Boating question - Self leveling trim tabs? School me.

[LargeOrangeFont]

Ok I have the little yellow jet boat. If I can want to take some of the porpoise out of it on rougher water.

A Place Diverter is probably the best answer here, but is like $900.. so I'm not sure I want to spend that on this thing. This is not that big of a problem. I have not messed with the ride plate.

Will a set of self leveling trim tabs help? Will it screw up the boat? Will they do nothing?

Here is a picture of the hull. 17' Sugar Sand Tango

Looking at these Bennett self leveling tabs. I like these because you can lock them out.

 

[counterpart7]

Move weight to the bow or put washers under the rear of the ride plate. Works on stand ups, maybe it’ll work on this?

 

[Shlbyntro]

I love me some Bennett tabs but am not big of the self leveling ones. they are glitchy and not as autonomous as they suggest they are. I recommend going the route of the position sensor ones with out without the automatic retraction feature.

 

[rivrrts429]

Jet boats want to ride on the ride plate. The ride plate on a jet makes the boat think it’s longer than it really is. You never want to go down on the ride plate. If you have an angle finder I’d begin by setting the ride plate at 2* up so long as the boat has the power to ride on its ass. Keep the weight out of the bow like anchors and people. Before I would do tabs I’d look at a longer ride plate and a place diverter. Jets aren’t really all that difficult but the changes need to be made one at a time and in small changes and then test each change. Don’t take big swings and change multiple things and then test. One at a time is best. They are much more sensitive to changes.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Jet boats want to ride on the ride plate. The ride plate on a jet makes the boat think it’s longer than it really is. You never want to go down on the ride plate. If you have an angle finder I’d begin by setting the ride plate at 2* up so long as the boat has the power to ride on its ass. Keep the weight out of the bow like anchors and people. Before I would do tabs I’d look at a longer ride plate and a place diverter. Jets aren’t really all that difficult but the changes need to be made one at a time and in small changes and then test each change. Don’t take big swings and change multiple things and then test. One at a time is best. They are much more sensitive to changes.

Thanks. I will check and try that first. There is nothing of substance in the bow currently.

2 degrees up in relation to the pad/inlet correct?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I love me some Bennett tabs but am not big of the self leveling ones. they are glitchy and not as autonomous as they suggest they are. I recommend going the route of the position sensor ones with out without the automatic retraction feature.

Thanks for that input. If I decide to spend that much, I’d probably just do the Place Diverter. Everyone seems to say that is awesome on these.

 

[rivrrts429]

Thanks. I will check and try that first. There is nothing of substance in the bow currently.

2 degrees up in relation to the pad/inlet correct?

Yes. The diverter is going to give you the most bang for your buck I would imagine with these type of jets. I would even look at a longer ride plate at some point if the changes don’t improve it enough. The farther back you can get it sitting on its ass the more the boat will free up and smooth out.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Have you tried a different Imp?

 

[Cole Trickle]

I'm thinking a new softsided and more stereo sound like a better way to spend $$$$...lol

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I'm thinking a new softsided and more stereo sound like a better way to spend $$$$...lol

You are probably right. Need to get you out on this thing to rip around.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Have you tried a different Imp?

Not yet. Maybe when I have to JB weld the wear ring