Tabs on a 280??
 

I just bought a 2002 280 Velocity and am a complete newbie. Would the boat benefit from tabs on the back? I am reading conflicting opinions on a pad boat.

If it would improve the boat, what size would you recommend?

THANKS

i have K planes on my 260 and they do a great job, lots of 260s & 280s came from the factory with tabs.

whats it have for power?

pics?

Tabs
 

I have tabs on my 26 race boat and almost never use them.

That being said if you have extra money to blow put some on you might find a time in some real rough stuff that they were nice to have and dont cheap out buy some good tabs like k-planes or dana marine tabs .:boat:

I would think the 280 would not need them as much as the 260's, but I like running with them.
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Mine came from the factory with Dana 900's. I changed to the longer Dana 1000 plates to help when running in the rough.

I can run so much faster and safer with the tabs. Also really helps when running in quartering seas.

You will also need to add indicators so you can see what position they are in.

See what I mean about reading different opinions? lol

Thanks for the help. I'll continue to do research.

It has a stock 496ho/425hp.

I do have pictures but can't post them here??

Tabs are well worth the $$. I use them all the time when it gets rough.

Well these replys should have cleared things up.....not. I would say for everyday use you don't need them. the 280 is a very forgiving hull. In rough water you can run harder and smoother with the tabs. This isn't really ground breaking info from me either. Some it up....i use my tabs once a year.

I have always been told you don't need them. In my opinion, I have yet to really need them with my 96 260 (which is todays 280 with a molded swim platform). Racers use them for rough water but for your typical 280's use, 95% of the time you would never need them. Even when you would use them, you could still "make do" without them. Also the way "some" velocity's were built, they wouldn't last long in very rough water at high speed before breaking stuff up because they are built so light. I speak from expensive experience.

Some interesting replies.
Do you need tabs? No.
Do they help the boat perform under certain conditions, Yes.
Maybe I use them because I've had tabs on my last 5 boats.
I find that I run with my tabs down at neutral / parallel with the bottom of the boat most of the time. This extends the running surface so the boat plans off quicker and is more stable at all speeds. This also eliminates porposing. The only time I run with them up is when I want to reach top speed.

I couldn't imagine running any offshore boat without them - particularly in the rough at speed. It gives you an extra degree of control and can make for a more comfortable ride - including the big Velocities! I've been fortunate enough to ride with Steve Stepp on 3 or 4 occasions in different size boats and he used the tabs. So do you need them? You can make do without but why compromise if you can afford them?

The tabs are useful when riding in quartering waves and having an unbalanced load. They will also help when planing off with a heavy load or a higher drive height.

If you want them to improve chine walk, that's not a reason to have them. Learn the boat without them and you'll be much better off.

Your much better off going with full hydrolic steering before getting tabs. I do not seem to have a need for them on my 260, after I learned how to properly drive it. On anything LARGER than a 28, or with duals, I would be more apt to use them.

I have had 280 with a 502 Mag since 1998. It came without tabs and I have no problems. I often run in Lake Erie where it can get rough.

However, if you feel you need them after running it for a while....get them. There has been some discussion on if they should be mounted parallel with the bottom or level. Either way as far as type, size, mounting position, I would make a call to Velocity. They are great to talk to and will not lead you wrong.


I agree with Redhook, if you don't have hydraluic steering get it first.

Thanks for the help guys. I am going to do the full hydrolic steering (not sure if single or dual). That's what got me thinking about installing tabs if I was there doing the steering.

On a side not anyone know the fuel tank size on a 2002?

What props you guys running with a stock 496?

Should be a 80 gal. tank
i would think a 375hp 496 you would want to start with a 24p or 25p hydro or a 26p B1
i have tabs and use them all the time, do i NEED them: well no but they let me get on plane at 2200 rpm so in my head they are saving me some wear on the drive.

Sorry I forgot to mention it is a 496HO (425hp). I have a Mercury labbed Bravo 28 on it now. Turns 4400-4600rpm according to the Garriff tach (not sure how accurate it is). According to the Garriff speedo i had it 72mph on friday with 1/2 tank of gas and just my 9 year old son about 4500-4600. I'm wondering if a labbed 26 Bravo would be better?

It had a labbed 28 hydromotive on it when I bought it. On a gps it went 68mph with 3 adults,1/2 tank of fuel, full running gear on fresh water. I hated that prop cause it would cavitate and spin all the time. (its for sale if anyone is interested :) ).

I think you would be about where you want to with a stock Bravo 1 26-p prop. I believe this is what Velocity puts on the 260 and 280's from the factory. Seems to give me the best all-around performance between a good hole-shot, towing skiers, robustness when hitting crab pots, and top speed. I max out at 75-76 on GPS with this prop and I am hitting a shade over 5000 RPM. Your 280 should be very similar to my 260 with the exception of a little more weight.

You would be better off with a 26p. You want to be able to reach max RPM and right now your about 400 to low.

What are you looking to get for the 28p hydro?

$400. If your interested I'll email you some pictures.

I bought my 260 w/o tabs. I ended up adding them after a few weeks. I run with a full tank and cooler most of the time with 2-5 people aboard. Means have made planing much easier, with less throttle. Also allows me to run really slow if necessary, buy burying the tabs. Also they do help in the rough. I used Lenco sport tabs on mine. Primarily for the sake of easy installation. I have been more than please with their performance. Do not confuse the lenco sport tabs with the cheesy OEM tabs found on other boats. Mine actually have more surface area than a k-plane 280 and are super fast reacting with the electric actuator.

Bottom line, do you need them? No. Are they worth the money? Yes!

yes email me some pics please, also some info like who it was labed by, if it has a removable shaft hub or welded hub and what size. [email protected]
thanks

The Hydro is too big. You need a 26 or maybe a labbed 27. With my 502 mag I run a labbed 26 hydro or a labbed 28 Bravo. The Bravo hooks up better but the hydro gives me more mid range speed. Both will get me to 72+ mph but the Bravo takes more work to get there.

I have a hydro 27 for sale or trade for a Bravo 30p, I'm running a Bravo 28 but I'm hitting 6k so time to step up. I also don't have trim tabs on my 280 and If I got on plane any quicker I'd have to supply neck braces for my passengers. This season has been the roughest I've seen Lake Huron in over 20 years. I've been out in everything from 2' to 8' and drive trim provided me all the control I needed. I will say this, I was caught in 3' to 4' and over 15 miles from the harbor, I would have liked to try tabs then. But it was the only time that I even thought of them. Would rather spend the money on more speed.

I think the 280 does not need tabs as much as the 260. I wish I had a 280 with tabs, and big power. :D

Here's a picture of my set up.


http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps872bf350.jpg

Here is the difference in the Dana 900 tabs (17") vs. the Dana 1000 tabs (24")
http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/...ps86831091.jpg

Thanks for all the help guys. I got to take the boat out a few times. I could probably do without them most of the time but I'm sure they would help under certain conditions. I will probably add them in the future. Now the big question is how to mount them?? I'll put a call into Velocity and see what they say.

If you mount them flat its less forgiving if you tab tomuch so unless you have a fair amount of seat time put them on a angle more forgiving and steve will tell you the same thing.

Also if you have no steering wich i think you said you dont i would do that first even if you do the hyd over cable you can allways upgrade to full hyd later that will make the boat safer and handle better.