What's to be gained w/ permatrim?

C

Caiprianha

New member
Got to try out 19' today for first time on Flathead Lake, MT. We're hooked :)

Wind and 1-ft waves gave us newbies a good feel for how the Bennett trim tabs help control the ride. Then took her down the river to experience flatter conditions.

Just wondering about permatrim...should we consider adding for Puget Sound area? Does it provide for smoother ride in chop, or is the benefit more about earlier planing and fuel efficiency?
 
Shibui":2bvxbmbw said:
Got to try out 19' today for first time on Flathead Lake, MT. We're hooked :)

Wind and 1-ft waves gave us newbies a good feel for how the Bennett trim tabs help control the ride. Then took her down the river to experience flatter conditions.

Just wondering about permatrim...should we consider adding for Puget Sound area? Does it provide for smoother ride in chop, or is the benefit more about earlier planing and fuel efficiency?
Click to expand...

My boat did not come with trim tabs, so we added the Permatrim after a couple of years. It has made a big difference when in the chop. Getting the nose down with the Permatrim has been a real benefit. I am not sure that I would have gone that route if the boat had trim tabs.

If you buy a boat with tabs, i would try that for a while. If you find that the tabs are not enough to keep you from pounding, then you can always add the Permatrim plate afterwards. There are all kinds of configurations and opinions about them... I am sure you'll find something that works nicely for you.
 
Although with an underpowered boat, adding a Permatrim, will help bring the boat on a plane faster (It would be unlikely that the boat you sea trialed would have been underpowered). It probably will not help the fuel effeciency--unless underpowered and difficult to get onto or keep on a plane.

We had a C Dory 22, with no trim tabs or a permatrim. It would be a bit rough in some chops--but we traveled to the San Juans and Gulf Islands from Sequim several summers.

When we bought the C Dory 25, it had trim tabs--and we used it one season with just the tabs. It had the 130 Honda--which most consider marginal power--decreasing prop pitch helped to some degree (the next owner decreased the pitch even more--and that also helped). We added a Permatrim--and in some chop conditions it allowed us to run faster, by pushing the bow down further than with just the trim tabs alone. In some other rough conditions, we had to resort to following in the wake of a fishing boat at 8 knots. This allowed the seas to be pushed down ahead of us--and allowed us to run at 8 knots--where we would have run at 5 knots in the same conditions.

You want the Permatrims to run just at the surface of the water. Generally fuel effeciency is not increased. It was not our experience on the C Dory 25 or Tom Cat.

I would use the boat for at least a few trips before deciding--and maybe hitch a ride on a boat which has both Permatrims and trim tabs.

Congratulations on finding a boat!
 
I added Permatrim to the Honda 75 on my 19. Best thing I've done to the boat. Better maneuver at slow speeds and nose down at any speed. I have since added trim tabs, and it hasn't been worth it-matter of fact I don't like em. Can't say efficiency or speed improved on the Permatrim though, I think that is an individual thing to each boat (loads, bottom condition, tides etc.). For me at least the Permatrim is good.
 
I agree, the Permatrim is the best thing you can add to a 19 C-Dory. I don't think that you can compare the 22 and the 19 in this regard. Remember, a 19 is the same hull as the 22, with 3 feet cut off the stern. So, a different performing boat. The 19 really benefits from the lift that the permatrim adds. You can run at speeds between 12 and 17 without the boat wanting to fall off of a plane, you can get the bow down without having to use big trim tab adjustments, handles better, more fuel efficient. My opinion, if you have a 19, powered by a 70 or a 90, run heavy or light, get a Permatrim, you will be pleased!

Robbi
 
Thanks all for your thoughtful replies. Was especially helpful to get your perspectives, Robbi & Neblig, about performance on the 19 angler in particular. Permatrim sounds like something we should consider. We've heard the kit runs about $40...would you say that's accurate? Any recommendations on where to purchase for a 90 hp Suzuki?

Robbi: we just missed you in Bellingham last month...a number of c-brats suggested you'd be a great person to talk to about the 19. Heard you even pull apart and service your own engine. Wow ... Would that we had that skill :)

Looking forward to meeting sometime!
 
Ah shucks! :oops:
I look forward to meeting you, too. Sorry that we missed in Bellingham.

I think the cost is now over $100, depending on the make and size of the outboard. I believe that Ship Island Marine is the only importer of Permatrims in the US, as the units come from NZ.

Robbi
 
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