Trim tab mounting angles
 

So what is the best approach to trim tab installation, guys?
The tabs on my Formula and most others I have seen are mounted in line with the V bottom of the boat, but Fountain mounts his flat or level from side to side. Reggie knows a thing or two about going fast so there must be some advantage to level tabs.
Anyone know what it is?
AJ

Mounting them level controls how the boat flys launching off waves & wakes, Mounting them Parallel to the bottom is for counter acting weight inbalance, like if all your Big freinds sit on the same side and the boat is leaning.(on my 18' Donzi I split the difference) So decide what you want to use the tabs for and mount them accordingly.

That make a lot of sense. So you have to wonder why more performance boats don’t go with the “Reggie set up”?
Another advantage of flat tabs might even be better stability in hard turns with stepped hulls. With “conventional” V shaped mounting, as the hull leans into a turn, the inside tab approaches horizontal and thus offers no side slip resistance. The outside tab would approach vertical but would be up in the white water with little to bit into. Flat tabs on the other hand would offer the same side bite on both sides.
And it seems that the flat tabs might give a softer “take up” as part of the tab is clear of the water most of the time and only engages as the hull re-enters the water after going airborne.
Seems to me that Reggie had the right idea all along. Any other opinions?
AJ

I would ask the manufacturer or other owners of your particular model boat to see what works best. What works for one hull might not work for yours.

The MAIN purpose of "trim" tabs is to control the attitude of the boat, not to counter passenger weight.

I agree. Folks tend to stay put in performance boats, unlike big sport fish boats where they walk around.
The real question is, how many builders other than Reggie, have actually experimented with anything other than the traditional angle installation? My bet is, not many!
And what a builder would be willing to say that their mounting system was not the best?
Folks who have upgraded their old Bennett systems to K Planes on 292 Formulas like mine have all loved the improved handling, and I am planning an upgrade too, but when I saw what Reggie did, it just got me thinking.....
AJ

Superboat started mounting them that way on the 30'. I've seen Velocity boats like that too. I'm sure there are more. A lot of trial an error in this sport. Plus, hulls have changed (steps, lighter layups, higher drive heights) over the last 10-15 yrs.

That is neat to hear, Dave. I am probably over-thinking this thing and would have a lot better understanding if I could hear about some real side by side, hands on experience.
Do you know anyone I could call and ask?
AJ