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Trim Tabs on Voyager 530

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by bclarke01, Sep 10, 2006.

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  1. bclarke01

    bclarke01 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2004
    Messages:
    2
    Location:
    Alameda, CA USA
    I'm about to replace the portside trim tab on my 1998 Voyager 530 for the third time. Has anyone else had difficulties with their trim tabs?

    A very basic question is:
    Do you think the trim tabs make a noticable difference on the larger Carver models? What is the risk of going without?

    The first couple of times I figured I had hit something. Now I'm not so sure. This time it appears the trim tab is bent.

    Checking the Bennett Trim Tab website, they recommend 54" x 12" trim tabs for a boat over 50'. Carver installed 42" x 12". If one accepts that the load placed on a trim tab by a boat of a given size is fixed regardless of the trim tab size, the force applied on a smaller trim tab will be higher per square inch than on a larger tab. So if the tab were undersized, is it at greater risk of self-destruction than a larger one would be?

    Thoughts anyone?

    Thanks!

    Bruce Clarke
    S.F. Bay Area
  2. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2005
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    Hi,

    Welcome to Yachtforums.

    Force = Pressure x Area.

    A larger tab will be subject to greater forces purely by it's overall surface area.

    The loading on the operating mechansim will also be higher with a bigger tab.

    I believe the website owner Carl has a background in Hydrodynamics so he may be able to expand on my minimalist answer with some numbers and equations.
  3. bclarke01

    bclarke01 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2004
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    Location:
    Alameda, CA USA
    Your math makes sense but my question is which variable is fixed? Force or pressure? I would think that Force was fixed for a given sized vessel traveling at a given speed. In this case pressure would reduce as area goes up.

    But my exposure to proper hydrodynamics is now over 30 years old so on a good day is fuzzy. Hopefully Carl will reply and clear things up!

    Thanks for the reply!
  4. RamSport47

    RamSport47 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2007
    Messages:
    25
    Location:
    Cedar Point Marina, Sandusky, Ohio
    can I ask what happened to the tab? I've seen them "disappear" on several boats, and this happens when people reverse quickly. Carver has added stainless down angle limiters to aleviate this problem. If yours do not have this, contact your dealer to get them. they will bolt right in place without much problem. Keep in mind, this is not a recall or SB, but can be retrofitted at any time
  5. JohnnyBoy

    JohnnyBoy New Member

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    Jul 14, 2007
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    Location:
    Marina Del Rey
    Bruce,
    I own a 2004 57' Voyager...gotta tell ya...I don't feel a darn difference with tabs up/down... Everytime I take her out I try different settings...no difference. Not sure what size are on my 57' but regardless...I don't think they are doing a darn thing... Just my novice input.
  6. Wild Radek

    Wild Radek New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
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    2
    Location:
    Georgian Bay
    Trim tabs on 53 Carver

    Hi,
    I use tabs on my 53 for several reasons.
    1) In a choppy head sea with 4-5 footers on the nose I put the tabs all the way down to help keep the bow down.
    2) Running down the wave field in 8-10 footers at 25-27 knots I make sure the tabs are off to prevent ploughing as you drop off the back side of the wave (fresh water waves being a bit steeper than salt water)
    3)I have the 675-D12's. The trim tabs give me an extra 2-3 knots on the top end in smooth conditions.
    This could be due to a heavier than normal weight bias toward the stern.
    - The D12's seem to weigh the boat 3-4 inches lower in the water than my neighbor's 53 with the smaller engines.
    - An extended swim platform allows me to put a 12 foot dinghy with a 30hp motor mounted on the stern. (add 1,000 lb)
    -Extra house batteries in the stern add about 500 lb.
    Despite the rear weight bias, I only use tabs when getting on plane with full tanks.
  7. Tim M.

    Tim M. New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2019
    Messages:
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    Location:
    SC, USA
    I have found that the trim tabs add a knot or two when on plane in my 2003 530. My question: has anyone retrofitted the blind switches with LED indictor switches so that one can tell where the trims are set? If so, what did you use?