Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

My 1990 29' Fountain with twin 454 is running close to 80. I am not getting any chine walk. No, I don't have Hyd steering but the boat is stable at this speed. When my tabs hit the plastic stop on the trim cyl. the rear tip is level with the bottom of the boat hull. The base is maybe 3/4" above the bottom. I have read some posts about picking up speed with no tabs or smaller/shorter stops. Did Reggie put these on to keep me from killing myself or is there more speed to be had if I approach the fully raised position carefully?

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

first, get some hyd steering..... then start looking for more speed :rolleyes:

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I'll buy another boat later that someone else has paid for the upgrade,,,it really has no slop at speed so I can't justify,,love the looks though

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

lose the stops.
Plane off.
Pull tabs all the way up at moderate trim.

Build speed with throttle first, then use trim in small increments to air out the hull. Use good sense to determine when you don't like the feel. Bump yout tabs back down a touch and see if it settles it.

In theory, everything is faster with no tabs.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

and then wait for a cable to fail or the drive to rip the wheel out of your hands.... hope you don't hurt anybody... :rolleyes:

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

We tried it back in the early 90's , no speed change that we could see, but the handling suffered.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Bingo!

leave the famous Fountain "training wheels" on the rams. I've never heard of anybody gaining anything with them out.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I removed them from my 27'. The boat wanted to chine walk at 80mph but you could drive through it. Drives nice over 90 without them.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Now that hurt!!!

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Formulas don't go fast enough to need them :D :D :D

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

well the subject here was if he'll gain any speed with the FOUNTAIN without them. :rolleyes:

The answer as far as I have seen/heard is NO.

The only changes potentially to be had are NEGATIVE from what I understand, and just passing it along. :D

If pure speed was my only interest no, I wouldn't be in a Formula...
...or in a Fountain.

Set all the records you want with one-off lab rats, means ZERO to me, thier production boats are far from the fastest per size/wieght/HP. ;)

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

WOW, touched a nerve here:)
I don't think you want to make the Fountain TOP SPEED arguement,,right?
I also believe 80 with no Hyd steering is safer than 100 with whatever.
So when I push the nose in it won't slow it any??

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I guess I should have went into more detail. With 650 hp my boat went low 80's. By removing the training wheels,(thats funny) it didn't make much difference in speed and it did tend to chine walk but also made me learn how to drive the boat. With the stand off box and 750 somthin hp, I lower the tabs it will scrub some speed. BTW, I love fast boats and don't care what brand they are. :)

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Well, we agree there. Not lookin' to die , or kill anyone. Just like to see what the folks here think. BTW, is there NO WAY to lose control in a HYD STRng boat?,,not being a smart ass, just always wondered since I heard about full HYD.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I thought about removing mine, but when I consider that they are above the bottom a bit and level, just doesn't seem like any of it would be in the water when running.Or at least very very little at the end, which might explain the almost no speed gains, but handeling issues???

If Reggie didn't think they needed the stops, he would n't have put them on. I'm listening to Daddy Speed!
BTW, I have Hyd steering! :D :D :D

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I lost a gimbal housing at about 50mph with full hydraulic steering. When it broke, the drive slid back out of the coupler. The steering kept the drive/boat straight to a stop. I don't think I would want to test it again at any speed but I was relieved.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I've heard that when a boat reaches 70mph it time to reach for the hyd steering.I love mine.Gotta agree with Sean. Jmmy V. "Heads I win" I like that! BOB

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Naw, I really don't give two sh*ts...I just thought I'd jazz things up a bit. :D

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

70?
That's what the Hyd salesmen say. ;)
OK,,I'l sacrifice myself and let yoos guys know. If I die, all you guys get Hyd sytms and tell all your buddies about the silly dude who would not pay the extra 7K to run 80. All jokes aside, I think if your drives are tight and you don't have to hunt for the straight line it's Ok. BUT THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE TABS? THE TABS, DO THEY SLOW YOU OR GIVE YOU MORE SURFACE TO RUN ON?????????????????????????????????????????

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I've got an 89' 8.8m, what you guys might call a 29' but measures just shy if 32'. I've got external hydraulic and am in the process of upgrading to full. I've run another 8.8m without any hydraulic steering and found it to be vertually undrivable at speed. Safety is a big thing and I agree that the boat is safer with hydraulic. But, from a drivers standpoint, why punish yourself by running without it.

Just my $.02


BTW. The training wheels are gone on mine and it didn't help a bit!

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

I wish I had something to say about tabs but I don't. However I could not resist the steering debate! My partial hyd steering system decided to fart and kick the belt to the power steering pump off..... at 60mph..... all hands to the starboard side of the boat!...now!! It was a surprise but we all survived unscathed.

If you cant spend the money for the upgrade now; hedge your bet and put a steering stabilizer on for $800. It will at least keep everyone in their seats if a mishap occurs.

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

everything may feel fine, but one day it won't, and it won't be gradual..... as for your tabs, in theory you will be faster with less in the water.....

i find it amusing that you think this is a joke... please do not boat near me w/o hyd steering at 80 MPH..... thank you...

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Not to enter anything else into this debate, but I went a season with my tab pumps not working. This really hindered me to use my boat in any water over 3'. I was never able to get the attitude of the boat level and I would get the crap beat out of me. Now with the tabs properly working I enjoy going out in bigger water.

Cooltoys, can't you just pull the pins and slide the tabs out? or are you concerned with where it is permanently mounted to the boat?

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

keep the tabs(training wheels)

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Jeez! No I don't think it's a joke but as I said in my first post this is about the tabs! I know from previous posts that everyone will want to discuss instant death with no full hydr system. I also have no intension to remove my tabs but only to increase the travel by removing or cutting down the tab "stops". I appreciate your concern but my time above 70 is all of 2-3 mins. per year and my boat won't be worth much more when I sell it. I'll most likely look for it on the next boat if I trade up.
Same reasoning would apply to the steering though, "Reggie" must not have thought a 75 MPH boat needed it or he would have put it on when built.
SEAN H , I don't plan on boating near you, I'll be in front of you;). You don't seem like a whole lot of fun. We all take calculated risks that could rationally be argued against. Do you where a helmet in your car? The race drivers do and you would be more safe than without it. Do you drive over 70 in your car?What if you had a blowout in a turn?Would you ever drive an old classic convertable with no airbags? Do you ever drive in heavy traffic or at night? Increasing your odds again.Oh yeah, you do wear your PFD when your vessel is underway right?? No? Shame on you.Water safety is no joke. But it's safe to joke here, right?

Re: Removing tab stops,Dangerous????
 

Wow Sean, I had you all wrong 110mph! You really are a risk taker.