auto tab

[torcano]

Do the Bennett auto tabs really improve efficiency enough to offset their cost in one boating season? Assume 75 hours of boating per season,

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: auto tab

You have many variables here(how hard do you run your boat?, do you fish or cruise, etc). I firmly belive that you will you will come very close to paying for them but hey who cares, on my old glastron it was like driving a whole new boat after installing the tabs. I dont know how long it took for them to pay for themselves in fuel cost (nor do I care) but they do save noticeable amounts of fuel. And less fuel=less pollution, We all win.

 

[QC]

Re: auto tab

I think he is asking about adding the auto tab feature. IMHO, if you follow the steps to getting your tabs set right for each condition then you are the auto tab . . . I don't believe that the auto setting can be right for all situations and if you are good, you cannot get a payback if you do it right anyway . . .

However . .. if you want to do the work once and then set the auto tabs for that attitude, and then run that speed all the time, then it could be worth it if you don't want to mess with stuff down the trail. I like to mess with stuff, so I wouldn't want the auto feature . . .

 

[dingbat]

Re: auto tab

If you're the techincal type here is a lot of information about auto tabs. As you can see it's all about getting your boat at the proper running angle and keeping it there.

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7311058/description.html

Present analysis indicates that there is the potential of saving up to 2 and 1 half gallons of gas consumed per hour in a twin 454-engine gasoline cruiser boats. This is a conservative estimate based on present analysis of the gas savings.

Therefore, it can be concluded that if an average boater operates their vessel 100 hours a year, this will equate to 250 gallons of gas savings per year. Of course, this results in less combusted materials from the hydrocarbon fuel, less pollution, and less consumption and reliance on oil.

 

[QC]

Re: auto tab

It does sound like auto tab will "search" for the best speed just as a good operator does. However, the fuel savings numbers claimed above are propbably based on really bad tab placement vs. optimum, so the savings, if any, would probably be significantly less.

 

[pwrplay]

Re: auto tab

I'll be adding the auto tabs controller to my Bennett system next spring, even if it doesn't save very much in fuel, it'll be one less thing to fuddle around with when at the helm. Plus I sometimes forget to lift the tabs back up when I come back in .

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: auto tab

if you want something that wil pay for its self in a hurry look into one of the new fuel flow meters
as far as the auto trim saving that much, i'm with QC. i have found with my fuel flow meter it's realy hard to get the same fuel economy all the time. there are to many variables to deal with. i'm going to try to get one for my bennets though to make it easyer for the rest of my family to use the boat. wife, son, brother, and daughter.
my son and brother are always messing with them and over adjusting them and on the other hand the girls dont want to use them at all. i think it might trim out quicker and be more help getting on plane allso.

 

[torcano]

Re: auto tab

Thanks. I had smartcraft guages on my previous SeaRay which had fuel flow meters. They were very good. I spoke to the Bennett people and they said I would still have to manually set the trims to get the boat on plane as soon as possibile. The best I understand is that the ATC will maintain optimum angle once on plane but still requires trim setting when going from idle to plane. I might prefer a guage which tells me trim the tab positions. Does anyone have any experience with such a guage. Do they exist?

 

[pwrplay]

Re: auto tab

Yes tab indicators do exists, just check this site, they work well and are easy to install

 

[QC]

Re: auto tab

The gauges definitely exist, but you have to change out the upper portion of the tab actuators. Here's a link: Tab Position Indicator Make sure to check out the installation instructions. Somewhat involved . . .