Lifting strakes

[E-Fish-N-Sea]

Hey guys new here and like the site.
I have a 1988 25’ General Marine with a 2004 270 hp Cummins that cruses at 20 kts. I like the ride and am happy with performance but the stern squats and really pushes the water higher than the rub rails and makes for a wet ride when its windy.

I have a question, has anybody added lifting strakes to their boat. If so what were the results? More/less speed? Changed the ride in head sea?
any info good or bad will help

Thanks
Jerry

 

[seaworm1]

Raider Ron did something along those lines to his 31 BHM and claims it worked well. I'm curious to hear from others as I would like to get the bow of my Duffy down a bit.

 

[traditions]

Take a 2 x 10 about 16 inches long and cut it corner to corner edgwise to make two wedges,put them under the stern like trim tabs and try that .I did it to a 36 BHM that dragged her ass and it made alot of difference.I have seen this done to qiute a few boats to bring the bow down.I glassed them on with just mat so they could be removed easily,but he never took them off.Alot of times when alot of power is in a small boat the shaft angle is great and the result is the stern drags.This is a simple and inexpensive way to correct it and is easily removed if it doesnt work.We took a piece of 5/8 rope and tied it under the stern on a 32 Mitchell cove and it drove the bow down so water was coming right over the stem.That was a little to much lift in the stern.

 

[WoundUpMarine]

traditions, where did you tie the rope to on the 32 mitchell? id be interested to see that

 

[MDI45]

Downeast trim tab

wound up,what you wanna do is start with enuff 1/4 line to go around your transom...drop it down ...the line should be about 8 to 12 inches from the edge of the hull....drape the line over where the cleats are....make a loop on each end....now most guys just tie it off....but it slips off from time to time....so if you cut a lobster pot buoy length wise and put it under the line and get a short ratchet strap and hook it to the loops in the line and tighten the strap down it will pinch into the buoy ...holding the line in place.....when under way it will push the bow right down.....you can go up in line size but be careful!!!!!...did it on my buddys 27 HH with 3/8 and it was to much..hope it helps

 

[F/V First Team]

Right on the transom, just ahead far enough so it doesn't pop off when you tighten up on the rope. 5/8" Might be a bit much... try 3/8" rope first.

 

[Raider Ronnie]

I did the 1/2 round stainless trim thing under the lower outer edges of the transom. (Same stuff used to trim spray rails ect...)
Got the idea from a guy in Scituate with a 32 H&H and got advice from Steve Law on doing it.
It's trial & error as to how wide to make them. I started with 10in wide, next year went a bit wider.
It definitely brings the bow down.
I'm seriously thinking of adding a set of Volvo trim tabs.
Heard very good things about them and really like the fact no plates like typical trim tabs use.
It can be a pain in the arss when I get a heavy guy or 2 moving side to side while i'm underway.

VO-QL3841717 VOLVO QL TRIM TABS

 

[petrel]

We used to use a trim rope on my friend's 40' H&H when we had a hard head sea and wanted to blast through it. It was really light stuff- maybe 1/4 inch at the most and it made a real difference. Just stopped the boat, hooked it on one stern cleat, pushed it under the boat w/ a scrub brush and hitched it up on the opposite stern cleat. Then it was off to the races.

 

[El Mar]

Curious, anyone ever try a downeast trim tab on a deep vee planning hull???

If so, did it work?:?::?::?:

 

[tunaorlater]

I did the 1/2 inch on my Northern Bay. I don't have high bow issue but I just wanted to try it. I was amazed by how much the bow came down, thought it was going to submarine!

 

[WoundUpMarine]

i think ill be trying this the next good day i have this week, i dont have a high bow issue either, actually i think i need my bow to come up a little bit, but im curios to see what happens!

 

[MDI45]

Woundupmarine,if you use the rope....the bow will only go down

 

[WoundUpMarine]

yeah i know, im not doing it for any reason other than to just see it happen, more of an experiment

 

[steveinak]

Curious, anyone ever try a downeast trim tab on a deep vee planning hull???

If so, did it work?:?::?::?:

I had a buddy who fished winters down in Florida, he spoke of the same thing on a lot of the smaller boats used there, he called them "Cuban trim tabs" and they used a stick through the middle of the rope to get it real tight, just keep twistin' till you get it tuned right for the boat. I bet a piece of that tarred braided nylon backbone they used to use for longline mainline would work great.

 

[tunafishhkg]

I put lifting rails on my 35 duffy using the glue on spray rails since my hull is cored with no access to drill out oversize, fill in and thru bolt. Did not increase speed much at 18Knts but did improve my fuel burn. I can cruise at 18 or so (450hp volvo) but rarely do now with the cost of fuel so I would not do it now if I had a choice. Planning on harpooning this summer again after 4yrs so thinking of taking them off if they end up being noisy

 

[Pedlyr]

Here is a video of an "active" system.

HUMPHREE Interceptor Trim Tab System - YouTube

 

[E-Fish-N-Sea]

Thanks for the replies. I have already installed trim tabs and can lower the bow. I’m really trying to knock the water down at the stern and maybe give the boat some lift at the same time.

 

[Eastporter]

What about quarter rails? Spray rails for the stern. I've heard mixed reviews- some say they don't help, others say that knock down spray and create a little lift. This might be an easier fix than installing lifting strakes due to the fact that they are above the boot stripe and can be through bolted.

 

[F/V First Team]

If they aren't in the water, they aren't creating lift

 

[Eastporter]

What about water hitting them? The surface blocks the water from going up into the boat, the water pushes up on the pvc- water stops spraying up but momentum of push continues. Variables are length and width of the quarter rail for maximum surface area. Doesn't this create some lift? It may be enough to change the performance and reduce spray as he wants.