This is my first post here. I have read a lot of good posts in the forums and now have a question for everyone. I have a 2001 Maxum 1900 sr2 and was having problems with the boat pounding hard In Choppy water. I installed some Bennett slt10 smart tabs and it seems to make a small improvement, but the ride still seems kind of rough. I called Bennett and they suggested upgrading my tabs to the m120 hydraulic tabs. Do you guys think the adjustable hydraulic tabs are going to make that much of an improvement, or is my boat just to small to handle miledly choppy water ? I hate to spend another $500-600 on the boat if it will not make a big difference. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
I don't think bigger tabs are going to make much of a difference. I started with an 1800 SR and remember many hard hull slaps in moderate sea state. Smoother ride is one reason why a lot of boaters upsize.
YOu will get better at handling rough water. My 1800 did better if I was going directly with, or into, the waves and wind. If that wasn't possible, riding the trough edges like I was surfing was a good alternative. Worst ride was taking waves at a low angle (30-45 degrees). Marine forecasts are your friend.
When I called Bennett they were telling me that the faster I go with the slt tabs the less effective they will be because the water pressure is pushing the tab up. The m120 tabs are a little larger but will also stay down at higher speeds. That is the theory, I just don’t know if it will help that much.
What is the wave height of the chop and how fast are you going?
Trim tabs are designed to provide stern lift to lower the bow and not to improve ride in choppy water other than providing a better angle of attack into a wave.
20 mph in 1-foot seas is not bad. Based on the description I was assuming you were running at 30+mph. The spring loaded tabs should be able to handle those speeds.
I'm not sure I could offer more insight without being on the boat under the conditions you're describing.
So what I am hearing is that it is most likely not worth the investment in full hydraulic trim tabs. I have been debating upgrading to a larger boat (22-23’) to get some more room and a better ride.
So what I am hearing is that it is most likely not worth the investment in full hydraulic trim tabs. I have been debating upgrading to a larger boat (22-23’) to get some more room and a better ride.
Sounds like you would be happier with a bigger boat, length and beam. BTY going to this size boat trim tabs are the way to go.
Not sure how you are trimmed in the chop but keeping the drive trimmed all the way down to “bury” the front so the chop is hitting the deepest V of the hull makes a huge difference in your boats ability to cut through the water
1900 sr2 trim tabs
Linear Mode
