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Author Topic:   13-Footer Trim Tabs

ShenandoahIndian posted 09-14-2009 11:22 AM ET (US)
[If making a decision between Permatrim Hydrofoil or Naticus Trim Tabs for installation on a Boston Whaler 13-foot boat], which one would you [choose]? Or would you go with something else?
fishgutz posted 09-14-2009 12:01 PM ET (US)
A flat piece of metal is not really a "hydrofoil". If I were you, I'd put on a Doel-fin, a real foil. No moving parts. I swear by mine. Not at it.
Russ 13 posted 09-14-2009 01:16 PM ET (US)
I use the power trim and it works great...
But I moved the console forward a foot & moved the battery
on centerline to under the console...
The weight shift forward, "MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE" for the boats running trim.
If no power trim, I would move the battery & go with the Doel-FIN.
ShenandoahIndian posted 09-14-2009 02:23 PM ET (US)
I have a 1987 Johnson 40hp without power trim and the stern of my boat is way to heavy. My 1972 Johnson 25 had a perfect balance in the boat. The 1987 Johnson 40hp has much more power but is 100lbs heavier (plus I've been eating to many twinkies and have topped the 200lb mark). :(
I am looking into ways of shifting the weight forward. I don't want to move my console forward but I would like to move the battery and gas tank forward.
----------------------------------------------------------
Okay... I'm looking at the Davis Industries website (maker of the Doel Fin) and I see two products offered.
One is the original Doel Fin
http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/list_marine.asp?grp=m18-2
and
they also sell another item called the Whale Tail XL
http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/marine_product.asp?pnum=00448
Which one of these do you think would work better.
----------------------------------------------------------
Also another problem I have is the motor revs up sometimes when in rough water, going over boat wakes or accelerating to quickly. I am guessing there is not enough water covering the prop when this happens. Do you think the Doel Fin would help with this problem?
number9 posted 09-14-2009 08:31 PM ET (US)
Have no hands-on experience with hydrofoils. Permatrim says theirs is designed for "increasing the size of the factory cavitation plate". One definition found doing a search, "a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through; "the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils" [syn: foil]". Flying balsa or foam aircraft models often use flat surfaces for the horizontal stabilizer which acts as a lifting airfoil. The angle of attack is what produces the lift. When trimmed down a hydrofoil should provide more lift to get up on plane regardless of it's camber. Other design features such as drooped edges may give increased stability and performance.
They may be a bit more pricey than some but there may be several benefits to their products that may be easily overlooked. One is they are more closely designed to fit a particular OB and not pre-drilled so one may be able to be mounted to a structurally better area of the cavitaion plate. Depending upon application you may have a choice between it's size and price. A better selection of colors and possibly a better match to your OB. Appears to be large enough to provide the supposed benefits without looking out of place as many others do.
My two cents worth and after doing some reading one may be in my future.
ShenandoahIndian posted 09-15-2009 12:33 AM ET (US)
I have researched hydrofoils and trim tabs.
The permatrim and nauticus products are about the same cost.
http://www.shipyardisland.com/Permatrims.htm
http://www.nauticusinc.com/
Has anyone out there installed either one of these products on your 13' whaler?
I am still going to move my battery and gas tank forward but if I can find a good way to get on plane quicker and improve trolling I will do so.
mdono posted 09-15-2009 05:59 AM ET (US)
I have a 13 powered by a Johnson 20. No power trim, no battery and the 12 gal fuel tank is under the rear seat. Handles beautifully.
Also have a 13 with a 40 HP Mercury 4 cylinder 2 stroke, power trim 12 volt battery located behind helm.
Until I relocated the 12 gallon fuel tank under the front seat and added a fin (not a Doel, but similar) the boat was a nightmare to operate. Moving the weight forward was important. Adding the fin was equally so. Boat is sensitive to trim but with some experience is now a blast to operate.
The 20hp minimalist set up still handles better, however.
R T M posted 09-16-2009 07:28 AM ET (US)
I use a Stingray Jr. hydrofoil on my 13 footer powered with a Merc/Tohatsu 25 FI 4 stroke. The difference it made was unbelievable, and corrected all of the problems associated with a low powered 13 ft. Whaler.
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0017147.shtml
rich/Binkie
jimh posted 09-16-2009 09:37 AM ET (US)
If I owned a 13-foot Boston Whaler boat, and if I were faced with the choice of installing:
--Permatrim Hydrofoil
--Naticus Trim Tabs
--or something else,
I would choose something else. The something else would be nothing. I would adjust the trim on the boat, both fore and aft and laterally, by shifting weight.
ShenandoahIndian posted 09-16-2009 11:31 AM ET (US)
Thats the game plan. I will be moving the battery and fuel tank forward. If I can keep from adding a fin or trim tabs I will but the 40hp is really heavy on this boat and I don't have the luxury of trim and tilt. After I'm finished moving and testing I'll share my results with everyone.
Thanks for all the input. Feel free to keep posting ideas or suggestions.

