Trim/stabilizer flaps

[River_eye]

Not very familiar with them, wondering if you guys could help me out. One of my boss's utility/transportation boats has them, it's a massive 22' fiberglass runabout with a 200 Opti.

I know that when you are starting out, you start with the motor all the way in and the flaps down, so as to keep the bow down. Now, what do you adjust first, the motor, or the flaps? Or do you do a little of both? Any explaination is appreciated, thanks.

River eye

[REW]

Right on -
Drop the trim tabs, full down, and trim the motor in for planing out.

Once you get on plane, trim the motor back a bit to keep from plowing, then trim the tabs up to about 1/2.

Trim the motor back further -- keeping an eye on the bow.

If the bow, is still plowing a bit -- continue to trim the tabs up -- perhaps full up.

Then trim the motor up, until it begans to cavitate and trim down a bit. Finally trim the tabs -- with the motor at the desired rpm for final boat trim - to level the load, or level the boat.

Basically, once you are on cruise, you want the motor trimmed out as much as possible, to lighten the load, and lift the bow as much as possible. Then use the tach, and trim the trim tabs, to get maximum rpm -- at the current throttle setting. This will mean, that -- at this engine rpm, and throttle setting, and cruising speed -- you will have the most efficient boat attitude. i.e. you will be able to cruise the most miles on the leat gallons of gas -- due to the boat being in the best planing attitude with the minimum load on the motor.

Good luck and enjoy.

Take care

REW

p.s.

One place where thr trim tabs really shine, is when you are working heavy seas at a slow speed. By correct use of the tabs -- you can keep the bow down much more and make it much easier for the motor to push the boat through the swells.

[River_eye]

That is just what I wanted to know, thank you very much :-)


River eye

[TS 45]

Can these tabs be installed on a 70 hsp aluminum runabout or is this overkill.

[Bob Z]

Lots of good info at the Bennett Website
bennetttrimtabs