Trim Tabs (smart vs lenco) vs Place Diverter vs Extended ride plate

[rteichman]

I have a 2001 Challenger 1800 that like all the other porpoises in anything but smooth water. Looking through the past threads, and from answers to a previous post I made, I have seen the following 4 options discussed, but never compared. Which one is best, or at least good enough? I boat only on rivers and lakes so please take that into account, and I usually have a lot of weight in the rear of my boat as there is a sticker saying no one should sit up front at anything faster than idle speed. From what I see the choices narrows down to:
1) Replace the ride plate with a bigger piece of steel extending it
2) Smart tabs, non-adjustable during operation, but very easy to install
3) Place Diverter adjustable ride plate system (looks like a hole needs to be placed to run control lines)
4) Lenco trim tabs (looks most difficult to install and I would probably have to get a shop to do it)

It looks to me like 1 or 2 I could handle but 3 or 4 I would need a shop to install. I don't need perfection, but right now, I can hardly plane even at 20 ish MPH in mildly rough water.

 

[gioakjoe]

in my opinion it comes down to how much chop you are in. For lower chop ride plate should be just fine. For heavier chop though i would go into smart tabs but for really heavy chop I would go to one of the systems that lets you control the tabs. I would of gone with the electric tabs but I didn't have the budget so I went with smart tabs. Other ideas on how to keep the bow down is ballast tanks in the bow.

 

[biffdotorg]

Also, which boat do you have? That warning sticker usually referred to the very front seat, but additional seating in the bow is safe.

We have an 8 person capacity in our boat, and we use it. Each seat in the bow has grab handles and is perfectly safe.

To your original question, the extended ride plate is the least expensive option that does not require drilling. So that being said, you could test it with minimal investment. If it does not provide you with the results you want, you could remove it and restore the boat completely back to stock. There is obviously a good market for the barely used plate based on the demand here.

Good luck

 

[rteichman]

Also, which boat do you have? That warning sticker usually referred to the very front seat, but additional seating in the bow is safe.

I have a Challenger 1800 and it has one semicircle seat in the front, but the spec says 7 passengers which would indicate that the semicircle holds 2 people in the front.

 

[racerxxx]

Here you go, I think this guy is making an add on ride plate extension

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?66712-Challenger-extended-ride-plate

 

[midway]

I am not familiar with the SeaDoo boats, I am familiar with Smart Tabs on a Standard bowrider boat that has the ability to trim the bow up and down, I hit 2 to 4 chop in the sound, sometimes more, I can trim the bow down and slow down and not get beat to death. If your boat has the ability to trim up and down you can control the ride with trim and throttle. I know that I am probably not comparing apples to apples, so what I have said may be useless. Call the SmartTabs people and talk with them, they will not steer you wrong, The number is 800-233-0194 .

 

[rteichman]

Here you go, I think this guy is making an add on ride plate extension

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?66712-Challenger-extended-ride-plate

Thanks, I have already sent him a PM.