New Boat Must Have - Trim Tabs

[drtbar]

People that say you don't need trim tabs more than likely have never had them or don't know how/when to use them.

When shopping for a boat, I found several without tabs and the most common response from the owner was "it always gets on plane." Tabs can help a boat get on plane, but that's not the main function of them imho. They are to balance the weight of the boat so that it rides even port to starboard once on plane.

Usually people are all on one side of the boat trying to have a conversation while you are powered up and instead of trying to raise your voice over the sound of the waves and engine, and tell one or two to get on the other side of the boat, just hit the tabs on the opposite side and bingo, back to even.

Maybe I'm just too OCD.

[Krob1114]

People that say you don't need trim tabs more than likely have never had them or don't know how/when to use them.

You talking about me? LOL

[drtbar]

Not at all. It was not intended for anyone in particular. My point was only that you don't know what you don't know.

[Big Block Power]

People that say you don't need trim tabs more than likely have never had them or don't know how/when to use them.

You talking about me? LOL

Yes I'm talking about you

[Stagdad]

My old boat was darn near unusable before I put tabs on it. While shopping for my new Cobalt I was going to order them but found one that was already built and did not have them installed. I thought I would miss them but so far don't. They would probably make a difference but so far not missing them. The Cobalt ride is so superior to the Stingray it's almost unbelievable. Then again I don't have to deal with LOTO or Erie size waves like some do.

[bruceb58]

Not at all. It was not intended for anyone in particular. My point was only that you don't know what you don't know.

I have owned 2 boats with tabs out of 5 boats. The 2 definitely needed them. My R5 absolutely does not need them on a lake.

[Snowman8]

Not at all. It was not intended for anyone in particular. My point was only that you don't know what you don't know.

I have owned 2 boats with tabs out of 5 boats. The 2 definitely needed them. My R5 absolutely does not need them on a lake.

That’s the point Bruce, my R5 doesn’t need tabs but tabs make it so much better in wind and waves. Especially with a bunch of people on board that always seem to want to sit on the same side of the boat, a couple taps on the button and we are running straight and level again. Now that I have a boat with tabs I will never purposely have one without!

[tgrace98]

Not at all. It was not intended for anyone in particular. My point was only that you don't know what you don't know.

I have owned 2 boats with tabs out of 5 boats. The 2 definitely needed them. My R5 absolutely does not need them on a lake.

I disagree. I love my R7 but the tabs are 100% necessary. I don't have to tell my crew to spread out, they can sit wherever and I can balance the boat. My boat has the tower and with the bimini deployed it can be a sail in a cross wind. They assist for that. Also on rough days on my home lake they are very nice for smoothing out the ride. Are the absolutely necessary No. Would I buy another boat without them? Absolutely not.

[tomace13]

After owning multiple boats with and without tabs, I wouldn’t own another without tabs (unless it’s a surf model for obvious reasons).
In fact it was the first thing we added (Bennet electric with auto retract and digital indicators) when we purchased our 263. Deep Vee hulls cut through waves nicely but their draw back can be listing depending on load and/or crosswinds. . Lake Erie kicked up with 3-5’s yesterday plus 15-20 mph winds gusting to 30 and they helped improve the ride easily as well. No brainer IMHO.

For a future upgrade, I’ve been thinking about adding tabs to my 220 for when we’re out on LOTO. But drilling into the transom seems a bit daunting, did you add a steel plate on the inside to bolt through?

[AsLan7]

After owning multiple boats with and without tabs, I wouldn’t own another without tabs (unless it’s a surf model for obvious reasons).
In fact it was the first thing we added (Bennet electric with auto retract and digital indicators) when we purchased our 263. Deep Vee hulls cut through waves nicely but their draw back can be listing depending on load and/or crosswinds. . Lake Erie kicked up with 3-5’s yesterday plus 15-20 mph winds gusting to 30 and they helped improve the ride easily as well. No brainer IMHO.

For a future upgrade, I’ve been thinking about adding tabs to my 220 for when we’re out on LOTO. But drilling into the transom seems a bit daunting, did you add a steel plate on the inside to bolt through?

.
No need...that transom is thick and will hold those tabs with the amount of screws used to fasten. It's really not that daunting. You can do this t13!

.

[bcv_23]

I recently noticed the Trim Tabs w/o Autoglide on the R6/R8 Surf builder. Does anyone have a picture of what these look like on these newer models? Would someone educate me on w/o AutoGlide means?

[tgrace98]

I recently noticed the Trim Tabs w/o Autoglide on the R6/R8 Surf builder. Does anyone have a picture of what these look like on these newer models? Would someone educate me on w/o AutoGlide means?

autoglide is a feature where the tabs will move up and down to balance the boat without the captain having to adjust them. Sort of the same feature as auto trim on the new merc/vp powertrains

[bcv_23]

I recently noticed the Trim Tabs w/o Autoglide on the R6/R8 Surf builder. Does anyone have a picture of what these look like on these newer models? Would someone educate me on w/o AutoGlide means?

autoglide is a feature where the tabs will move up and down to balance the boat without the captain having to adjust them. Sort of the same feature as auto trim on the new merc/vp powertrains

Thank you and I assume most probably want w/o so they can tweak and fine tune themselves rather than trust automation?

[tgrace98]

I recently noticed the Trim Tabs w/o Autoglide on the R6/R8 Surf builder. Does anyone have a picture of what these look like on these newer models? Would someone educate me on w/o AutoGlide means?

autoglide is a feature where the tabs will move up and down to balance the boat without the captain having to adjust them. Sort of the same feature as auto trim on the new merc/vp powertrains

Thank you and I assume most probably want w/o so they can tweak and fine tune themselves rather than trust automation?

I don't think cobalt offers auto glide until you get up to the larger boats like the R30/R36 or A36

[Krob1114]

I recently noticed the Trim Tabs w/o Autoglide on the R6/R8 Surf builder. Does anyone have a picture of what these look like on these newer models? Would someone educate me on w/o AutoGlide means?

autoglide is a feature where the tabs will move up and down to balance the boat without the captain having to adjust them. Sort of the same feature as auto trim on the new merc/vp powertrains

If they work like the auto trim, I don't want them. I turned auto trim off first month I had boat. The auto trim trimmed up so much, when we were in any waves, it was like a porpoise.