Trim Tabs, do we really need them.

[robyonfrome]

My starboard trim tab packed in last year, since then I have been using the leg trim on both legs to balance the boat and it seams to do the job, so much so I don’t know whether its worth the £400/500 replacing them.

 

[paultallett]

I do know what you mean.....

I try to only use leg trim and can go for weeks without touch the tabs, but then you get a day where the wind is on the beam and it would make life very uncomfortable without the ability to level the old girl up!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[mont]

Hi
Wouldn't be without mine !
Tweeked continually during passages to optimise running / comfort, especially given regular changes in prevailing conditions.

 

[breezer5012]

Couldn't do without ours either - required regularly to level her according to conditions and position of crew.

 

[Moonshiners]

use ours to trim port/starboard list more than anything else...

 

[AndieMac]

Some boats appear to be more trim sensitive than others, especially smaller ones. Besides effects from beam on conditions, I find adverse head sea conditions far more comfortable after the leg is trimmed in to max., then both tabs on.
If its really nasty, short and sloppy I will lose 5 knots of cruise with tabs on hard, but the comfort level is great.

Depends on how the boat rides head seas, 'cause it sounds like you have beam conditions under control.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

My boat is 2 knots faster with the tabs trimmed down a bit so I wouldn't be without mine

 

[Ifraser]

Robby... my boat ( which is not far from yours incidentally! ) benefits greatly from her tabs as I can't get the bow far enough down at low speed without them but all boats are different... if you don't feel you need them... then, basically, you don't need them. I've driven many boats where I never touch them and others where I use them a lot... there is no set answer for all boats... cheers Iain