Fishski put Smarttabs on his boat (19' Stingray) and WOW! They made a huge improvement. Its turning capibility is down right scary- actually quite fun!!! I'll try to rattle his cage so he can give the details.

Tabs do great things on many boats. Buy what you like. Lots of choices.

Just e-mail Bennett for info on size and fit-ment if that is the way to go for you.

I have a Doel fin clone on my 18 ft Bayliner. I still have quite a bit of wander at idle. I'm not sure if it gets up on plane faster as it came with the boat when I got it.

I've had others tell me to go with the trim tabs. It is supposed to help with the wander and will get me up on plane faster.

MY 2cnts..

deepv, I have 12x12 Lenco tabs, power is a 5.0 Volvo GXi.

They are extremely helpful and informative....and not pushy trying to sell.

What about a 4 or 5 blade prop? That will give you a lower planing speed, better mid range, and more control.

More effect than what a prop change would do for those three things you brought up.

Changing the prop will be the way to go if you feel you need more power to get a water sports load going from idle to planning speeds, IMO.

Also the tabs re-balance the load in a boat, push the bow down to allo the sharpest part of the vee to knife thur a big chop, etc.

I have a spare 14x17 Al that I am going to try out next time out. If it works better, I'm thinking 14x17 SS 3 blade. Or should I get a 4 blade of a different pitch? I need to plane quicker and at a lower speed for wakeboarding and I need to run at varying altitudes from S.L. to 6700 feet with a 1.62 ratio alpha.

I will also look at the notch in the hull at planing speeds. Might need to be on the end of a rope yelling "hit it" to do that.

1) Just lean over the side of the boat to see the cut in the hull at speed.

2) Use two separate props for different Alt.

3) Use SS props if you go over about 40-45 mph.

4) Get the Bennett tabs for your money, you will not go wrong, IMO.

I upgraded to a four blade SS from a 3 blade AL. Quicker planing, and lower planing speeds for sure. The biggest attribute is the prop blow out in turns. It was bad with the blade unless you trimmed fully down, with the 4 blade it is relatively non-existant.

If you do not want to spend much, try gettting a good prop shop to drill small holes at the base of each blade of a prop. It closely duplicates Merc's PVS system. The exhaust goes out thur the holes at low speeds and then the force of the exhaust inside and the pressure of the water flowing by outside, makes the exhaust flow thru the hub at speed. That "slips" the prop at low speed letting the engine get into its close to peak torque rpm quicker. Improves hole shot, not lower the speed on plane.

I usually keep it under 30mph to 35mph and a lot under 20mph for wakeboarding. Don't experience blow out (cavitation now).

"Cup" that prop using a good prop shop and tell them why and what you are trying to do.

Was it a Merc brand prop intended for your I/O engine?