Trim Tabs - options - wake surfing (and cruising)

[Dean P]

Anyone have tabs on a 21ft model? Would they be more/less useful on a shorter boat?

Absolutely! Yes, they help with all boats (hole shots/getting on plane/weight distribution/chop/steering to name a few). I put them on my SX-192. Had to make a special holder to mount them but got them on. They make such a difference, I wish they would came standard on all boats.

 

[rkim808]

I have been lurking around the forums since I bought my boat 3 years ago, I haven’t posted much but have absorbed a lot of great info. I have been looking for a way to get a better ride on the big lakes up here and finally pulled the trigger on a set of @swatski trim tabs. Thanks to all the hard work and advice from you guys and Russ at Lectrotab I am expecting a fairly easy install this weekend. I had them powder coat mine black and went with the ALC, I can’t wait to try them out.

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Man, I gotta get me some of these. Start saving my pennies.

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

It’s been said before but worth saying again. If you boat on choppy water you will love having trim tabs. My lake gets rough between the wind and large boats and these make the ride so much more comfortable.

 

[swatski]

Man, I gotta get me some of these. Start saving my pennies.

Man, you need those tabs!
Those hulls take so much less beating in rough water with the tabs deployed, it’s hard to describe. I think @Amar Nanduri took a clip that shows my 240 riding with the tabs deployed next to other boats - and the difference is so crazy. I can not find it now, it must have been one of the Bimini threads.
Not only is the ride just smoother but there is also less over-spinning of the pumps in the air - much easier on the drive trains (and timing chains).

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[rkim808]

Man, you need those tabs!
Those hulls take so much less beating in rough water with the tabs deployed, it’s hard to describe. I think @Amar Nanduri took a clip that shows my 240 riding with the tabs deployed next to other boats - and the difference is so crazy. I can not find it now, it must have been one of the Bimini threads.
Not only is the ride just smoother but there is also less over-spinning of the pumps in the air - much easier on the drive trains (and timing chains).

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Aloha @swatski yes I need these so bad, as u know I’m out in the Pacific Ocean a lot. And it can get rough, the AR240 pounds and I do worry about drive train issues too. So its definitely my next mod for sure. U know me when the time comes I’m going to be blowing up ur phone lol.

 

[swatski]

Aloha @swatski yes I need these so bad, as u know I’m out in the Pacific Ocean a lot. And it can get rough, the AR240 pounds and I do worry about drive train issues too. So its definitely my next mod for sure. U know me when the time comes I’m going to be blowing up ur phone lol.

Really don’t think you can go wrong with the Lectrotabs, w/short actuators. Being in salt, their patented conduits for equalizing the pressure inside actuators (so those don’t vacuumize and suck water when deployed) is a no brainer.
Those are fully compatible with the wake Wedge, too.

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[Amar Nanduri]

I wholeheartedly recommend trim tabs. I was following @swatski on the return trip from Bimini and his trip was super smooth. I can count on my fingers on one hand the number of times his boat jumped during the entire crossing whereas mine was jumping quite frequently. I infact even remarked to him how smooth his crossing was whereas mine was real jumpy.

One more thing is health related. My right knee started giving problems ever since that trip and I think it is because of all the jumps as I was driving my boat standing up all the time, and I really felt the shock of impacts on my knees.

 

[Dmac]

Couldn’t wait till tomorrow to get started, spent about 3 hours on it after work today. Both tabs are mounted and just need to work on electrical tomorrow if the rain holds out. Was really easy after drilling that first hole. Thanks again for figuring this all out @swatski, I knew exactly what I was getting into with this one.

 

[rkim808]

Really don’t think you can go wrong with the Lectrotabs, w/short actuators. Being in salt, their patented conduits for equalizing the pressure inside actuators (so those don’t vacuumize and suck water when deployed) is a no brainer.
Those are fully compatible with the wake Wedge, too.
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We’ve had long conversations about this, and it will definitely get done. Right after I finish this GPS/Fishfinder install done. Yup yup, I know should’ve done the trim tabs first. But wanted to see the grounds better and mark the spots lol. Seadek can wait trim tabs next...

 

[rkim808]

No concerns really. Maybe if you floated in the water and stretched your feet all the way out towards the transom.

Aloha @FloJet Did u use self tapping screws to install ur tabs to the hull? If so what size did u use?

 

[FloJet]

Sorry for the late reply. I had my fiberglass shop install mine for a reasonable price. But I do know that he he did use self tapping screws tho. This kind of job I was just not comfortable in doing it.

 

[rkim808]

Sorry for the late reply. I had my fiberglass shop install mine for a reasonable price. But I do know that he he did use self tapping screws tho. This kind of job I was just not comfortable in doing it.

Aloha @FloJet i feel the same way, I had my Yamaha tech do that portion of the install along with my transducer mounting. When it comes to drilling holes in the hull I get kind of worried, and chickened out.

 

[FloJet]

Haha for real. One wrong hole and there goes your investment. Some of the folks on here are very talanted in doing it themselves. I never took wood working class so Im not.

 

[rkim808]

Aloha Gang so here’s some pics of my trimtabs installed, how does it look to u guys? Hope to get approval that it looks ok and not installed wrong.

 

[Babin Farms]

Looks good. Let us know how much of a difference there is. By the way, nice 420 sticker , trying to tell us something

 

[rkim808]

Looks good. Let us know how much of a difference there is. By the way, nice 420 sticker , trying to tell us something

Aloha @Babin Farms i just knew somebody was going to say something about that lol. The DMV in Hawaii has been close for just about a month now, so my trailer registration and safety check inspection are going to expire.

 

[Babin Farms]

Aloha @Babin Farms i just knew somebody was going to say something about that lol. The DMV in Hawaii has been close for just about a month now, so my trailer registration and safety check inspection are going to expire.

Right there with ya, my fleet of trucks at work was due to be tested in March

 

[BigAbe75]

Aloha Gang so here’s some pics of my trimtabs installed, how does it look to u guys? Hope to get approval that it looks ok and not installed wrong.
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Aloha! Can’t wait to hear your report on how they they changed the ride!

 

[Weeb]

Aloha Gang so here’s some pics of my trimtabs installed, how does it look to u guys? Hope to get approval that it looks ok and not installed wrong.
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Did you tighten that loose piston nut? Looks great.

 

[FloJet]

Looks good to me. Now go enjoy it!