Trim Tabs

Post by **dougl33** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 5:29 pm

Oh man! I can't believe I missed that one! Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:14 pm

I have the larger tabs with two pistons per side. I have 315 Cummins and don't need them to get up on a plan. I only use them to level the boat. I had a Hatteras that had the smaller tabs, they would help get me out of the hole but that was it. Playing around with the large tabs that I have on my Bertram I feel like I could almost steer the boat. I have to be careful with the tabs. But I do like the larger tabs better. Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:17 pm

quote:Originally posted by BECCA ROSE "Hooper drives the boat" Jaws, duh!!!!!!!!!It seemed appropriate with the Martha's Vineyard thing coming next weekend, where they filmed Jaws. They are quoting that movie constantly every time I go there. You have to ask Scott about the story when he was a kid running in a little skiff in Oak Bluffs, and they were towing the movie shark around nearby. Good story, I'm not going to ruin it by saying anything more. Hey I suddenly realized, when boating we seem to run across movie props a lot. We're gonna need a bigger boat... Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:34 pm

quote:Originally posted by buzzk I have the larger tabs with two pistons per side. I have 315 Cummins and don't need them to get up on a plan. I only use them to level the boat. I had a Hatteras that had the smaller tabs, they would help get me out of the hole but that was it. Playing around with the large tabs that I have on my Bertram I feel like I could almost steer the boat. I have to be careful with the tabs. But I do like the larger tabs better. Buzz Unfortunately I'm only turning 260 HP, and unless I've got perfect props and bottom, I need the tabs or to over-rev my engines at cruise to be on plane. I wish I had 315's or better. Are your tabs stock or are they an add-on? Everyone talking about being careful not to stuff the bow in a wave- have any of you ever actually done it? I've never even come close (with the B33 anyway), but it seems like some of you have? Naturally there should be no use of tabs of any size in a following sea, which will certainly help you stuff it. That is one of the reasons I want the tab position indicators to remind me of where they are at all times, especially when I get bigger tabs. That and I tend to forget all about them being down, tie-up and and leave them for the barnacles to foul. Then two weeks later with growth between them and those damn hull pockets they sit in, they are stuck down and I don't know it unless I look. I know I've already been in following seas with tabs partially down due to barnacles, with no big effects from my puny stock tabs. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:18 am

Sean, Even though I tend to prefer leaving things as they came and just make them work properly, I bet with those heavy engines, it wouldn't hurt a bit to get that stern up a little more. It's been too long since I saw Jaws and I've never been one of those guys who could recite lines from movies verbatum. I'll take your(and Bill's) word that Hooper drives the boat. And if you want , I'll call you Hooper..

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 2:30 am

Sean, I'm not sure if my trim tabs were original but they appear to be original because I see no signs of where smaller tabs were attached. Because mine are so long they are attached across the stern, they are flush with the bottom but not attached to the bottom. I have found the position indicators useful because I can't use much tabs or I'll though everyone down, if I'm not paying attention when I'm using them. Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:27 am

Just thought I would share my comments on this subject.. with you all understanding that I am a newbie in my 33.. I have an '83 FBC.. with Cummins 315 HP 6B's, 1.5:1 trans and 21" x 23" 3 blade no cup props.. My boat originally had stock rudders and stock trim tabs, mounted in recesses on the hull bottom so the aft edges of the tabs were flush with the transom. Someone made new oversized rudders and removed the original small tabs and added much larger tabs which are mounted on the transom on backup boards.. they are probably 22"-24" wide and 8" fore and aft.. with what appears to be the stock single pistons.. parts seem to be Bennets. During the pre-purchase sea trials everyone remarked at how easy it was for the boat to get onto plane without using the tabs at all.. in fact they might not have been working properly at that time.. because we had to do some electrical work on them after I bought the boat. We just ran her 55 miles on Wed to both do some fishing and return her from a diesel shop back up to Charleston.. went about 15 miles offshore and trolled for a couple of hours, and then boogied at 2400 RPM/23 knots for an hour or so.. from what we were able to determine the tabs are certainly not needed to get up onto plane, but are most useful trimming the boat p and s.. I did experiment with them somewhat, forcing the bow down slightly depending on the speed and sea conditions.. I do not have any position indicatiors, so I am a little reluctant to do very much with the tabs while I am learning the boat. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 3:36 am

