inclinometer - correct way to measure running angle?

[captainmaniac]

200 feet of chain and a bigger anchor cured our need for trim tab use.

But also hinders your ability to lift the bow a bit higher when dealing with following seas / surfing conditions to reduce chances of stuffing the bow into the back of a wave. Not saying what you did is a bad idea, just trying to say that there may be impacts to handling if people make changes that they need to understand and be aware of so they can operate their boats safely afterwards.

[El L Sea]

200 feet of chain and a bigger anchor cured our need for trim tab use.

But also hinders your ability to lift the bow a bit higher when dealing with following seas / surfing conditions to reduce chances of stuffing the bow into the back of a wave. Not saying what you did is a bad idea, just trying to say that there may be impacts to handling if people make changes that they need to understand and be aware of so they can operate their boats safely afterwards.

Trim tabs are useless and dangerous in following seas and should always be fully retracted in those conditions.

Per Bennett Marine:

Using in a Following Sea:
For best maneuverability and maximum steering control, trim tabs should be fully retracted in a following sea, or when running an inlet. Keep the tabs up so the tide or current won’t push the stern from side to side.

[captainmaniac]

Trim tabs are useless and dangerous in following seas and should always be fully retracted in those conditions.

Exactly. So if you put a lot of weight in the bow to keep it down, you can't undo that in a following sea. The weight will keep the bow down even though its safer to lift it up. If attitude is controlled by tabs, you can raise them fully in a following sea. Same idea as if you are operating a bow rider. In a following sea, don't have everyone sitting up forward as it increases the chances of stuffing it. Anyways... enough on the tab sub-topic. Sorry for hijacking the inclinometer thread!

[BobCT]

After all of that, its seems like my running angle is fine. I installed the gauge on the side window and started at zero. Up on plane, cruising around 21k, it read around 5 degrees. RWS, thanks for forcing me to buy that gauge. I’m going to forget the additional weight plan and invest my new found weight savings in some additional tools

Bob

[BeaconMarineBob]

Trim Tabs Trojan

Trojan trim tabs were primarily for transverse stability. ( port and starboard balance)

On Trojan F boats optimal planing is at 4 degrees from bottom water surface. (Bow up )

On Trojan Internationals planing is 5 1/2 degrees (runs up hill)

On smaller F boats F-25 and F-26 (single screw) slow spreed planing can be achieved with more tabs.

You can check degrees with a Inclinometer

We have all the parts for Trojan original trim tab systems.
Beacon Marine
609 713 4602
Or
Trojan Boat Store

[prowlersfish]

Pretty close to 4 deg. @ 20 knots no tabs.

[The Dog House]

I had an inclinometer on my 1971 F26. In relatively smooth water the most efficient angle was 5 degrees bow up.