Educate me as to why I want or don't want smart tabs on my bass boat

[Bass newb]

All the review are outstanding. Seems my boat would ride more level and be more stable and even gain mph.

The mph part I think can't be accurate. What I would love to do is ride on plane at a slower speed than I currently can right now. I don't need to get anywhere in a hurry, i don't have "spots" to go to. I need to evaluate where I am when I'm out on the boat and get around safely. I need to have a slower plane speed available to me.

Suggestions? I've heard the whale tail deals will do what I want but sacrifice speed and fuel efficiency. And possibly make the boat dangerous according to some accounts, especially parallel to waves.

 

115 optimax on a 17.5 glass ranger

 

Mercury marine laser 2 prop 21p

[Scott F]

My boat is rated for a 115hp motor maximum. I'm running a 75. I've been using a "whale tail" for many years. My fuel economy went up because the boat gets on plane much faster and easily and I am able to run on plane at much lower RPMs. Did I loose some top end speed? Probably, but I so seldom run wide open, I never notice. I have never been in a situation where I felt unsafe due to parallel waves. If the water is rough, I slow down. If I could afford to repower to a larger motor, I might not need the hydrofoil but for as much as I use the boat and the speeds I drive, I doubt I'll replace the motor any time soon. The hydrofoil does exactly what I needed it to do.

[WIGuide]

Trim tabs are cool to play with (the power ones) They can change how your boat rides probably more than anything I've seen. I don't have much experience with the ones that change from the pressure of water hitting them. The reason you don't see them on more bass boats in general, is because they aren't easily mounted on a curved surface. There are very few bass boats with a flat transom anymore making them virtually impossible to mount. Gambler used to (might still have them) design their hull around them making squared off pockets in the back if you ordered them as an option from the factory. 

[Way2slow]

My son has the hydraulic ones on his back bay/flats boat and wouldn't have it any other way. 

Now, let me list all the reasons for not putting them on your them on your bass boat,

       a.   They might make you enjoy going fishing more when you see how much better the boats gets on plane and handles at lower speeds where the hull is just barely on plane. 

      b.  If you go fishing more, the wife is going to be even more aggravated with you for spending more time fishing when you could be spending that time and money with her shopping.

 

[Puggz]

Ranger installs hydraulic ones on their Inshore boats which are modified bass boats (520C)

[fishnkamp]

I have no experience with the trim tabs but I boat in rough water ( the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac).  I have run a Sting Ray hydrofoil on several boats including the one I run now.  I ran one on an old Tracker fiberglass with a 115 Merc, one on a 17 foot Landau aluminum with a Merc 75 and now I run a Lowe aluminum 17.5 ft with a 75 Merc again.

My experience with those boats have all been positive. The boats ran smoother (in rough water), had a little quicker jump up on plane, could hold on plane at a lower rpm/speed and helped with fuel economy a bit.  I never regretted the 1 to 3 mph I may have lost.  The boats just handled better.  Now my 20 foot ProCraft never needed any help, that 200 Merc just made it fly.  The Sting Ray will require you to drill holes to mount it on your engine. They make some that do not require it but I have heard less than good things about them, so I always stick to the one I know works.;  Good Luck