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Author Topic:   Fixed Trim Tabs

skred posted 09-30-2009 12:15 PM ET (US)
Years ago my dad and I rebuilt an old Chris Craft 18 foot wood cruiser. We glassed the entire hull, originally plywood. It added a lot of weight to the boat, so my dad installed a pair of aluminum fixed trim tabs (more like "plates") at the stern corners. They measured about 10- to 12-inches wide and 4- to 5-inches deep, and had a slight upturn at the outboard edge. It seemed to work quite well on our underpowered (35 Evinrude BigTwin) boat. Since the tabs are installed in line with the hull bottom, they would appear to add length to the hull, but, additionally, they seemed to reduce time to plane. Has anyone tried this type of addition instead of a hydrofoil?
appdiver posted 10-01-2009 07:42 AM ET (US)
Fixed trim-tabs work great on our 25 Aquasport rescue boat. With trim and tilt on our 250 Yamaha bracket mounted engine we would have no advantage with active tabs. Your theory about added waterline makes sense.
PeteB88 posted 10-05-2009 09:43 PM ET (US)
Did you use marine epoxy on that Chris Craft when you did the fiberglass?
skred posted 10-06-2009 12:06 PM ET (US)
I believe so, but I don't know what brands were available in 1955. I do know it's still intact with only newer coats of paint over the years...

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Author	Topic: Fixed Trim Tabs
skred	posted 09-30-2009 12:15 PM ET (US) Years ago my dad and I rebuilt an old Chris Craft 18 foot wood cruiser. We glassed the entire hull, originally plywood. It added a lot of weight to the boat, so my dad installed a pair of aluminum fixed trim tabs (more like "plates") at the stern corners. They measured about 10- to 12-inches wide and 4- to 5-inches deep, and had a slight upturn at the outboard edge. It seemed to work quite well on our underpowered (35 Evinrude BigTwin) boat. Since the tabs are installed in line with the hull bottom, they would appear to add length to the hull, but, additionally, they seemed to reduce time to plane. Has anyone tried this type of addition instead of a hydrofoil?
appdiver	posted 10-01-2009 07:42 AM ET (US) Fixed trim-tabs work great on our 25 Aquasport rescue boat. With trim and tilt on our 250 Yamaha bracket mounted engine we would have no advantage with active tabs. Your theory about added waterline makes sense.
PeteB88	posted 10-05-2009 09:43 PM ET (US) Did you use marine epoxy on that Chris Craft when you did the fiberglass?
skred	posted 10-06-2009 12:06 PM ET (US) I believe so, but I don't know what brands were available in 1955. I do know it's still intact with only newer coats of paint over the years...