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Old 10-07-2019, 10:12 AM   #1
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Trim tabs on Trawlers

Good morning
I'm new to trawlers coming from faster gas boats and still looking for my 38 aft cabin. In the mean time I am asking questions just because I don't know. Do Trawlers utilize trim tabs? I understand the Californians to be hard chined and flatter as you get towards the stern. More of a semi-planing hull. Would they benefit at all from trim tabs?
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Old 10-07-2019, 10:30 AM   #2
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A trawler with enough power to plane would, but I doubt it would matter on any trawler that has power to only do 8-10K WOT.


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Old 10-07-2019, 10:43 AM   #3
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Most true trawlers run at 7-8 knots. I don't think tabs would work at those speeds.
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Old 10-07-2019, 11:02 AM   #4
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A large enough trim tab will effect the trim on even a full displacement hull, but those hulls don't usually lend themselves to enough real transom to make them work.

On Semi-Displacement hulls like thee olde Mainship to the left, absolutely they work very well. They need to be on the large size to account for the slower speed, but they trim the vessel fore to aft and port to starboard and help the vessel get on plane and stay on plane at lower speeds

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Old 10-07-2019, 11:06 AM   #5
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If you don’t have the power to plane they are useless
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Old 10-07-2019, 12:06 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keysdisease View Post
A large enough trim tab will effect the trim on even a full displacement hull, but those hulls don't usually lend themselves to enough real transom to make them work.

On Semi-Displacement hulls like thee olde Mainship to the left, absolutely they work very well. They need to be on the large size to account for the slower speed, but they trim the vessel fore to aft and port to starboard and help the vessel get on plane and stay on plane at lower speeds

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If you don’t have the power to plane they are useless
Agree on both counts.
Mainship had Bennett install stops to limit the travel on some of their late model years. When replacing mine I eliminated the stop and get much better performance. One needs to be cautious in following seas conditions and I beloieve this is the reason MS had the stops added.
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Old 10-07-2019, 12:10 PM   #7
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We have them on our boat which will top out at 17 knots. However since we always cruise at about 8.5 knots we have never used them since the sea trial.
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Old 10-07-2019, 12:31 PM   #8
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Trim tabs on trawlers is just self inflicted drag.
We just don’t go fast enough to benefit.
The OP said on “trawlers”.
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Old 10-07-2019, 01:05 PM   #9
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I have large trim tabs on my North Pacific 43. At my normal cruise speed of around 7 knots, they don't make a difference. On the very rare occasions when I feel like I just have too much money and want to burn it up in fuel, they can help starting at around 8.5-9.0 knots.


The original owner wanted them so the builder installed them. I would have saved my money.
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Old 10-07-2019, 02:34 PM   #10
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I had trim tabs on two so called fast trawlers.

On my 2006 Mainship 34T they added a knot or so to top speed and dropped the bow a bit. The boat was barely on a plane such as it is and probably was still mushing through the water at 12 kts.

On my 2003 Mainship Pilot 34 they were much more effective, probably because the cruising speed was higher- 14-15 kts vs 12 for the 34T. It would drop the bow significantly and add several knots at cruising speed.


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Old 10-07-2019, 03:17 PM   #11
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I have not been able to discern any change in trim. I have tried them in flat calm at all speeds that I travel at. They are a good place to place tools and parts though, when you are in the yard.
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Old 10-07-2019, 03:50 PM   #12
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Not trying to bust anyone’s chops, but if it has trims tabs it’s not a trawler.
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Old 10-07-2019, 04:37 PM   #13
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Not trying to bust anyone’s chops, but if it has trims tabs it’s not a trawler.



Most of us here dont own a "trawler"..


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Old 10-07-2019, 04:45 PM   #14
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There was a thread here a few years ago.. do a search and this was discussed at length before.


My O.A. 40 does have them and it makes a bit of difference above 7.5 kts or so.
For the same throttle setting at 1600 ( my usual cruise rpm ) I gain about 2/10 of a kt.
The bow does drop a bit and I do have better forward visibility from the lower helm.
They are a pain in the ass to keep clean and marine growth really loves them.
If I didn't have them I wouldn't add them as they don't do enough to justify the cost of install.. but I'm not removing them because there paid for and they do a little good.

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Old 10-07-2019, 05:19 PM   #15
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Most 'trawlers' actually have modified planning hulls (e.g. Grand Banks, OA, Marine Trader, North Pacific etc). But cruising at 8-10KN its hard to see that they'll have a big effect. I've beens surprised at how many trawlers are equipped with tabs even though their power would limit them to 10kn max. I would not go so far as to say that if a boat has tabs it isn't a trawler since there isn't a definition of hull type for a trawler.

We have tabs on our Tollycraft but almost never move them (keep them neutral) since we're crusing 8-9kn. They only time they helped was to counter a bit of heel in a heavy cross wind, but even then it was a marginal benefit and probably cost me fuel.
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Old 10-09-2019, 06:30 PM   #16
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Recreational trawlers are pleasure boats which resemble fishing trawlers. They can also be called cruising trawlers or trawler yachts. Within the category, however, are many types and styles of vessels.
A fishing trawler for example, always has a displacement hull for load-carrying capacity. Recreational trawlers, on the other hand, are as likely to have a semi-displacement hull. However, with the rising cost of fuel and the lower fuel consumption (though also lower speed) offered by displacement hulls, they are gaining popularity among some buyers. These displacement models typically have a cruising speed of 7–9 knots (13–17 km/h) depending on the boat length. Their maximum speed is often no more than 10–12 knots (19–22 km/h), whereas semi-displacement hulls can attain 14–20 knots (26–37 km/h). Recreational trawlers need only a small engine; 80 hp (60 kW) can be adequate in a 42 ft (13 m) boat, which will use less than 25 hp (19 kW) to cruise.
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Old 10-09-2019, 07:57 PM   #17
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All the swift trawlers have them
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Old 10-09-2019, 11:18 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lipets View Post
All the swift trawlers have them
Not a trawler

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. Recreational trawlers, on the other hand, are as likely to have a semi-displacement hull.
Not a trawler

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Most 'trawlers' actually have modified planning hulls (e.g. Grand Banks, OA, Marine Trader, North Pacific etc).
Not a trawler


You could call them a ski boat but just because you or someone calls it one does not make it so.
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Old 10-10-2019, 06:07 AM   #19
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Not a trawler
You could call them a ski boat but just because you or someone calls it one does not make it so.

Just because you say so, doesn't make it so
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Old 10-10-2019, 06:57 AM   #20
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I have a marine trading Labelle 40, it is a 7 knot boat and has trim tabs. They work for me when my sister-in-law moves away from center to Starboard or Port.
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