Smart Tabs

HavingFun

HavingFun

New Member
Nov 14, 2006
238
Grand Haven
Boat Info
2005 SD220
Engines
350 Mag Alpha
Anyone with experience using these on a 220SD?

http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabsII.htm

I wonder if these smart tabs are as good as adjustable tabs. The only reviews I have seen have been on boats less than 20 feet. I want to plane slower for wake boarding and it would be great to improve the ride in 1-2 ft chop.

Thanks Mike
 
I don't know how much difference there is between a 220 and a 240 SD hull, but I've found the tabs are useful in chop sometimes, but a little less trim does just as well. I think it's the deep deadrise and the deep V so you're really got a good "chop breaker" but the SD is bow heavy and it's really easy to get the bow too far down into the chop.

The primary use for my tabs is using them independently to adjust for wind (mostly), and every now and then for compensating for weight distribution.

I'm sure they have there use, but I can't see it with a 240. Quick planing is absolutely no problem (even stock power) and I don't want to have the constant drag.
 
Fun - There is a guy out in Los Vegas that put Bennett Tabs on his 220SD. He had pictures up on the old SRO board but never made it over here to CSR. I thought the same thing about putting tabs on my 220SD but can't justify the 1k cost.

I know that Nolan has smart tabs on his 185 Sport and likes them maybe he might jump in here and give you some advice. :grin:
 
It looks like the product that Ship Shape TV put on a boat. They replaced them later with adjustable tabs due to problems backing up. The tabs plow through the water in reverse.
 
I was commenting on what I see the need for tabs is on my 240, and that the Smart Tabs really don't seem to be the ones to fit that need.

I want buttons to play with too. :grin:
 
HavingFun, I do have Smart Tabs on my 185 and like them, I had not commented here since I am under the range that you want info on, I do think that they would help you. I have had no problem with backing up, most of my backing is into the beach or off of the trailer, I have not noticed any plowing effect from the tabs. They have helped with the ride in the sound when it get rough, less bow rise on take off, stay on plane 16 to 17 mph by gps, I use less gas per trip, speed has increased, I will say they have performed as advertised. If you decide to go Smart Tabs call John at the 800 number on the Nauticus website and talk to him about your boat, installation, and which set up you need to use. He is a good person to work with.
 
A discussion came up back on the SRO forum about tabs and speed at one time. I truly believe the person making the claim, was using the switches backwards not understanding where his tabs really were, however..........

You cannot add speed by adding drag. In HP applications, tabs are installed further up from the plane of the hull to avoid causing any additional drag.

As I understand Smart Tabs, they are basically tabs on shocks, so like with suspension on a vehicle, the shocks keep the tabs pushed down but force/pressure from the water surface will push them back up as you're moving, as needed? So the advantage is that you have "flexible" tabs that are not fixed in a down position?

Even that being the case, the only way you can add speed with tabs down, is if somehow you are trimming higher and that coupled with the tabs is somehow getting more hull out of the water actually eliminating more drag for the hull than you are adding with the tabs.
 
I do not know how it works for sure I just know the before and after speeds are different with the after being a little faster. When I purchased the set I had the 80 lb. actuators which was too strong for my boat, I called John and he sent me a set of 60 lb. actuators and everything worked fine from there, something to do with the balance of the boat.
 
Thanks for all of the comments. My main reason for the tabs is to plane around 18mph. That would make it easier for the wife to pull me wake boarding. Maybe the adjustable would make more sense since I could raise them when not needed. I have heard that the tabs increase speed and never fully understood it. The bennett tabs are around $400. Still a lot - little more than a tank of gas - ouch.
 
I am not experienced with the physics of the sport boats and wake boarding, but I am experienced with trying to get as much boating for the gallon of fuel that I can. Tabs do not just create a drag; they create "lift" in the aft which in turn brings a large portion of the hull out of the water, therefore less drag overall to improve speed and mileage. I get the most efficiency with my tabs mostly down. On my 340 it was not as bad, but I still tabbed down to get the most speed. Not exactly related to your question, but I hope it contributes.
 
Think it probably has something to do with the center-of-gravity of the boat too; or center-of-bouyancy. Kind of like a lever arm. The longer lever you have, the more leverage you have per unit of force applied. So those small trim tabs, being at the extreme rear of the boat, can lift a larger portion of the boat out of the water, creating less overall drag, as brimanst said. Just my random thought of the day.... :wink:
 
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