Trim tabs
- Thread starter AJ
- Start date
AJ said:
I guess you have the dual ram Bennet's?????
If you look at K-plane recommendations based on hull length you should see that the length of the k-plane for your 292 is about the same length of the Bennets that are on there now. The Bennets might be wider if they are shorter than the k-plane equivalent, but the lift is adequate or the same for the hull.
Mostly as I understand k-planes, they are built to withstand hull re-entry after getting airborne and help with any stability issues for speed. The lift that a k-plane gives can be done with your bennets but they can't handle the harsh loads that the k-plane can.
Are you driving the boat hard?
I only have the single ram's on my 242 and the weak link seems to be the "hinge" as bennet calls it, but since I replaced one hinge I have not had any trouble with it. I think the former owner rammed the trailer bunks with it a few times which caused the hinge to collapse.
The double rams are supposed to be good for the factory speed and a little more.
What year is your 292 and what engines do you have?
Thanks for the input, guys.
Bow steer sounds pretty spooky. We don't need any of that, ever! Swapping ends may be fun on our little SeaDoo Speedster, but not on this one!
So what were you looking for when you went with K Planes, Mopower?
Mine is an '04 with 6.2 Mercs, Latham steering and yes, it has the double piston Bennets, Aquaforce. All in all, I couldn't ask for better handling. It tracks and turns like it is on rails.
The only problem is, and I know this sounds crazy to you guys, I like to slow down when the lower Chesapeake Bay gets rough. Don't need to bust up the boat or the passengers so as soon as I back down to a reasonable speed, this rascal wants to drop off plane. It just seemed to me that a little more stern lift would help and I was looking for an easy fix. No such luck!
Oh well! Thanks for sharing your experience.
AJ
Bow steer sounds pretty spooky. We don't need any of that, ever! Swapping ends may be fun on our little SeaDoo Speedster, but not on this one!
So what were you looking for when you went with K Planes, Mopower?
Mine is an '04 with 6.2 Mercs, Latham steering and yes, it has the double piston Bennets, Aquaforce. All in all, I couldn't ask for better handling. It tracks and turns like it is on rails.
The only problem is, and I know this sounds crazy to you guys, I like to slow down when the lower Chesapeake Bay gets rough. Don't need to bust up the boat or the passengers so as soon as I back down to a reasonable speed, this rascal wants to drop off plane. It just seemed to me that a little more stern lift would help and I was looking for an easy fix. No such luck!
Oh well! Thanks for sharing your experience.
AJ
Hi Troy,
Thanks for checking in.
From reading your other posts from time to time, I respect your advice. Problem is, I have no idea what a celery stick is - tell me more!
As for trimming out, I agree that this hull doesn't like a lot. With the bottom slots like they are, the boat feels like it frees up with not much more than level or neutral trim on the drives.
A.
Thanks for checking in.
From reading your other posts from time to time, I respect your advice. Problem is, I have no idea what a celery stick is - tell me more!
As for trimming out, I agree that this hull doesn't like a lot. With the bottom slots like they are, the boat feels like it frees up with not much more than level or neutral trim on the drives.
A.
Celery sticks are shims. On a Bravo where the trim rams connect to the drive there is a slot instead of a hole. What I suggest is to move the shim from back to front of the slot that will allow the drive to tuck farther.
As far as your trimming question your boat is differant then anyone Else's Formula on this forum. I mean the 292 Fastech in general. I boat at LOTO and it is rough water most of the time. The 292 is my favorite Fastech to drive, because I can suprise people on how well I can make it handle the rough water. Now back to why its differant. USE YOUR TRIM TABS AND OVER TRIM THE OUT DRIVES. I know it sounds wrong, but it works try half way down maybe 3/4. Might do it by your self once before you do it with all your friends and trim the drives up, higher the faster you go. Don't be afraid to over trim you can always trim back in. Try this and tell me what you think. Should feel like a new boat and have a really cool roost behind you when your in the throttles. The main thing you have to be carefull about is not to get the bow pointing down THIS IS BAD. Always try to keep the bow about 15 Degrees with the water. Look at my picture below my name, thats a 292 Fastech and thats what it should look like when having fun.
I hope I haven't told you to much it is a lot easier to explain in person so try a little at a time and be careful.
As far as your trimming question your boat is differant then anyone Else's Formula on this forum. I mean the 292 Fastech in general. I boat at LOTO and it is rough water most of the time. The 292 is my favorite Fastech to drive, because I can suprise people on how well I can make it handle the rough water. Now back to why its differant. USE YOUR TRIM TABS AND OVER TRIM THE OUT DRIVES. I know it sounds wrong, but it works try half way down maybe 3/4. Might do it by your self once before you do it with all your friends and trim the drives up, higher the faster you go. Don't be afraid to over trim you can always trim back in. Try this and tell me what you think. Should feel like a new boat and have a really cool roost behind you when your in the throttles. The main thing you have to be carefull about is not to get the bow pointing down THIS IS BAD. Always try to keep the bow about 15 Degrees with the water. Look at my picture below my name, thats a 292 Fastech and thats what it should look like when having fun.
