Permatrim---thumbs up or thumbs down?

Frankly, Tyboo, speaking as an internet poster on several business forums out there the level of discourse even on your more "unruly" threads is much higher/politer than average.

Steve

PS Trust me, everyone is a big man on the internet when they are typing on a keyboard and hiding behind a computer monitor. :)
 
I finally purchased a permatrim last month for my 16' cruiser and installed it last week and tested it this weekend. Install was really easy, took all of a half hour. When I tested it I discovered some other problems in that the tach isn't working and neither is the tilt/trim indicator but I went for a ride anyway. The permatrim is much more effective than the dolefin that was on the boat. (if someone wants a dolefin for a honda 50 you can have it for the price of postage). It comes on plane with almost no bow raise. Turns just fine, without cavitation, planes somewhat easier and at a little lower rpm. Have to get the tach working so I can see just how much better but it is substantial. I did notice that if you trimmed all the way in apparently you can almost make the bow plow, as the steering starts getting pretty heavy. But it does exactly what they claim. Couldn't be happier with it.
 
One really interesting thing....before I installed the Permatrims I could not get the motors up to full rpm.... once installed I found that by triming the motors I could get much better rpm and speed.... it was not off by much....but was much easier to trim with the Permatrims and everything seemed easier... I am not sure if my motors were just to forward before or what...I just never noticed much difference...now I really notice..
Well worth having..

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Joel-

Very interesting observation!

Might be that the extra planing surface added by the twin Permatrims allowed the boat to ride higher in the water at speed and reduced the drag enough to let them wind up for a little more rpm(?).

Just guessing!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I finally got around to installing the Permatrim on my Suzuki 115 and CD22. I found no difference in rpm or top speed but Oh what difference on getting on plane. Mine does as Lloyds, It comes on plane with almost no bow raise. Turns just fine, without cavitation. I now use the trim tabs only to level left to right. In short, well worth the $. IMHO.
I wish that I had installed before the Western Grand Slam trip but I wanted some hours with out so I could compare. Looking back now. It would only take 5 min with and without to know it is a winner.


Roger
 
I had permatrims installed in Sept. on the twin 40's I have on my 22. Les at E.Q. did the install. So far, I like them. The boat definitely gets on plane quicker and I didn't see a loss in RPM or top end speed. With twins, the permatrims make it fairly easy to do lateral trimming also. The only downside I see is that lateral trim is pretty sensitive at speed and it's easier to get myself in trouble if the engines are too different in height at high speed. E.g. unless I have things evenly trimmed, the handling gets a little squirrelly at at the top end.
 
I don't have trim tabs.

I installed a Permatrim this summer after reading on this site that it smoothed out the ride in choppy water, which isn't unusual in ME coastal areas.

I definitely can cruise faster without pounding in a a chop. The Permatrim is a huge improvement at keeping the bow down and smoothing the ride in chop.

I didn't notice any change in top speed or WOT RPM.

But...., there's often a but. I did experience a downside. When cruising at high speed, if 2 -3 people run to one side to check out a seal, eagle, or other sight, the boat will swerve and turning the steering wheel normally will not correct it. It seems as though the heeling due to the weight shift makes the Permatrim act like a rudder and causes the boat to turn on its own.

I had experienced some minor slews when Carol ran to take photos during our downeast cruise, but didn't recognize the cause. While cruising with another couple on board, the current seemed to be setting us to port toward a buoy in Hockamock Bay. I turned the wheel to stbd. 3 people then suddenly went to the stbd side to check out a seal, causing the boat to go to port toward the buoy. I had to really crank the wheel to veer away from the buoy. I never experienced anything like that before the Permatrim.

So, from my experience it seems like the Permatrim can act like a rudder during heeling situations at high speed.

Rick from Maine
 
Rick,
your experience is not unique. This is why the Permatrim is a great addition to boats which have the trim tabs--they will prevent what you noticed.
 
Installed the permatrim and took the boat out for a couple hours today.
I noticed a huge difference in being able to get on plan quicker and the fuel monitor showed better fuel economy the before :thup
Also noticed better handeling at slow speeds in the harbor- didn't wander as much.
With the twin 40s on the old boat there was no wandering at slow speeds, but I noticed quite a bit with the single 90 on the new boat. It now tracked better with the permatrim. :thup
 
:thup :thup :thup
Best modification / upgrade, a completely new handeling, feeling and ride quality is significately improved, amazing difference......in 2-3 ft chop

"THANK YOU C-BRATS!!"
 
Recently we replaced out 22 cruiser with a 16 cruiser. It is equipped with a Permatrim. Operatiion will be in lakes and reservoirs, with some fishing. I intend to just run the single 50. I am asking if it is possible to add a trolling plate to the Permatrim or will I have to remove it?
Thanks
Jack
 
jack keifer":2xo5m1u1 said:
Recently we replaced out 22 cruiser with a 16 cruiser. It is equipped with a Permatrim. Operatiion will be in lakes and reservoirs, with some fishing. I intend to just run the single 50. I am asking if it is possible to add a trolling plate to the Permatrim or will I have to remove it?
Thanks
Jack
Click to expand...

Jack-

I've not done this with a 16 or a 50, but with larger motors, and several different hydrofoils.

I'm going to say yes, it's possible, providing you use reasonable judgement as to how much load will be placed on the back of the Permatrim.

Be sure you use a trolling plate with an automatic release mechanism, so that if you attempt to go full throttle and forget to release the trolling plate, it will not overload the Permatrim and snap it off, or damage your anti-ventilation plate.

As you probably know, the various trolling plates have different spring down and release mechanisms. One I had from Cabela's would break 3/16" diameter brass pins if you failed to release the manual operated catch mechanism!

You will, at some point, fail to remember to do the release operation unless you have magical memory powers beyond those of mortal fishing souls.

Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I installed a Cobra The edge Pro Planing and Stabilizer Plate, stainless steel on my 150. I think it has less drag and better performance then a permatrim.
 
breausaw":21sx36j8 said:
I installed a Cobra The edge Pro Planing and Stabilizer Plate, stainless steel on my 150. I think it has less drag and better performance then a permatrim.
Click to expand...

Jay- That's the one ("The Edge" by Cobra) that I used on my Minn-Kota Engine Mounted Electric Trolling Motor set up, which gives one some real slow trolling speed options, especially for lakes and trout. It's another alternative to a trolling plate.

IM001241.jpg

IM001237.jpg

See: Engine Mounted Electric Trolling Motor

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
After our Comox trip I've decided to install one on our 25. We rode very heavy for this trip. I experimented w/ various trims in differing seas and even moved what I could forward. Still, I could never get the bow down; there's a lot of weight back there: 100 gl fuel, 25 gl water, our cooler, two engines... We also put out a wake you could surf on.

So I've been communicating w/ Permatrim USA re: the correct model for our boat/engine. We have a 2006 DF150 Suzuki and it has a water intake for cooling under the AV plate. Here's what Andrew at Permatrim US said:

We don’t have a undermount for that style gearcase. I have been chatting with Permatrim NZ, and they are going to ramp up and make some new models to accommodate that engine, and others that have the under AV plate water intakes. Honda is doing that……Evinrude too.

Your options are either go with a top mount smaller style, or wait for our order to arrive from NZ which might be another month or so
Click to expand...

These guys have been great in communicating and I cannot say enough about their customer service. I had originally ordered a plate off their website by just using the descriptions. They immediately contacted me and told me it would be too large. A series of back & forth e-mails followed while they tried to figure out which model would best suit our needs.
 
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