www.iFourWinns.com

I have an 04 H230 with a 5.7 SX drive and was looking for some feedback on trim tabs. The problem I have is it slowly falls of plane around 2900 RPM with even a light load in the back. In rough water this is a PIA as I can't really maintain a slow speed and cut through the waves. with 3 people in the bow it rides great. I can tell it's using the front of the hull to cut the waves...

Anything but smooth water and I need it trimmed all the way down. I am sure the trim is all the way down as well. I am using the stock stainless prop from new....

3200 RPM provides a nice speed but I can't really get the bow pushed down. 3500RPM and u it will bounce in rougher water.

Also for those who have installed tabs on this hull did the small step in the back interfere with mounting. Any pictures where the factory puts them?

edit : added more details...
Thanks
Chris

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2004 230 Horizon
5.7GI/SX
Towed by a 2000 Expedition

Well, the tabs would indeed allow you to force the bow down for a slower plane speed, stay on plane with the rear of the boat loaded with additional weight and stay on plane in rougher water ... at slower speeds. Keeping the V of the bow into the waves, when it is rough, also will help the bow to cut the waves as you travel.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

If I put them on, what size should I get? I assume the should muont as far out as possible next to the out drive. Where does four winns put them if they do it at all??

Thanks.

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2004 230 Horizon
5.7GI/SX
Towed by a 2000 Expedition

Some of the Four Winns hulls do not actually have enough room between the outdrive and the stern hull extensions, to mount trim tabs. Our Vista has narrower extensions than the Sundowner did (and has tabs). As I recall, the Sundowner had much wider stern hull extensions and I think tabs would have been troublesome or impossible to install.

Here is a picture of the trim tabs on the back of my boat. I believe our boats have virtually the same rear ends.



I don't know what size they are. I could measure if you like.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

You might also want to take a look at these:

http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/QL/ql.asp

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Do those tabs extend under the extension pods, or are the 'cut-off" at the edges of the pods?

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I am very intrigued by these tabs. A bit different from the traditional tabs you see. Anyone have experience with these? Do they do a good job of stablizing the boat from starboard and port? That is more my isssue than coming up on plane.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

My tabs extend under the rear extension pods. What you see in the picture is approximately 1/2 to 2/3 of the total tab width. There are six mounting screws that hold the hinge plate on each tab to the boat. The hinge plate has a notch in the middle. Three of the mounting screws are screwed into the vertical portion of the transom. The hinge plate is bent on the side that goes under the extension pod so the oher three mounting screws are screwed into the horizontal portion of the bottom extension pod.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP

That's pretty much what I had thought I would have had to do on the Sundancer.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Thanks fo rthe ideas. JDW that looks like the correct solution for me too. I was wondering how to get the tabs moved outward. Thos VP tabs look interesting too. I will research them as well.

JDW, Were those factory installed? I wonder if they sell those already modified for our hulls?

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2004 230 Horizon
5.7GI/SX
Towed by a 2000 Expedition

The factory unit for H260 is a pair of 9” x 12” (chord x span) tabs made by Bennett. They are not big enough for 24’ or 26’ boat but due to our hull design they are limited to 9” X 12”. However they works very well for such a small size.



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Since FW does not offer factory option of trim tab for H240 so I installed a pair of Bennett 9” x 12” to our old 2006 H240 with 5.7 Gi SX and made a huge difference in hole shot as well as overall performance.. I wanted to install more like 18” span but the transom of h240 does not have enough opening to install anything bigger than 12” wide span. I had to modify a little to fit to the transom (bent the mounting plate along with transom surface)
The typically trim tabs work better with installing further out but our hull will not provide a ideal installation geometry so it is some what compromised installation Even with these compromise the trim tabs works very well with 240 and 260 and well worth for investment especially for H240 with single prop.

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Thanks a ton for the pics Sushi!!! This answers all my questions. Looks like a slightly modified 9x12 set is in my future. From the same pics I now have the answer on how FW bolts the removable pylon to the transom as well....

Thanks a bunch.

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2004 230 Horizon
5.7GI/SX
Towed by a 2000 Expedition

+1 Agree this is really helpful. The picture is particularly helpful. Any issues securing your trailer straps with this set-up?

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Not a big issue with the tie downs. Obviously, the tabs render the original strap mounts on the trailer useless. However, you can see in my picture above that you can hook the tie down straps to the mounts for the rollers at the rear of trailer. It works pretty good.

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2005 FW Horizon 250
8.1L VP DP