Small Boats Need Trim Tabs Too

What are Trim Tabs?

Trim Tabs are the flaps installed on the transom of all the larger power boats to improve acceleration and planing. With trim tabs, boats get onto plane faster, use less fuel and don‘t hide the horizon behind the bow during acceleration. Boats with trim tabs can plane at a lower rpm and lower speed, because the tabs hold the bow down, and at the same time, the back end up; otherwise, the boat would fall off of plane at that rpm and speed.

To maintain a level smooth ride, you can adjust the tabs while underway to accommodate the changes in conditions like the wind, waves, change of weight distribution on board, etc.

How Do They Work?

You are able to make adjustments from the helm using rocker switches attached to expensive electrics and hydraulics connecting the switches to the tabs. On the outside of the transom, there are two metal plates called trim tabs (like flaps on an airplane wing) that are pushed down or raised up with hydraulic rams. On the inside of the transom are hydraulic pumps and on the dash are rocker switches that electrically control the hydraulic pumps. This system costs over $1,000 for a 20’ boat and more for larger boats.

Why Don’t Small Boats Have Trim Tabs?

Primarily because of the expense, manufacturers of small power boats under 22’ haven’t been installing trim tabs. The boats still need them, but they don’t have them.

The performance of most smaller power boats with both sterndrives (I/O’s) and outboards (O/B’s ) would be greatly improved, if they had trim tabs.

Do YOU Need Them?

• If your inflatable has to be run wide open to stay on plane, it would benefit from trim tabs.
• If your bowrider sticks its nose in the air when you accelerate from idle, it would benefit from trim tabs.
• If your cuddy cabin burns a lot of extra fuel, because you have to run faster than you’d like to stay on plane, it would benefit from trim tabs.
• If you’ve experienced a scary bow-high take off when crossing a wake and a scarier stern-first landing, you need trim tabs.

Improve Your Performance!!

You can’t go back to the assembly line and have trim tabs installed, but now you can get “Smart Tabs” for around $150 US (~$177 Canadian) and install them yourself.

Smart Tabs are a one of a kind trim and stabilizer system that automatically adjusts to the sea conditions, without the need for expensive electric or hydraulic hardware and switches. The system constantly reacts to the water conditions, boat speed, and balance providing remarkable improvements on any boat.

Some boat manufacturers are now installing Smart Tabs on their smaller boats on the production line because it makes sense to do so. The cost of Smart Tabs is so much less that installing the hydraulics and switches of the systems used in the past.

Improve your performance this boating season by installing Smart Tabs on your boat. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a smoother ride, faster acceleration, less bow rise, lower bow on plane speed, more top speed, better handling and improved fuel economy.

For more information go to:

Smart Tabs

---

Frustrating Faucets

Working in galley sinks takes some practice. Most are small single bowls--some round, some square, some deep and others shallow. Mastering this comes with time and practice and a few tips as well.

Water doesn't always land in the sink

The frustrating part can sometimes be the faucet. Because of the limited counter space in the galley of most power boats and sailboats, manufacturers often mount the faucet in the most convenient place for the installer--not the user. However, depending on the water pressure and also the length and angle of the spout, the water doesn't always land in the sink--especially when rinsing the soap from your dishes.

The result is water all over the counter. All of a sudden "doing dishes" becomes frustrating and a real chore with lots of additional clean up.

Simple Solution

A simple solution is to purchase a double swivel faucet aerator. You can buy them from any hardware store for only a few dollars. The last flyer we saw, had them on sale for $3.00. Such a small investment will reap great rewards. It extends the spout closer to the middle of the sink and away from the edge. This aerator gives you a shower spray for rinsing or direct flow, and you can angle it to suit what you are doing. It rotates 360 degrees allowing easy rinsing of your dishes. You can even get them in black or white.

To alleviate some galley frustrations, put a double swivel faucet aerator on your shopping list this spring and take it to the boat with you for a more enjoyable boating season.

---

e-Lessons

An e-Lesson is a lesson about one specific topic--like one chapter out of a book that you can dowload, print and read immediately.

Dawsons e-Lessons

will help put the "ing" in Boating this summer. Don't reinvent the wheel. Learn from a couple who has been doing and enjoying boating for decades.

Docking your drive system

Tying Your Boat

Ramping Your Boat

Anchoring Your Boat

Using Your Dinghy

Conquering Whoppin' Wakes

Communicating Aboard