I hope I haven't told you to much it is a lot easier to explain in person so try a little at a time and be careful.
Wow, Troy, that is really wild, but it almost makes sense in a crazy sort of way.
Sounds like you're getting the hull to climb up on the tabs and finding a bunch of lift you couldn?t get otherwise. Is that how you see it?
Whatever is going on, I?ll try it. What is a good speed to start playing with?
And since you mentioned rough water handling, I sure could use some tutoring there too, given the typical Chesapeake Bay conditions that we have to contend with. I doubt I will be in your area (LOTO = Lake of the Ozarks??), any time soon to take private lessons so how about sharing some tips?
Oh, thanks for the education on celery sticks. Bet a lot of Forum readers learned something there too.
AJ
Sounds like you're getting the hull to climb up on the tabs and finding a bunch of lift you couldn?t get otherwise. Is that how you see it?
Whatever is going on, I?ll try it. What is a good speed to start playing with?
And since you mentioned rough water handling, I sure could use some tutoring there too, given the typical Chesapeake Bay conditions that we have to contend with. I doubt I will be in your area (LOTO = Lake of the Ozarks??), any time soon to take private lessons so how about sharing some tips?
Oh, thanks for the education on celery sticks. Bet a lot of Forum readers learned something there too.
AJ
I would try about 50 MPH and just play with it. I typical on the 292 take off with the tabs all the way down. This is really the only boat I do this on. Then as it starts to plain out really feed the trim to it. As you get comfortable with the way it feels start to accelerate. More and raise the tabs a little at a time till your comfortable with the way it feels. It is kind of an art as to how to set the trim and tab, no real way to explain just have to do it. I have 4 292's out that I have sold and have them boating this way hope it helps.
Thanks for following up Troy.
I have always operated on the idea that tabs equal drag - the less of each the better (except for climbing up on plane) - but since the 292 wants to porpoise at mid speeds if I level the tabs too soon, I am looking forward to trying your method.
We didn't get out last weekend, but will try again this weekend if the weather cooperates.
AJ
I have always operated on the idea that tabs equal drag - the less of each the better (except for climbing up on plane) - but since the 292 wants to porpoise at mid speeds if I level the tabs too soon, I am looking forward to trying your method.
We didn't get out last weekend, but will try again this weekend if the weather cooperates.
AJ
toofast
Active member
Troy -
As a new 31PC owner, I was wondering if this might work for me, but at slow speeds for sure.
It seems that I really start to porpoise around high 30's...to the point that I have to back off the drive trim.
I've always flattened out my regular tabs, thinking this will just slow me down...but maybe my technique is flawed. By the way this is on relatively flat water as well.
Thanks in advance.
As a new 31PC owner, I was wondering if this might work for me, but at slow speeds for sure.
It seems that I really start to porpoise around high 30's...to the point that I have to back off the drive trim.
I've always flattened out my regular tabs, thinking this will just slow me down...but maybe my technique is flawed. By the way this is on relatively flat water as well.
Thanks in advance.
CMac
New member
toofast said:
Too fast,
I never run my tabs less then 3 lights lit, I think thats 20, on nice or even flat water. I run my drives at the fist line up, I'll call it the quarter mark, and she runs nice and smooth.
As I go faster or encounter more chop, I will adjust the tabs down a little and she smooths out, never touching the trim. The tabs are everything for our cruisers, I can't imagine running without them. I've never even tried them flat. I have gone to only 2 lights and she starts to porpoise.
Toofast,
Don't ever be afraid to try something like tab or trim. If you do it wrong you will know by the sound of the engines or the way the boat reacts. You can always change what you have done and start over. I typically run a little tab here at lake of the Ozarks on most Formula boats. People don't understand that with a boat at slower speeds if you are bow high, running the tabs down 9 out of 10 times will increase your speed. Simply because the boat has less drag and runs more efficient by being flat in the water. I see a lot of Searay boats here that have there bows way in the air, because they don't know any better or think it will slow them down even more. As far as taking out the porpoise of coarse use your tabs. Just make sure you run a small amount of outdrive trim to combinsate and in turn work the two against each other.
Don't ever be afraid to try something like tab or trim. If you do it wrong you will know by the sound of the engines or the way the boat reacts. You can always change what you have done and start over. I typically run a little tab here at lake of the Ozarks on most Formula boats. People don't understand that with a boat at slower speeds if you are bow high, running the tabs down 9 out of 10 times will increase your speed. Simply because the boat has less drag and runs more efficient by being flat in the water. I see a lot of Searay boats here that have there bows way in the air, because they don't know any better or think it will slow them down even more. As far as taking out the porpoise of coarse use your tabs. Just make sure you run a small amount of outdrive trim to combinsate and in turn work the two against each other.