Smart tabs

Cork Rib · 01 November 2006, 14:57

Anybody use Smart Tabs?? Are they any good? Do they affect performance?

& presuming I buy, where's the cheapest place to buy them?

Jon

Nos4r2 · 01 November 2006, 15:32

Ollyit does.

Take a trip over to Iboats.com forums and ask about them-the guy who makes them is there under the user name Nautijohn.

dctucker · 01 November 2006, 19:19

I've got 'em on my 5.4 SeaRider. Love 'em. Simple, effective, inexpensive. Probably costs a tiny bit on the top end, but gets you planing much more quickly, allows you to stay planing at lower speeds. All as advertised.

simmons0 · 01 November 2006, 19:53

We thought about it, but didnt in the end because we thought it might give us trouble in a following sea. Keeping the bow down too much.

Didnt want to pay full wack for proper trim tabs so we tried a Doelfin for $50 or there abouts. Has surpassed my expectations!
Made a huge difference, much more responsive to the trim, flies level, more stable laterally and it just doesn't cavitate in turns.

Harry

Rogan · 01 November 2006, 21:17

Got some sport tabs on our Hurricane. Makes a huge difference! You can adjust the pressue depending on load and conditions. Boat has stopped chine walking at top speed and seems to hook up much faster after leaving the water as well. Also we can maintain headway into much larger seas than before.

Watchemrocks! · 01 November 2006, 22:02

Has anyone used small outboards, maybe 10 or 15 hp on anything similar to an Avon SR4? If so, will the boat plane? I have a Yamaha 15 and am waiting for a new engine. I have used this engine on Avon 4 meter workboat with the "looks like a dead diver under the boat lifters" with pretty good performance for a sib.

sparkey · 01 November 2006, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cork Rib

Anybody use Smart Tabs?? Are they any good? Do they affect performance?

& presuming I buy, where's the cheapest place to buy them?

Jon

Jon,
Have not seen them on a rib but have seen them fitted on a ring 21 here.
Made a massive difference to take off and planing etc.

They were got in either Union or CH but are available from UK for a lot less.
I think the new shop in Carragaline stocks them.

Sean.

bedajim · 02 November 2006, 06:38

Hi

I had a set on my SR4 worked well and fitted a line to each with a cleat on the top of the transom so you could pull them up if required

James

stevetheboat · 02 November 2006, 07:03

If its of any interest to anyone we can supply the full range of Smart Tabs and prices sart from £99.00 inc VAT
And we are offering an extra 5% discount for RIBnet customers until January

Nos4r2 · 02 November 2006, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watchemrocks!

Has anyone used small outboards, maybe 10 or 15 hp on anything similar to an Avon SR4? If so, will the boat plane? I have a Yamaha 15 and am waiting for a new engine. I have used this engine on Avon 4 meter workboat with the "looks like a dead diver under the boat lifters" with pretty good performance for a sib.

Not on an sr4 it won't-you need quite a bit of oomph to empty the hull and get it on the plane.

J S · 02 November 2006, 17:53

I Have little experience of sr4's but surely a 15hp will get the boat going fast enough to put it at the right attitude to empty the water mabye slowly but will it not then slowly climb onto the plane. But I filled my sib up with water nearly to the top of the tubes though and it took about 10mins by the time most of the water had emptied to plane. so mabye can't be done but it would be good fun tyring though.

James

Nos4r2 · 02 November 2006, 18:24

Problem is that you need to get the bow a fair way up to do empty the hull. You might get one to slip onto the plane slowly by moving around onboard but I doubt it'd stay there in anything other than a millpond.

J S · 02 November 2006, 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Problem is that you need to get the bow a fair way up to do empty the hull. You might get one to slip onto the plane slowly by moving around onboard but I doubt it'd stay there in anything other than a millpond.

Yes fair point.

James

Watchemrocks! · 02 November 2006, 22:57

[QUOTE=Nos4r2;172445] Problem is that you need to get the bow a fair way up to do empty the hull. You might get one to slip onto the plane slowly by moving around onboard but I doubt it'd stay there in anything other than a millpond. [/QUOTE
Point taken! Thanks.

Johnwin · 03 November 2006, 06:56

I fitted smart tabs to my SR4, transformed the boat so, worth every penny

ollyit · 03 November 2006, 10:40

yep me too, have a look at my site, effectively puts more boat in water and self adjusting, feels more sure footed when you're wellying - although I'm beginning to forget ehat that feels like i have out in sooo long

Cork Rib · 03 November 2006, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollyit

yep me too, have a look at my site, effectively puts more boat in water and self adjusting, feels more sure footed when you're wellying - although I'm beginning to forget ehat that feels like i have out in sooo long

Thanks everybody for the replies. Ollyit, the links don't seem to be working on the website

regards

ollyit · 07 November 2006, 13:42

should be fine mate, click on build images links near top of page

M-125 · 21 December 2006, 15:53

How much abuse can the tabs take? I imagine some hefty wavejumping would put a lot of strain on the actuators and the hinges. Anyone got any experience with this? I am gathering all the neccesary parts for my 5.4 searider, and I think theese tabs might be a good investment, as the boat probably will be heavy most of the time.

Aidan · 21 December 2006, 16:37

I had a problem with the bow pointing to the sky when powering up.
It would not respond as much as I would like to Trim Control.
When Under way WOT, if I left go of the wheel for a second it would have what we called on Motor bikes Tank Slapped" and spat one over the side.
It was slow to gets its Butt out of the water.

The Addition of Hydroplanes at some €50 fixed all the above.
It still is a heavy boat to get up on plane as the marlin has a 3rd skin that takes in water for stability, however itis much better and everything else is great and much safer so I can now let the steering wheel go (non hydralic Steering) under WOT and she keeps her line (yes it is a SHe, sorry girls).

Never tried the tabs but the planes work great.
It did take 3 kts off Top end but worth it for stability and control also softer ride.
It was a Marlin 16 with Suzi 70..

Next one is 6.4Mtr Ballistic with 140 Hp Johnson, Going Offshore....