It would seem to me that using those lift rails with out standard tabs would work better, getting more haul out of the water. 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... xandra.jpg[/img] HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

sbeer · Post by **sbeer** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:29 am

I like the addition of the lift rails but do not like the method of installation. The one other thing that kinda concerns me about the larger tabs is backing down. Leave those monsters down while backing down on a fish and you just might rip them off the stern. Mike

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:05 am

When we seatrialed "Phoenix" we did exactly that.. while the previous owner assured me they hauled her every year to clean the bottom, etc, I seriously doubt that.. or if they did they did that and nothing else. My trim tabs are mounted on 1/2" thick backing boards on the transom.. both of these boards were so badly worm eaten there was no structural integrity to them at all.. the owner's son, who was operating the boat during part of the sea trial, forgot to raise one of the tabs when we asked him to shift quickly from fwd to rev.. the pressure on the tab with the lack of backing board support caused the two piece hinge to open up, releasing the tab plate from the hull.. luckily I saw this almost as it happened, and we retrieved the plate.. it was hanging by the hydraulic cylinder alone! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:06 am

An switch to retract them would be needed, better still a micro-switch when you go into reverse that did it for you. 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... xandra.jpg[/img] HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:09 am

Sean, not so much stuffing the bow. What happens is the boat follows every ripple in the water & you are making constant steering corrections. Look behind & you can see the difference in the wake compared to having the bow up. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:39 am

I won't be the first here to try the SmartRails, although I do like the concept. Richard Kidd/Allied Bertram in Miami is one of their dealers/installers for those, and he warned me off with one e-mail, saying simply that they sometimes fall off. Can't argue with experience. I think the indicator lights would definitely be enough to remind me where they are at all times. I installed them on my Proline, the Lenco variety, and the indicator/switches looked like this: [img]http://www.lencomarine.com/Switches%20P ... tchBow.gif[/img] One quick glance and you knew exactly what was going on with your tabs. And when wired correctly, they automatically retract when you kill the breaker or switch that feeds them. This feature of course requires an always-on power lead, something I'm a little wary of, but there are a lot of gadgets now that need an always-on lead to work and I've already set up a quick-fused circuit for that. When you also add a tab power switch to the helm, as I did on my Pro-Line, when you want the tabs to go away in a hurry you just throw it off and they all retract from whereever they were. You don't have to mess with them any more than that. Is a nice feature if you're coming up on a busy inlet and don't want to take your eyes off the road. I decided to add a small set of either Lenco or Bennett tabs outboard of the stock hull-pocket tabs, keep them wired independent of each other, and both with position indicators and a power-down/quick-retract switch. So I will have outboard and inboard tabs to play around with, and will always have a backup system if one fails. Considering in most circumstances that I need them to cruise, the idea of having a backup is appealing. I've seen setups with two sets of tabs before, but have never seen a boat with two independent sets of tab switches. It will become just another of Island Time's many charms...Now I just have to find some helm real estate to add two sets of tab switches. In the meantime, Gene's problem with one leaking cylinder making the boat list periodically is the exact symptom mine had, before they quit working altogether (ran out of fluid). The boat would list to port every few mintues, so I pretty much know that I've got a leak in the port tab cylinder. So to restore the stock setup I'll replace the cylinders I have, but with the indicator variety. Then later I'll be adding small outboard tabs when I do the bottom job. Will report the results of running with more tab when I have them. Thanks again for all the input guys. All of your experiences really helped me make up my mind about what to do. Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:56 am

quote:Originally posted by franklyprice It's been too long since I saw Jaws and I've never been one of those guys who could recite lines from movies verbatum. I'll take your(and Bill's) word that Hooper drives the boat. And if you want , I'll call you Hooper.. Better than what most people call me Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... d_Time.jpg[/img]

sbeer · Post by **sbeer** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:37 am

I think you are going in the right dirrection. To replace the whole set-up because of a leak????? Is it that the tabs you have don't do the job, and you feel you need bigger?. Since you are changing the cylinders have you given any thought of the auto adjust system that bennett has. You preset the tabs at cruise, enter it in memory, and the tabs auto adjust while you are running to always keep the boat level. I was thinking of doing it but do not have enough feedback on it yet. I like the idea though. Anyone have any experiance with them? Mike