Guide to Finding the Best Trim Tab Size for Your Boat
Trim tabs, when done right, keep you more level in the water. The size of your trim tab will affect how much lift you get and will affect your boat’s performance at different speeds.
They have to be installed and maintained in a certain position for the best results.
With the wrong size, you’ll only get the right amount of lift at certain speeds. Properly sized tabs, though, will mean your boat stays level even at lower speeds.
How can you choose the best trim tab size for your boat?
Most people buy trim tabs based on how big their boat is. Boats have different mounting areas that will influence how big your trim tabs should be. Take a look at your boat, decide where you want to mount your trim tabs, and go from there.
If you’re looking for better boating performance and trim tab durability, choosing the best trim tab size is crucial.
Here are some tips on how to best choose trim tabs and what you can expect.
Choosing Trim Tabs Based on Boat Size
For most people, the best place to start when you’re trying to find the best trim tab size, you go according to the size of the boat.
In general, you can choose around an inch of width on your trim tab for every foot of boat you have.
So a 20 ft boat will need 20 inches of trim tab.
It’s Like Riding a Bike
Adjusting the running angle of your boat to something just right is sort of like riding a bike. You’ll know you’re doing it, but it’s hard to explain just how.
When the feeling is right, though, you’re going to get on plane quickly to help you see over the bow and you can adjust your speed according to sea conditions faster.
What’s more, trim tabs done right will also help with porpoising as you are out on the water. If you’ve ever seen a boat out on the water with its bow lifted several feet up in the air as it bounces recklessly, it’s likely they either have no trim tabs installed or they are the wrong size.
When the right size is on and they’re done correctly, you’ll just feel it.
Trim Tab Basics
A trim tab includes a hinged piece of metal and an actuator or hydraulic cylinder.
The actuator or hydraulic cylinder attaches to the boat and adjusts the position of the metal plate based on how the water is passing through it and the position of your boat.
If you want something more specific, you can find trim tabs that use electric systems with gears that move down and up based on water conditions. Wires run from the trims to the helm of the boat to help you control their movement via a set of switches.
Trim tabs work like a set of paddles on your boat. They push water away from the boat, diverting it away to help you control your boat as you adjust speeds, encounter choppy water, or weight shifts on the boat.
Small tabs will offer less control, and bigger tabs may be too drastic and hard to control. Also, if they are too big, it creates drag and will slow your boat down. That’s why getting the right sizes is so important.
Installing Your Trim Tabs
When your trim tabs are on right and installed correctly, you won’t even notice them when they are retracted. There will be no drag on performance.
Most of the time, trim tabs do best when they are installed on the outboard. Typically, people put them three or four inches away from the chine. The farther you move them away from the outboard, the more pronounced effect they will have on your boat’s performance when they are engaged.
One thing you want to avoid is putting the trim tabs too close to your boat’s centerline. They’ll have less ability to control side-to-side movement when you need to control the way your boat is moving.
If your boat has an inboard engine, you can install trim tabs anywhere from the chine to the keel. The only thing you need to make sure of is that the line from the chine to the keel is in a single span and not broken apart by anything else.
When it comes to maintenance, one of the most important things you can do is to scrape off any barnacles. You’ll also want to make sure you wash your trim tabs thoroughly whenever you rinse off your boat to stop any sort of saltwater deterioration. Some trim tabs will require you to refill hydraulic fluid as well.
The Benefits of Trim Tabs
There are a lot of benefits to trim tabs when you have the right size and they are installed correctly.
Let’s take a look at some of them.
Getting on plane – Getting on plane faster is a huge advantage of trim tabs. They make the ride more comfortable and it’s easier to see over the bow for when you’re around other boats or objects you want to avoid.
Trim tabs are ideal for getting on plane at low speeds as well. This is critical for high-traffic areas.
Getting on plane also makes your engine work more efficiently. You’ll cut down on gas costs and can spend more time out on the water.
Get Listing Right – One of the frustrating parts of boating is when listing gets out of control. Try having a picnic on your boat as it lists strongly from side to side.
It can happen when you’re staying in one place with the engine off, but it can also happen when you’re moving at high speeds. It can be scary and unsafe. Trim tabs reduce the effects of listing and keep your boat stable as you move through the water.
Porpoising – When you’re moving through the water, whether at slow speeds or at high speeds, you want a rhythmic pulsing on the waves to make the ride predictable and more comfortable.
When you porpoise poorly, it’s easier for people to get seasick, and it’s harder to anticipate how your boat will react if you change speed or direction. Trim tabs can keep your bow down to dull the pulsing of your boat. You’ll keep better balance and enjoy a smoother ride.
Handling Choppy Water – Trimming the bow down with your trim tabs helps a great deal with choppy waters. Doing it helps the front of the hull stick to waves much better and limits the impact of choppy waves.
Learning to Use Your Trim Tabs
As we mentioned previously, figuring out how to use your trim tab requires some level of touch to get right. People can give you general guidelines on when to retract your trim tabs and when to engage them, but how long and how often you do it will depend on the situation.
To start, use your trim tabs in short bursts to see how they affect the way your boat moves. When you’re using it correctly, you’ll feel like your skipping through the water smoothly and will notice you’re listing much less than before.
