Trim Tabs or Whale Tail?

[smalorious]

Yes I know this topic has been covered, and my search revealed that if you have porpoising problems or a badly designed hull, a whale fin may be a cheap fix. I recently acquired a 1973 Overnighter and it has a whale tail installed, and the original looking trim tabs in a box. Not sure why the old owner did it, but I'm not all that impressed with the planing that I observed today on the water. It rides rear heavy for sure, but I'm not staring at the sky either. The previous owner informed me that since the boat is so heavy, there is no need to adjust trim, just run the drive at it's lowest position. I'm not talking smart tabs here, I'm talking bolt on "DP Step&Trim" tabs. My gut says to take the whale tail off and let the stern drive function as designed and use the tabs, but what says the hive mind?

 

[lime4x4]

Remove the whale tail and install adjustable trim tabs. I had a whale tail on my 87 268 weekender and it was a nightmare trying to control the boat once up on plane

 

[Lazy Daze]

Trust your gut. The heavier a boat is, the less effect a whale tail will have. Tabs are a great feature to have.

 

[External Medicine]

In my experience a boat that size needs hydraulic tabs. A whale tail is pretty much a waste of money on a small boat let alone one the size of yours. I'd remove the whale tail and have the tabs installed, no question.

 

[eddiemorales]

I have a 2007 240 Sundancer with both. It came with factory Bennetts and I added a SE Sport 300 installed with the no drill clip. I have to say, the hydrofoil added a faster out of the whole into plane and better stability. It did cut a few MPH off the top end. If anything, I would install the trim tabs and leave the tail, go test it and see how she performs. Then take it off and check once again......just my 2 cents.....

 

[Captain Crispy]

Put on the tabs, ditch the foil.
I have used a hydrofoil on a 16 foot bassboat and a 17 foot center console and I was quite pleased with the performance; BUT, a boat the size of yours is too big for a hydrofoil for three reasons:

1) The amount of lift provided by the foil is the same whether it is on a 17' center console or a 26 footer. Once the boat is over about 20' the lift is insufficient.

2) It will have control issues, especially at higher rpm's.

3) The lift of the foil is applied to the outdrive. You are basically using the outdrive as a lever. The upward force of the lift is applied to the outdrive, which lifts the transom and brings down the bow. A heavier boat puts more force on the outdrive, especially the transom assembly.

As an added benefit, the tabs will allow you to balance the the boat when it is on plane even if it is loaded assymetrically.

 

[bk1987]

on my 18 ft and 21ft ob the fin works great. on the 18ft the boat is faster with the fin i think it helps lift the boat out of the water a little as well as staying on plane at slower speeds but on my 27 ft the tabs are the best way to go imo

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Tried the whale tail on my old 268 (454 with Bravo I) years ago and I was not impressed. Once on plane, the boat bow would constantly go up then fall down, up and down, up and down... well you get the picture.

 

[Spookeay]

I have never found the tails worth a hoot on any thing but Outboards.
Get the tabs. It gives you much more control and they are not hard to install nor are that that costly.

Just be sure to add them slowly of you have never used them before. They can make a boat get all crazy if you dump them all at once at speed.