Trim Tabs

[john cole]

I just wanted to mention this in hopes it might help make it easier for someone to make this decision. I have been debating for awhile now as whether or not to put trim tabs on my boat. Its a 21' Mark Twain with a 4.3L V-6 and it takes a bit to get on plane. Last week I found a complete set of Bennett trim tabs on a junk boat that went in a junk yard, I got the complete set up for $100. and yes they are the right size for my boat too. I put them on and all I can say is why did I not put them on sooner, what a total difference in performance, planes way faster it has even allowed me to step up on my prop pitch, gain some MPH and cut down on my RPM's at the same speed, this equals fuel savings. Nothing but a win win situation, So IMO if you have any doubt about them, I'd get them, what difference.

 

[haulnazz15]

Do you have a pic of them on? What year is the Twain where you have a 4.3L (early 90's?). I've got a 4-blade prop on my 20' V8 Twain, so I have no complaints about getting on plane, but it'd be interesting to see your setup.

 

[MikDee]

Do you have an angle dash gauge too? Don't you find them slow reacting?

 

[Tabman]

MikDee,

Can you tell me how old are your Trim Tabs? Also what is the time to go from full up to full down with one Tab? Also with both Tabs.

When you say "slow reacting" do you mean there is a "lag time" from when you push the button and they start moving? That should not be the case. Or do you think they travel too slowly?

Let me know and I may be able to help!

 

[kjsAZ]

My experience is that the tabs shouldn't move to fast as the boat also needs some time to react. If they react to fast you will "over-steer" and then you have to play a long time until you get them set right. Naturally, as tabman said they shouldn't have a delay or lag in starting to act.

 

[Tabman]

kjsAZ is on target with his observation. All boats take a bit of time to react to a change in Trim Tab settings, regardless of how fast the movement of the Trim Tabs is. The best way to use them is in short (1 second) bursts and let the boat settle down before adjusting them again.

The speed at which Bennett Trim Tabs move has been selected to give the best results. Properly functioning hydraulic systems have no lag time from when you push the button and the Trim Tabs moving.

 

[MikDee]

MikDee,

Can you tell me how old are your Trim Tabs? Also what is the time to go from full up to full down with one Tab? Also with both Tabs.

When you say "slow reacting" do you mean there is a "lag time" from when you push the button and they start moving? That should not be the case. Or do you think they travel too slowly?

Let me know and I may be able to help

I'm So Sorry, I need to apologize to you, and Bennet! These tabs I bought, I Just Realized they were Not Bennets, they were a cheap knockoff. I don't remember the brand, because it was 10yrs ago, on a boat I sold awhile ago. I can tell you this though, it was not a lag time problem, but IMO, they moved too slow! This was on a 79'-24' SeaRay cuddy, with a 260hp Mercruiser. the boat had a tendency to lean, being a Vee bottom, and I recall dropping the stbd tab heading into the wind, & waves in the Bay, then making a 180 degree turn I forgot to trim up, and almost lost control of the boat in what was only seconds for me to realize, and the tabs did not respond as quick as my actions, they took a little longer then I wanted. It seemed as though whenever I used those tabs, I was disappointed by the slow reactions of them. You can bet if I need hydraulic trim tabs in the future, they will only be Bennets, Thank You, Mike D.

 

[john cole]

Do you have a pic of them on? What year is the Twain where you have a 4.3L (early 90's?). I've got a 4-blade prop on my 20' V8 Twain, so I have no complaints about getting on plane, but it'd be interesting to see your setup.

it's in a 1985 21' foot MTF 210 to be precise. I'll have to get a couple of pics and post them, but they are well worth the investment.

 

[john cole]

Do you have a pic of them on? What year is the Twain where you have a 4.3L (early 90's?). I've got a 4-blade prop on my 20' V8 Twain, so I have no complaints about getting on plane, but it'd be interesting to see your setup.

No I don't have a gauge with them. In my limited experience with them it only takes a bump or two on the switch to see a noticeable difference in the ride. If I put them all the way down before taking off the "squatting " stage is just about eliminated.
Although I think I would rather have the rocker switch control instead of the single stick control that came with the set up. Has anyone used both and have a preference?

 

[Maclin]

Glad you had this good experience. Tabs when used properly let the hull take care of planing, leaving the drive trim "freed up" so to speak to set the attack angle of the prop instead of also having to leverage the hull up or down. This attribute is usually where the gain in speed comes from. Good job!

 

[dingbat]

Although I think I would rather have the rocker switch control instead of the single stick control that came with the set up. Has anyone used both and have a preference?

Had stick, changed out for rockers. The rockers are much more intuitive

 

[bruceb58]

Had stick, changed out for rockers. The rockers are much more intuitive

I agree. I have had both of them. I liked the rockers way better.

 

[kjsAZ]

I had both and what I didn't like with either of them was the way they operated. I didn't like that the switches were controlling the bow level and not the tab angle direction. Wired them upside down and was happy with both.