up on the plane

S

Scipand

New Member
Jun 2, 2013
4
Sydney
Boat Info
2001 Sundancer 240
Engines
Mercruiser 5ltr
Hi guys

Wondering if you can confirm something for me. Is it the case that when I accelerate I get up on the plane much quicker if I have the tabs all the way down. Why? Is this a good way to use the tabs?
regards
Scipand
 
Yes that is how it works, pushes the bow down. don't forget to retract them once you are up to speed.
 
Yes, that is one of the primary functions for Trim Tabs. It reduces train on the engine and drive train and improves visibility as there is much less bow rise during acceleration. I like to think of them like an aircraft using flaps for takeoff.

Tom
Bennett Marine
 
Thanks Tom. Im installing my ATC tomorrow. I hope it makes a real difference.





Scipand said:
Hi guys

Wondering if you can confirm something for me. Is it the case that when I accelerate I get up on the plane much quicker if I have the tabs all the way down. Why? Is this a good way to use the tabs?
regards
Scipand
Click to expand...
 
I find myself adjusting trim tabs all the time. I finally got my head wrapped around the way Sea Ray has the buttons on my boat. But the constant adjustment had me thinking....is it normal?
 
Do you have passengers and crew walking about, constantly, or are they seated most of the ride? What are sea conditions, and where are you boating?
 
Northeast oceans, changing tides differing winds etc. My adjustments aren't drastic but a click up or down here and there, but a constant monitoring of the tabs is needed. My area was winding channels (salem sound) and making sure to stay in the channels are important. Point being that I do have frequent course changes. Wonder if I am a candidate for ATC.
 
Madifonzo said:
I find myself adjusting trim tabs all the time. I finally got my head wrapped around the way Sea Ray has the buttons on my boat. But the constant adjustment had me thinking....is it normal?
Click to expand...
Honestly, I don't think it's normal that adjustments are necessary so frequently that it becomes annoying.
 
Something else to mess around with:
Just a little relocation of dead weight on the boat can make a huge difference - especially with stern heavy sundancers.
I moved my tool box from along side the engines to under the forward berth cushions.
Planing is noticeably quicker and I can now keep her on plane 5 mph slower.
20 or 30 pounds relocated can make a big difference.
 
Scipand said:
Wondering if you can confirm something for me. Is it the case that when I accelerate I get up on the plane much quicker if I have the tabs all the way down. Why? Is this a good way to use the tabs?
regards
Scipand
Click to expand...
OK so I may be speaking out of turn here but I have been experimenting a lot with the tabs on our 380DA. As was pointed out by 'Madifonzo' the switches are not wired in a way that is intuitive to me. ie the Port switch activates the starboard tab and visa versa. What I have found is that if I apply tabs as I am climbing onto plane I achieve a faster smoother curve up to speed. Also, there is a slight delay(Maybe 1/2 second to a second) between when I push the button and there is motion in the tab. On our 380 I can hold plane at 3200-3300 RPM with the tabs down but I need 3500 tabs up. The combination of 3400RPM and some tab seems to be our most economical and stable planing configuration. If we run at full tilt boogie, the tabs just get in the way, as the hull levels itself out at speed. Also, 'tabs down' really screws with close quarters maneuvering, or backing into the slip. You will have to play around to find your sweet spot. I got (what I consider to be) really interesting video of our boat on plane down wind in 4-5 ft Sea's we were running mostly tabs up to keep the bow high and letting the boat slow down as it climbed the back of the waves. Very comfortable ride and very little spray on the window.[video=youtube;rf9i4Q2g-AM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9i4Q2g-AM[/video]
 
Last edited:
Thanks Tom that was very helpful!!!:thumbsup:
 
Good post


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
just purcahsed a 1999 SeaRay 340 Sundancer. Everything like new , however, when hit trim tabs, a quick shrill sounding alarm goes off for about 2 seconds. Boat trims ok, but wondering about alarm???
 
Does it do it with the motor running, and or off? Possible low volts caused by corroded or weak electrical connections. Try cleaning the connections paying particular attention to both ends of the black ground wire at the pump.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine
 
I usually don't have a problem getting OldSkool on plane but I'm using a whale tail on the outdrive. Would tabs be a better way, would they even make a difference? Is the whale tail hard on the outdrive and gimbal housing?
 
OldSkool said:
I usually don't have a problem getting OldSkool on plane but I'm using a whale tail on the outdrive. Would tabs be a better way, would they even make a difference? Is the whale tail hard on the outdrive and gimbal housing?
Click to expand...

If you are happy with the way your boat runs now then it's probably not worth adding or changing to Trim Tabs. But Trim Tabs are more efficient than plates bolted to the anti-ventilation plate on a drive. With Trim Tabs you use them to trim the boat, and then use the power trim to adjust the drive so it is parallel to the water flow. This results in the best RPM /speed. With a whale tail the drive adjustment and boat trim are somewhat coupled together. Of course Trim Tabs can adjust for side to side trim as well.

Tom
Bennett Marine
 
Last edited:
Tabman, the trim tabs would not be much of a help as my canoe is small enough that any listing can be corrected with a few weight changes in gear or people. Thanks for the reply.
 
I have never been happy with the bow down since I bought the boat 8 years ago. I replaced the swim platform that came original with one from swimplatform.com. This summer all it took to get a big change was to put a small person up front between the hand rails on the bow and what a difference of 120 lbs there and how fast it came up. I going to by 2 sand bags, seal them up in 10mil plastic really well and place in in the storage containers on either side for the forward v-berth and see how it handles then. I think the extra large swim platform just hangs out too much weight behind the stern and effect the balance point between stern to bow which does not let the trim tabs work effectively. I am also think about pull the trim tabs and extending them a couple of inches both in width and length.
 
Woody said:
Honestly, I don't think it's normal that adjustments are necessary so frequently that it becomes annoying.
Click to expand...

from what i have read here and experienced on my boat, 2006 or newer 240 sundancer drivers are screwed by exactly this - especially running with low fuel and water tanks . its a challange to keep this boat on plane.
 
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