Hey veebro,
You should still receive the haptic taps even when in Silent Mode. Take a look at the section "How to manage Apple Watch Haptic Alerts", specifically the information under Step 4. This has you change the settings from your iPhone and says
"If you're wearing your Apple Watch and you don't feel a tap as you adjust the slider, contact Apple Support. For the best haptic results, the back of your Apple Watch needs skin contact. Use a snug, but comfortable fit." here: Change the audio and notification settings on your Apple Watch
Let us know how it goes.
Take care.