Adam F Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Launched from a very windy baiter at 10.00am this morning - reckon it was gusting F7/8!! We forget to get bait was too busy chatting on the way down, but as it was so windy it was probably for the best. The plan was to try the trim tabs, check the windows for leaks, make sure the new keel band wasnt going to fall off and generally check A.OK for the season ahead. First off the windows are GREAT!! Off the slip into very steep 4/5' waves which almost came over the top, the windows 1.) didnt leak (always a bonus!) and 2.) they clear SO fast - just like glass - its a real pleaure to have crystal clear vision again. Now to the trim tabs. Running over to the back of Brownsea for sheltered water the ride seemed smoother - it was as rough as I have ever been out in Poole harbour but we still managed 14 knots into the teeth of it - yeah it was bumpy, but she didnt slam like usual - basically the tabs were keeping the noise down which meant the pointy bit of the keel was working more efficiantly - usually the bow rises and becomes less effective - top speed was effected though - with 18 knots (usually 24 flat out). We found a lovely sheltered beach off Brownsea and beached her to make ammendments. The two varibles are 1.) Trim tab angle in relation to the hull (20-30 degs) and acctuator pressure adjustment. In hindsight we should have been more scientific and recorded the settings and timings / speed. We tried all extremes - 1.) Tabs low and pressure low 2.) Tabs low and pressure high 3.) Tabs High and pressure low 4.) Tabs high and pressure high. The best setting seemed to be tabs low (30 degs) and pressure low - it was hard to judge but it felt the best - we planned quicker even with Gordon sat on the transom - and top speed was uneffected - the ride was also better and smoother. The most noticable effect though was how much futher I could trim the engine out - christ, it almost felt like it was going to leave the water - this was a big benefit and enabled me to use the engine trim alot more to alter the speed and ride of the boat - the tabs did all the lifting. It needs a little further fine tuning, but I wouls say that it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Nice report Adam. It sounds like the trim tabs do a similar job as the dolfin fins that I have on the outboard. They give you more trim adjustment. Did you notice any difference in the lateral stability? i.e. if you moved the weight onto on side of the boat did the tabs compensate whilst you were on the move? BF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Yes, they did help - hard to tell when such aweful conditions, but their was a definate effect. I think youre right - they do have a similar effect to the doelfins, but they leave the engine unhindered as the tabs are independant - they also dont detract from the top speed as they dont create drag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazza Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Gordon Bennet, are you keen or what!!!!! Can`t wait till you try the tabs out in normal weather!!!!! Say a mild hurricane or something Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Glad the tabs worked well for you Adam. Having a set of Bennet tabs fitted to Quest II in a week or so when she comes out for her Spring clean. More or less the same reason as you. I want to improve performance, efficiency and ride in a big head sea. The boat is great in almost any conditions except for a head sea. Mainly due to all the fuel, ice, tackle and live well carried right in the wrong place... At and around the transom. Hopefully tabs will drop the nose a little in a head sea and allow me to cut through rather than bounce over. Being hydraulic, I will still be able to lift the nose in a following sea and surf. Can't wait and fingers crossed I will get the same benefit you have. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Adam you must be bonkers well done on getting back alive Also good that the trim tabs have given you an improvement in the ride. I have had a few problems with my hydraulic trim tabs but have now finally got them working again (fingers crossed) Tom you will definitely notice a big difference, I have been without mine for around 4 months now and have really missed them. They do all there supposed to do and more. Gone will be the days of being permanently list (without the brams Mike) and less of the slamming although they are not a miracle cure but are certainly a great help. It just takes a bit of practice getting the settings correct but especially good if you like toys, you'll have another two buttons to press Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 You have to be a wee bit careful. The recommended size from Bennet is WOT for most boats. I have an amusing video somewhere of a rather substantial boat that we fitted the suggested size tabs too. The guy doing the driving drops the nose with the tabs and the nose keeps dropping... and dropping... and dropping... It looked something like a car driving full speed into three feet of water. The guy filming from a different boat was wetting himself laughing, the guy driving the boat fitted with the tabs was handling it from the flybridge and needless to say was a little damp afterwards. We now tend to go for the tab down from the manufacturers suggested otherwise you need a distinctley gentle touch! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady jane Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 the tabs sound as though they are very good value, is there any chance somebody could post a photo of them fitted on a warrior size boat with a transducer fitted as well. thanks andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coddy Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Here you go Andy Coddy I have just added a report about how Steve Mills fitted a set to his Orkney on my web site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Full transom view Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Showing 2 transducers and my livebait pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady jane Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 cheers for photos. adam if you find your boat is a lot better with tabs i wonder if this will enable you to change prop for extra speed ? if your engine is a 60 i have a 13 and 14 pitch prop you are welcome to borrow for test . cheers andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam F Posted April 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 Andy, I have a 14 on at the moment - prior to fitting the tabs the max WOT i could get was 5200 rpm - now with the tabs fitted - I can get 5800-5900 so I reckon that is about optimum. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Adam, what gives it that bit extra to increase the RPM?? Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 In theory the prop is now sitting just under the water line and most of it thrust is transfered to forward motion rather than 70% forward and 30% trying to keep the stern up (the tabs are doing that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Dave, the article on your site regarding the fitting to an Orkney Day Angler 19 is very interesting. Given that the Day Angler has the same - semi-displacement hull design as my boat, it wold imply that they could be good to fit. More tempted now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swainiac Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Cheers Adam.............................you said that without moving your lips!!! Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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