Permatrim

J

Jack in Alaska

New member
I finally decided to order a Permatrim for my 26' C-Dory.
After reading all of the info on this site about them I decided to give it a try even though I have trim tabs that work well.
It was a pricy thing with postage added.
Time will tell and I will report how it works out.

Next job is to uncover my boat after a long winter on the trailer. Our beach launch does not open until May 1 so I have some time.
 
After 13 years of Permatrim's on our boat and 100% favorable comments from other users we've meet, I guarantee you will not regret it. One advantage you never hear about is their use as "seats" for cocktails on a hot day. Don't have any "hard data" to back them up but I can say that we haven't had any issues with our tilt/trim, the cavitation plate or the transom. Will watch for your experience.....

James
 
Just installed one on our 150hp Honda. Haven't put many hours on it as yet but like how it handles. Seems we get up on plan faster and handles a little better at slow speed. We leave Marathon, Fl. for Charleston, S.C. in a couple of weeks and that will really show me how this performs.
 
Jack, you just never know when it might come in handy, and who knows you may end up in Florida or Mexico some day :lol:

And yes, they are handy to reenter the boat. I've gotten out on them with full dive gear and my dogs use them to get in the boat as well. Not to mention they are very handy to get in and out of the boat when it's on the trailer.

Be sure and let us know how they work out for you.

James
 
Jack in AK:

Exactly what are you expecting your permatrim(s*) to do for you;
why did you get them?

*Single or twin engines?

Still curious...

Aye.
 
Foggy......

I have a single 200 hp Honda for main power.
My expectation is for a faster rise to plaining speed and more response from the motor tilt/trim.
We will see how it works out.

Jack
 
Jack in Alaska":1fkti2gq said:
Foggy......

I have a single 200 hp Honda for main power.
My expectation is for a faster rise to plaining speed and more response from the motor tilt/trim.
We will see how it works out.

Jack
Click to expand...

Thanks Jack:

My 26 Venture comes off plane like a jack (':D') rabbit, with the twin Honda 90's
each swinging aluminum 13.5x15 props, and is very responsive to both trim tab
and engine tilt adjustments. A reason for our difference might be in how heavy
our boats are loaded with "stuff". I'd call mine moderate. Yours?

Your set up is closest to mine I've recently come across and I'll have to say I'm
happy with it and cannot see any reason to even consider permatrims especially
since I know more stuff underwater creates more drag, maybe more lift astern.

Good luck with yours and get back so we know your findings.

Aye.
 
A Fishin C":1b2rvafe said:
Foggy, you have a completely different hull from than does Jack in Alaska...
Click to expand...

My understanding is my 26' Venture hull is a little longer, same beam and more "v"
going forward at the bow than his 25' hull.

If his hull is just a little shorter but flatter, he should get on plane easily with 20
more horsepower and less weight at the stern with his single 200 hp vs my 2x90s.

I'm thinking the trim tabs should be the same.

So, can you give me a little more on why you made your statement?

Aye.
 
Foggy,

My hull is also 26' long. The "V" angle is 12 degr. and I believe yours is 17. My V is approx. 70% of the hull length and then tapers to a full V at the bow.
I cruise at 4000 rpm and 23 mph and 8.6 gph now.

My neighbor has a 26' C-dory with the same hull, different cabin arrangement, and we run side by side out to fishing. He has a 200 Yahm. transom mounted. They perform pretty closely. I will see how the PT affects me compared to his boat.

The biggest concern that I have is possible getting lines caught up on the PT when the fish start running around the stern. Both halibut and king salmon do that and I would hate to lose one, particularly a nice king. They are getting more rare each season.

Jack
 
Jack,

Thanks for the info. I get about the same speed at 4K rpm as you do but I
think I burn more fuel; maybe around 10gal/hr. Mine tops out WOT at 6K rpm
at 35 mph. I don't do this much.

Can't find a solid on why I should consider permatrims.

Aye.

Grandma used to say, "Find contentment with what you have."
 
