Smart Tabs installation on 185 Sport curved transom?? - Current models

[Cubee]

I want to install Smart Tabs (either SX or S/S will do) onto my 185 Sport 2010 and I am hoping that someone else may have done this already and could offer some advice concerning the curved transom on the current models. I have searched the forum and found much information on older 185's with the bulbous transom but can't find anything about problems with the newer 185's.

The problem is that towards the outer edges of the transom just where the manufacturer recommends to install the Tabs, the transom face is not a straight surface and actually has a curve in it. If you look at the attached photo taken from side-on, you will see the surface curving towards the front of the boat as it approaches the downturned outer chine. I am concerned that trying to install the Tabs onto this curved surface could lead to problems such as the hinges binding or putting undue strain onto the materials that they are made from. This curve starts at about 500mm from the centre of the transom as measured from the bung hole. In other words the middle 1000mm of transom surface is straight and flat but the outer surfaces have a compound curve.

Has anyone else installed the Smart Tabs and considered this problem and if you have a successful installation, would you mind sharing which type of Tab that you used, SX or S/S and where on the transom that you located the Tabs. A measurement from the bung hole to the inner edge of the Tab would probably be the easiest way to express this. All comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks, Cubee :smt100

 

[SteveRuss]

contact Nauticus directly. They will tell you exactly where to put them on your boat. John, the president will talk to you directly and help get them positioned correctly. I used 60lb actuators with the stainless ones on my Sea Ray 215EC and it was amazing how easily that boat got on plane with a full boatload.

 

[midway]

I agree, call Nauticus, John the owner may even be the one to answer the phone. They are good people and will help in anyway they can.
Telephone #800-233-0194

 

[beernutz]

Ditto the above. I talked to John several times myself before buying and installing my Smart Tabs.

 

[Cubee]

OK, Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I will contact Nauticus and see if they have any experience or advice concerning the current shape 185 Sport model.

If anyone else has direct experience with Smart Tabs on these 185's I would love to hear from them! I will be sure to post back with any advice that Nauticus can give me.

Cheers! :thumbsup:

 

[Balsam Lake]

Hi sorry to change the subject but I am looking at purchasing a 190 Sport they tell me it is the same haul as your boat can you tell me how you like your boat and what you are getting out of it for a top speed. We are looking at the 4.3 MPI with stainless prop and the dealer says 60 mph. Our choice is between this boat and Crownline 185 SS any input would be great thanks

 

[Cubee]

Hi sorry to change the subject but I am looking at purchasing a 190 Sport they tell me it is the same haul as your boat can you tell me how you like your boat and what you are getting out of it for a top speed. We are looking at the 4.3 MPI with stainless prop and the dealer says 60 mph. Our choice is between this boat and Crownline 185 SS any input would be great thanks

Hi Balsam

To answer your questions. Yes, I really like the SR 185 Sport and I think that it performs well and is nicely finished. Having said that, I think that the Crownline 185 SS is a very good boat as well and you would probably be happy with either one. If it was me, I would test drive both and then make a decision based on performance, price, fit and finish and whether you like one dealer better than another. It is a bit like comparing two similar motor vehicles.... in the end it comes down to which one you feel most comfortable with.

On the speed issue, the dealer that told you that a 185 Sport with a 4.3 MPI would do 60 mph is talking rubbish. The “Dreamometer” (Speedometer) on the dash might indicate close to 60 mph but the true speed measured with a GPS would be around 50 mph. Maybe with one person and low fuel and no other weight you might get low 50’s. If you check the Crownline website, they claim 46-50 mph for the 185 SS with the same engine, gear ratio and prop pitch of 21P for an aluminium prop. A 21P S/S Vengeance prop as fitted to the SR 185 is probably worth another 2-3 mph at best.

My boat will now do about mid to high 40’s since I changed the prop to a 19P High-Five which I might add is the best thing that I have done since buying the boat. The standard 21P Vengeance is sluggish to plane, won’t tolerate much trim and would cavitate in turns very easily. With the 19P High-Five, the boat surges onto the plane, I can trim all the way up for better speed/ride and it will not cavitate in turns at any speed. It is simply fantastic. I chose the 19P prop because I wanted good hole-shot and low speed planing for towing wakeboarders and tubes in the 16-20 mph range but I do need to be careful not to exceed the 4800 rpm WOT figure. A 21P High-Five would be almost as good but would be a little slower out of the hole and a little faster on top-end speed. If all that you care about is going as fast as you can, then I would suggest a 21P Enertia prop or maybe a LaserII. With one of those two you might be lucky and crack 55 mph for some sort of bragging rights!

If you are going to buy either the SR 190 or the Crownline 185 SS with the 4.3MPI, in my opinion the best thing that you could do is negotiate with the dealer and have them fit a 21P High-Five (or Quicksilver QST5 which is the same prop without the vent holes but $100 or so cheaper) if you want the best all-round prop for water sports with the only trade-off being a loss of 2-3 mph on the top end speed.

Good luck with choosing a boat. Cheers!

 

[Marco1]

I am sure Nauticus can help if you ring them up.

 

[Balsam Lake]

Thanks for responding and the input have a great weekend

 

[roostrs]

Balsam, when you finish the install, let me know how you think they would work with a dry stack boat. I have thought about putting them on, but I am worried about them catching the fork lift.

 

[midway]

Balsam, when you finish the install, let me know how you think they would work with a dry stack boat. I have thought about putting them on, but I am worried about them catching the fork lift.

I have them on my 04 185, mounted as far outboard as I can, I would not trust the forklift operator to miss them when lifting the boat from the water or the rack for that matter. If I was in that situation I would devise some way of raising them for forklift handling.

 

[Trucky]

You would want to install the trim plate retractor kit...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470939291&pf_rd_i=507846

 

[fasttoys7619]

My exs brother has the 185 also , I installed the smart tabs and to deal with the curved transom I bought some white starboard cut shaped it to fit the curve creating a flat surface to mount the tabs , I ll see if he can email the pictures of it and ill post them , It did take time to make them , but it turned out nice and would think its oem

 

[roostrs]

Thanks, I had been thinking of doing this for a while, I had not seen the retractors.

 

[Sea Ray Sam]

You want to install the SX10512-70 Smart Tabs on you boat. I have a 2004 200 Sundeck w/ an integrated swim deck. I used the SX10512-90 on mine and have the same curve on my transom. Much heavier boat and a bit longer. Bolts up fine.! Could not be more happier with the setup!! The tabs mount top and bottom so the curve really has no effect because it only needs a small area to mount. It can be adjusted for the length to compensate for the curve. I had questions too until I got and held it up to the boat to understand how it mounts. They are awesome!!

 

[Trucky]

You want to install the SX10512-70 Smart Tabs on you boat. I have a 2004 200 Sundeck w/ an integrated swim deck. I used the SX10512-90 on mine and have the same curve on my transom. Much heavier boat and a bit longer. Bolts up fine.! Could not be more happier with the setup!! The tabs mount top and bottom so the curve really has no effect because it only needs a small area to mount. It can be adjusted for the length to compensate for the curve. I had questions too until I got and held it up to the boat to understand how it mounts. They are awesome!!

I've got a 210SD... I haven't installed tabs yet but was told by Nauticus that I should use the -80 model. Do you ever sense that you're "overtabbed"? The online charts say I should use the -90 as well if I read them right. Do you have any photos of your tabs installed? I'm interested to hear your before and after perceptions and results.