossing the channels of tampa bay make you feel really really small... I won't likely ride with such weather again (lesson learned)

Many waves crashed against the bow and everyone was soaked.
The boat stayed relatively level due to the smart tabs.

A friend advised that I should have removed the tabs for such weather.

Any thoughts on this?

It would be easy enough to jump in the water and remove a few nylon screws to release the tabs...

I appreciate any bits of wisdom

Jeff
Click to expand...
What was the reasoning your friend gave you for this suggestion?
 
Head Sea or Following sea? In a following sea the last thing you want is tabs down. When the seas are following they are constantly trying to push the boat side to side and the tabs being down make it worse. In a head sea you want the tabs down to break the chop whth the V of the boat instead of the pad.
 
I'm new to boating.. so hopefully I explain this properly..

I'm on the west coast of florida.wind was N/NW

I had to head into the wind (head sea?), across the wind then with the wind behind me (following sea) and through a very narrow channel at the beach.

Heading into the wind, the nose stayed too far down (IMO) as waves broke across the bow... Heading back the harbor, with the wind behind me, the swells would really push me, it felt like I was on a giant motorized boogie board.

I'm thinking this was just too much sea to have non-adjustable tabs and perhaps no tabs would have been better than semi-permanently down. But I'm wondering if others with smart tabs have had similar experiences.
 
Terminology is sometimes confusing - so let me see if I have this right - simple language. When attacking waves head on (head sea), it is best you keep the bow down - which I try to do with both power trim and tabs. In a following sea (waves coming directly at the stern), I keep the bow up (stern down, since the water wants to raise the stern and push the bow down. Correct?

Actually, the most uncomfortable for me is when the waves are hitting broadside. What to do then? Try to zig zag and quarter the waves (which seems to be good in a strong head sea as well)?
 
There is a bunch more to read, but here is a small example of what Bennett reccomends. I understand this is for adjustable tabs, but running smart tabs at low speed is the same as tabbing all the way doun right? Hope it helps and for more reading go here:http: www.bennetttrimtabs.com/guidetotrimtabs5.php
Sorry for hijacking your site Tabman

From Bennett's website:
Changing a Boat's Attitude to Match Sea Conditions

Choppy Head Sea
For the most comfortable ride, when running into a head sea you want to trim the bow down so the sharp forward sections of the boat do their work cleaving the waves. This will bring the "V" of the hull in contact with the waves rather than having the waves pound the hull - and your passengers.

Following Sea
For best maneuverability and maximum steering control, trim tabs should be fully retracted in a following sea, or when running an inlet. Keep the tabs up so the tide or current won't push the stern from side to side.

Beam Sea
Boats operating with waves approaching from the side often throw spray up on the windward side. This spray often is carried aboard by the wind (particularly on smaller vessels). Trim tabs are used to raise the windward side of the boat, blocking the spray that blows over the boat, resulting in a drier ride.

Correcting Porpoising
Porpoising is a condition more common in faster, performance boats. As speed increases, the bow repeatedly rises out of the water until gravity overcomes lift and the bow bounces down. Press "Bow Down" in half second bursts. As the trim tabs deflect, the porpoising subsides and your speed should remain the same or increase. Only a slight amount of trim tab deflection should be necessary.

Backing Down
When operating the boat in reverse, both trim tabs should be fully raised. The trim tabs produce drag if they are left down in reverse. This puts strain on the tabs as well as affects the boat's handling in reverse. Additionally, if one tab is deflected more than the other in reverse the boat tends to pivot around the deflected tab. Properly installed tabs, fully retracted have no effect on backing down.
 
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