Freedom 225 Trim Tabs too small?

[Graybeard]

I've convinced myself the trim tab planes on my Freedom 225 are too small to get the bow down in the short & steep Chesapeake Bay chop at lower speeds. I told the GW guys that when I went on a factory tour this summer, but didn't get any real advise. The trim tab planes on my new 22' Freedom 225 are smaller then the planes on my old 21' Parker. Anybody feel the same way or is it just me??

 

[DennisG01]

I can't directly answer your question, but I can tell you that Tom, at Bennett, is a great guy and he would be more than happy to talk to you about this, along with a possible solution.

 

[zimm]

I think they're fine on my 226, but I only use them to level the boat. I don't put them both down at the same time. Tom is "tabman" both here and on the THT forums.

 

[ocnslr]

Are you trying to push the bow down with the tabs while the engine is still trimmed up three bars or more?

Try trimming the engine down a bit before you use the tabs to further lower the bow - if even needed.

Agree on contacting "Tabman".

Brian

 

[Graybeard]

What I try to do is keep the prop shaft parallel to the water surface and use the tabs to trim the bow down. That is what worked with my old boat and that is what the trim tab instructions said to do. Now It seems to me I'm always trimming the tabs all the way down and trimming the engine in to get the bow down. Getting the bow down is important in the short steep chop we have around here.

 

[DennisG01]

I prefer, whenever possible, to run boats just as you say, as well. It's a good, efficient attitude to have the prop thrust parallel with the boat.

Is it possible you're running to close to the planing speed (meaning just a bit too slow)?

 

[Curmudgeon]

What I try to do is keep the prop shaft parallel to the water surface and use the tabs to trim the bow down.

:uhm How do you know when you're 'parallel? As measured by flow meter, the best flow for me occurs when I first trim the motor for optimum RPM under present conditions, then tweak the bow with tabs ...