Mine tops out at 6 rpm and 33 mph and 14 gph. I don't do that at all. With cheaper gas now it will not be such a hurt to "kick it up a notch" though.

It may turn out that I just burned up $250 needlessly on the PT purchase.

Jack
 
Jack in Alaska":13pq71xa said:
Foggy......

I have a single 200 hp Honda for main power.
My expectation is for a faster rise to plaining speed and more response from the motor tilt/trim.
We will see how it works out.

Jack
Click to expand...

Jack - my bet is that you'll see both of those things and perhaps lose a kt or so at the top end. As for the concerns about the permatrim and getting lines caught up on it, I don't see that as a problem. In fact, if anything the permatrims help keep lines away from the prop which is a bigger problem. The permatrims have pretty smooth edges relative to a prop and they don't rotate.
 
I am not sure how the 26 with twin 90s handles differently than our 25 with twin 90s but we bought our boat without permatrims and were not happy with the limits of our trimming abilities when fully loaded with fuel. We added them for more nose-down trim but the real benefit for us was decreasing the pitching actions of the boat in wind waves over 2ft and allowing us a comfortable, higher speed ride is much rougher conditions. The boat really just felt longer and acted more stable while running on plane. We ran home from Poulsbo with my parents on board in 3+ft win waves on the bow before we had them and we both remember cringing and trying to keep the boat from pounding for the 10 mile return. That trip seemed long because of the guests on board and I was trying to manage the throttle and steering to make the trip as smooth as possible and every slap was really noticed.

We then did the same trip in worse waves about a month later after adding the PTs and the difference was huge. Two of those plates make quite a difference in trimming power and pitching actions.

Also, there was an improvement is very slow speed rudder steering while docking which I noticed because our home berth was a tight lane approach and a back-in finish that challenged my skills on nearly every windy day.

I would not have given them up on that boat. Perhaps the 26 has enough added stern buoyancy to maintain better balance with the weight of twins....our 25 felt stern heavy.

Greg
 
Well today I installed my new Permatrim. It was not too difficult other than trying to keep it clamped in place while doing the marking.
I used a right angle drill for drilling the holes as it provided much less interference while drilling.
Hopefully the performance improvement will be worth it.
I believe the price was a little on the high side. One "thump" in a punch press and a squirt of paint was all it took to make one from a flat sheet of aluminum. Oh I forgot, it is boating.
Performance thoughts after I splash the boat.
 
Aurelia":22k048a5 said:
I am not sure how the 26 with twin 90s handles differently than our 25 with twin 90s but we bought our boat without permatrims and were not happy with the limits of our trimming abilities when fully loaded with fuel. We added them for more nose-down trim but the real benefit for us was decreasing the pitching actions of the boat in wind waves over 2ft and allowing us a comfortable, higher speed ride is much rougher conditions. The boat really just felt longer and acted more stable while running on plane. We ran home from Poulsbo with my parents on board in 3+ft win waves on the bow before we had them and we both remember cringing and trying to keep the boat from pounding for the 10 mile return. That trip seemed long because of the guests on board and I was trying to manage the throttle and steering to make the trip as smooth as possible and every slap was really noticed.

We then did the same trip in worse waves about a month later after adding the PTs and the difference was huge. Two of those plates make quite a difference in trimming power and pitching actions.

Also, there was an improvement is very slow speed rudder steering while docking which I noticed because our home berth was a tight lane approach and a back-in finish that challenged my skills on nearly every windy day.

I would not have given them up on that boat. Perhaps the 26 has enough added stern buoyancy to maintain better balance with the weight of twins....our 25 felt stern heavy.

Greg
Click to expand...

Thanks.
This may make me reconsider my position as my 26 needs help nosing into
and slogging thru* 3+ footers. (dampening pitching makes sense with more
horizontal surface astern)

*In my deep V 28 Saber I'd be "on top" and comfortable. I miss that.

Aye.

Grandpa used to say, "Speed changes you."
 
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