Why Deep-V Hulls Need Trim Tabs
Every boat is different. A deep-V hull like Bar Crusher’s Waveslicer® rides beautifully through the water, but it’s naturally more prone to leaning and listing, whether from uneven weight on board or wind pushing against the hull. Trim tabs correct that by levelling the boat out for a better ride.
Why Bar Crusher Built Its Own: The Bar Tab™ System
Plenty of trim tab systems are available, but Bar Crusher engineered its own, the Bar Tab™ system, to suit how its plate aluminium boats are built. The main reason is that stainless steel trim tabs shouldn’t go on an aluminium hull. Mixing the two metals causes galvanic corrosion (often called electrolysis), which damages the hull and paint over time. Bar Tab™ is made from 6mm anodised plate aluminium instead. That avoids the dissimilar-metal problem and is still strong enough for the job.
Electric, Not Hydraulic
The other key feature is the actuator. Bar Tab™ uses a simple electric actuator instead of a hydraulic system. There are no pumps, hoses or fluid to leak, just a wire running to the tab. When you’re well offshore, fewer things that can fail is a meaningful reliability gain, not just a convenience.
Getting the Best Ride
A Bar Crusher rides best when it’s sitting directly on its keel. A slight lean won’t ruin the ride, but levelling it with the trim tabs makes a real difference to comfort. Trim isn’t set-and-forget, either. It shifts as you change direction, as the wind changes and as people move around the boat. Bar Crusher’s Quickflow® water ballast handles stability at rest, and trim tabs fine-tune the ride once you’re underway.
How to Use Them
Make small adjustments rather than large ones, and avoid driving the tabs all the way down. Fine-tuning gradually is how you find the best ride for the conditions.
See trim tabs in action on models like the 615BR Bowrider and 670HT, explore more Bar Crusher technology, or build and quote your boat.