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Author	Topic: 13-Footer Trim Tabs
ShenandoahIndian	posted 09-14-2009 11:22 AM ET (US) [If making a decision between Permatrim Hydrofoil or Naticus Trim Tabs for installation on a Boston Whaler 13-foot boat], which one would you [choose]? Or would you go with something else?
fishgutz	posted 09-14-2009 12:01 PM ET (US) A flat piece of metal is not really a "hydrofoil". If I were you, I'd put on a Doel-fin, a real foil. No moving parts. I swear by mine. Not at it.
Russ 13	posted 09-14-2009 01:16 PM ET (US) I use the power trim and it works great... But I moved the console forward a foot & moved the battery on centerline to under the console... The weight shift forward, "MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE" for the boats running trim. If no power trim, I would move the battery & go with the Doel-FIN.
ShenandoahIndian	posted 09-14-2009 02:23 PM ET (US) I have a 1987 Johnson 40hp without power trim and the stern of my boat is way to heavy. My 1972 Johnson 25 had a perfect balance in the boat. The 1987 Johnson 40hp has much more power but is 100lbs heavier (plus I've been eating to many twinkies and have topped the 200lb mark). :( I am looking into ways of shifting the weight forward. I don't want to move my console forward but I would like to move the battery and gas tank forward. ---------------------------------------------------------- Okay... I'm looking at the Davis Industries website (maker of the Doel Fin) and I see two products offered. One is the original Doel Fin http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/list_marine.asp?grp=m18-2 and they also sell another item called the Whale Tail XL http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/marine_product.asp?pnum=00448 Which one of these do you think would work better. ---------------------------------------------------------- Also another problem I have is the motor revs up sometimes when in rough water, going over boat wakes or accelerating to quickly. I am guessing there is not enough water covering the prop when this happens. Do you think the Doel Fin would help with this problem?
number9	posted 09-14-2009 08:31 PM ET (US) Have no hands-on experience with hydrofoils. Permatrim says theirs is designed for "increasing the size of the factory cavitation plate". One definition found doing a search, "a device consisting of a flat or curved piece (as a metal plate) so that its surface reacts to the water it is passing through; "the fins of a fish act as hydrofoils" [syn: foil]". Flying balsa or foam aircraft models often use flat surfaces for the horizontal stabilizer which acts as a lifting airfoil. The angle of attack is what produces the lift. When trimmed down a hydrofoil should provide more lift to get up on plane regardless of it's camber. Other design features such as drooped edges may give increased stability and performance. They may be a bit more pricey than some but there may be several benefits to their products that may be easily overlooked. One is they are more closely designed to fit a particular OB and not pre-drilled so one may be able to be mounted to a structurally better area of the cavitaion plate. Depending upon application you may have a choice between it's size and price. A better selection of colors and possibly a better match to your OB. Appears to be large enough to provide the supposed benefits without looking out of place as many others do. My two cents worth and after doing some reading one may be in my future.
ShenandoahIndian	posted 09-15-2009 12:33 AM ET (US) I have researched hydrofoils and trim tabs. The permatrim and nauticus products are about the same cost. http://www.shipyardisland.com/Permatrims.htm http://www.nauticusinc.com/ Has anyone out there installed either one of these products on your 13' whaler? I am still going to move my battery and gas tank forward but if I can find a good way to get on plane quicker and improve trolling I will do so.
mdono	posted 09-15-2009 05:59 AM ET (US) I have a 13 powered by a Johnson 20. No power trim, no battery and the 12 gal fuel tank is under the rear seat. Handles beautifully. Also have a 13 with a 40 HP Mercury 4 cylinder 2 stroke, power trim 12 volt battery located behind helm. Until I relocated the 12 gallon fuel tank under the front seat and added a fin (not a Doel, but similar) the boat was a nightmare to operate. Moving the weight forward was important. Adding the fin was equally so. Boat is sensitive to trim but with some experience is now a blast to operate. The 20hp minimalist set up still handles better, however.
R T M	posted 09-16-2009 07:28 AM ET (US) I use a Stingray Jr. hydrofoil on my 13 footer powered with a Merc/Tohatsu 25 FI 4 stroke. The difference it made was unbelievable, and corrected all of the problems associated with a low powered 13 ft. Whaler. http://www.cabelas.com/p-0017147.shtml rich/Binkie
jimh	posted 09-16-2009 09:37 AM ET (US) If I owned a 13-foot Boston Whaler boat, and if I were faced with the choice of installing: --Permatrim Hydrofoil --Naticus Trim Tabs --or something else, I would choose something else. The something else would be nothing. I would adjust the trim on the boat, both fore and aft and laterally, by shifting weight.
ShenandoahIndian	posted 09-16-2009 11:31 AM ET (US) Thats the game plan. I will be moving the battery and fuel tank forward. If I can keep from adding a fin or trim tabs I will but the 40hp is really heavy on this boat and I don't have the luxury of trim and tilt. After I'm finished moving and testing I'll share my results with everyone. Thanks for all the input. Feel free to keep posting ideas or suggestions.