[barraspalding]

Has anyone dabbled with Active Trim Tabs on their ski boat? specifically an inboard/outboard where you adjust the trim to alter the wake (regardless of how small and sh*tty it is)?

Curious to hear from anyone who has actually done it and understand how the tabs affected the output from trim adjustments to the wake behind the boat once up on plane.

https://www.whitworths.com.au/smart-tab-sx-series-60lbs-trim-tab-kit

Looking to improve the holeshot to plane on a little 18' bow rider with a inboard 4cyl mercruiser

[will]

I've seen them used with mixed results, but definitely worth a try. I usually adjust the tilt on my outboard to suit the rider and make use of where the weight is in my boat. On my hull (Clark fishing boat) trimming up creates a bigger wake, but on friends ski hulls, trimming down works better. Worth a play.

[RED]

For what the trim tabs cost. Look towards a new prop. Like a 17”hi five. Or a 16 “ Vengenamce
The tabs will help pump the stern up to a certain degree but costs won’t see that big of gain on holeshot.
Negative trim (leg all the way down is still the best method.
The 135 is not a stellar performer. They are a slug of an engine. The only way to get them to rev is drop the prop pitch back.

[barraspalding]

Agreed the lil 4cyl mercruiser isn't a powerhouse but sure is fuel efficient. For the most part it does what we need it to do within the budget we are running on.

The prop swap has been something me and the brother in law have pondered for years but never get around to it.

[Stimulated!]

I also have an 18ft I/O with a 3.0 Mercruiser which we wake behind.

I repropped to an American Power Tech 4 Blade Stainless Steel Propeller in 14 ¼ x 17. Whilst it will now plane at slightly slower speeds, when I trim up to smooth out the crest of the wake I get this weird vibration that I never got before. The prop is definitely installed correctly.

So I'm not convinced about repropping.

Now if we could get Perfect Pass for our engines that would be fantastic!

[barraspalding]

I'd emailed the actual company about installation of it on the 3.0, it 100% is possible but quite costly and very fiddly.