Really stern heavy

[simmons0]

I really wouldn't worry about it too much, you can't possibly have as much weight in the back as ours, and ours rides fine.

Tabs will help, a doelfin with help, infact ours rides a lot better since we fitted a doelfin but you could probably get away fine without either of them.

Harry

[Chopppywaters]

so i shouldnt really worry about goin to fast in the rough?

[simmons0]

I didn't say you shouldn't worry about driving too fast in the rough, i said that while it might not be perfect it certainly won't be a dangerous combination and Im sure ribcraft would move the console forward if they felt it was needed.

Also like i said, a doelfin worked really well on ours, rides flatter now, fly's more level and lands softer than it used to so it would be worth trying one of those for $20 before you spend hundreds of $'s on trim tabs.

[Chopppywaters]

true true

[eupa]

Originally Posted by Chopppywaters

what will happen when i get a little airborne and i have a 500 lbs engine hangin off the back of a 5.85? and if i get smart tabs will i even get the engine out of the water?

That's a lot of weight for an engine??. The Nauticus tabs will set you back about $180 for your length.They are realatively easy to fit - and WILL have a
distinct affect on your boat's attitude- Apart from keeping the nose down- they also act as stabalizers.

Jonathan

[Chopppywaters]

stabilizer sounds goood

[jyasaki]

Choppy;

I've got an 18' Polaris RIB with a Yam 115. Console is set back so the pilot bench is attached to the transom.

Boat is definitely stern-heavy, but it is not at all dangerous. Engine trim is enough to bring the nose down except right at the on-plane transition, which is pretty quick.

I toyed with the thought of trim tabs, but figured that I don't really need them at this point. Maybe later, after I get other, higher-on-the-list toys.

Good luck with your Ribcraft; that was another I was looking at.

jky

[danny]

I have dolphins made on the tale of my F115 and that really helps a lot in short waves.
It takes the bow down a lot and makes you able to ride more safe in rough short waves. She "sticks" in the water.
I have been in tide against wind with more wind then expected when I passed Rotterdam last june, comming back from the Ribbex.
Our Boat just surfed through the short waves that looked cathedral high. We couldn't see the passing ships most of the time.

My mate's boat broke inside and all off the ribs (is that how you call them?) where broken from the floor an bottom. He just made it to Scheveningen.
This was an alu boat.

Without the dolphins the bow gets to high at some times. That gives a nervous ride. especialy when your tanks gets emptyer

I would deffinitly reccomend these to you and try to get them in one piece.
So no left and right separate. Thats stronger.

[Chopppywaters]

I hear Doelfins tend to make some boats porpoise and that smart tabs are better, not sure if thast true though. I think I might try it for the first month of next season without anything and trimming in like jyasaki said and see how it works out.