www.iFourWinns.com

Hey guys, I have had a few discussions with other boating friends about the smaller cruisers in general...you know...they 246-288 etc...type, trailerable cruisers. A few of my friends say that due to the narrow beam on these types of boats, keeping them from listing when on plane is a constant battle of the trim tabs.

Do you guys experience this?

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

I go full tabs when starting out, as it comes up on plane I pull the tabs back, trim the drive where I want and tweak it with the tabs to level it out. Its not a constant thing, but wave conditons, wind can make a difference. If you have it where you want and turn one way or another, that can have you adjusting them again.

I wouldnt describe it as a constant battle though.

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

I'm the same as jsimon. I don't find I have to adjust them after I'm up on plain. I also boat in some fairly rough waters on the Great Lakes. Once you get it leveled out no problems.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

WIth the Sea Ray 260 Sundancer (26' x 8 1/2') - a constant battle.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards

the taller the boat, yes the less stable or more noticeable listing, but only when sitting still. While under way, I see no difference vs 1st two smaller cuddies that we have had.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

rarely run my trim tabs at all. Trim tabs down = more fuel burned. Unless we are weighted funky the boat runs flat.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

I haven't experienced it at all. I was worried before the first time I took a ride in a 268 as I heard how bad the 260DA was.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Never use our tabs to get on plane. We do use them if we have a few people on board sitting on the starboard side, then we apply some minor tab to level the load. In a strong cross wind while on plane, they also might be needed to level the boat.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Listing is an issue both sitting still and underway. Underway it is an easy fix and I would not classify it as a battle at all, much less a constant battle.

In the slip, mine lists to port if my fresh water tank and black water tank are not full. This is apparently a common "problem". It's irritating, but there isn't much to do about it. You can relocate the batteries to starboard, but then if your black and fresh water tank have any significant quantities, you'll begin listing to starboard.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I had the bottom paint brought up an inch. I try to ignore the list to port.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I made one of the bigger jumps going from the 248 straight to the 338. The listing while underway wasn't bad, occasionally making a few corrections when I had some guests on the 248. It wasn't bad enough for me to get the auto trim setup. The much nicer noticeable benefit is when I have 200lb friends boarding the 338 vs teh 248 in the slip. First thing my brother said when he boarded the 338 - that there's no rocking. I do like that a lot.

Thanks for the info guys. I am not in the position to move up right now based on the economy and I dont want to take that much of a bath in my boat. Still, I like to look into the future and see/be educated about my options when the time is right or the right deal presents itself.

mcraigchr - where do you boat at? I see you are in Flower Mound....

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Grapevine. Use to have a slip at Lewisville ... but ... ahem ... the ex is there, therefore I am not.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I had a 25 foot Rinker Cruiser with 8'6" beam. I certainly never had a constant battle. And we boated a lot on Lake Erie. I wonder if they are using the tabs correctly. The proper way is just to hit the tab button once and wait for the list to correct. If you need to, then hit the button again. I have seen some people press the button for a long time "oops too far" press the the other side then over-correct "oops too far" and so on this could go on forever. Since the beam is narrow the a small deflection in the tab can have a big effect. Just a thought.

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2008 Horizon 260 VP 8.1 Gi