Are trims tabs worth it?

[HammerTime]

Looking to sink more $ in my '91 Steplift w/ 150 Honda. I think the only thing left to do are trim tabs. Bennett or Lenco? Boat is kept on trailer. For you guys that have them, was it a good investment? Thanks, Barry

[macojoe]

I did not have them on my V20. but always thought I needed them?? But I have installed them on the new to me Sea Ox and they seem to work great!!

[Airslot]

Yes, the Bennett's were a great addition.

[mauryc]

For you guys that have them, electric or hydraulic?

[macojoe]

I always thought the electric would be the way to go, no leaks, easy install ect... ect..

But I hear of a lot of burned out motors as people try to use both at the same time, and its to much for them.

I went with Bennett as I got a great price on them, and so far they have been fine, but they don't have a season on thewm yet. But they are more powerful then the electric.

[garagenc]

I Have Them On My 91 Cuddy I/o And Love Them. I Didn't Realize How Much They Help Until I Got This Boat With Them Already On It. I Have Bennett Hyd.

[cterrebonne]

we always install 10:1 lenco to bennet. the lenco's have 3 year warranty too. they hold up well.

[bcmarinamanager]

I think a the Lenco's automatically retract when the engine is turned off too. That is a very nice feature. I don't have them on my boat, but I sure have seen a lot of Bennett tabs broken by our forklifts, due to the owners leaving them down.

[macojoe]

Just like with everything, there is good and bad with both. I was really wanting Lenco, but price is what got me Bennett's.

[Pipe_Dream]

Trim tabs are my next *planned* major purchase. Doesn't look like I'll get them anytime soon, though.

[spareparts]

you can get the auto retract for Bennets also, right know, Bennetts customer service is hard to beat, have a pump faillure? Call them and send the old pump to them, they will send you a new one, no questons asked( wonder how long they will keep that up)

[THEFERMANATOR]

you can get the auto retract for Bennets also, right know, Bennetts customer service is hard to beat, have a pump faillure? Call them and send the old pump to them, they will send you a new one, no questons asked( wonder how long they will keep that up)

The current BENNETT pump warranty is 5 years, and beyond that they will sell you a NEW pump for $185. Wish I would have known that last year when I put an INSTA-TRIM pump in for $200 because a BENNETT was over $300. I have LENCOS on the HYDRA I just got, and my PRO-LINE has TRIM MASTERS. The TRIM MASTERS are BENNETT knock-offs, but work pretty good.

[steplift20]

you know something i would like to put them on too but i just cant get myself to drill into the hull below the water line
i just yell at my kids
hey move to the other side
they dont do anything while im drifting,
and i will be doing alot of that this year or at anchor of coures

[BuilderFL]

I've had the Bennett M120 sport tabs for over a year and they are fantastic. They are a must have is you're thinking of ever going with a bracket. Check www.rivermarinesupply.com for good pricing on trim tabs. :sun:

[whatknot]

Anyone used or heard anything?

[spareparts]

they haven't been out long, I've seen them on larger boats. Personally I don't think the will work as well as afterplane type(bennett, Lenco, etc) on smaller boats for planing off. While on plane, they seem to work very nice, and seem to better suited for attitude and leveling controll rather than planing performance. Knowng they are made by Volvo, they can't be cheap.

[reelapeelin]

I've had the Bennett M120 sport tabs for over a year and they are fantastic. They are a must have is you're thinking of ever going with a bracket. Check www.rivermarinesupply.com (http://www.rivermarinesupply.com) for good pricing on trim tabs. :sun:

Wow!!...thanks for postin' River Marine...been holdin' off on tabs, but may go ahead now...



Thanks Builder :clap:

[Pipe_Dream]

Wow!!...thanks for postin' River Marine...been holdin' off on tabs, but may go ahead now...



Thanks Builder :clap:

That doesn't seem too bad a price. I'll have a pro install them for me, though.

Nice to "see" ya, Reel!

[macojoe]

$385 is what I paid also!! I installed myself, not hard at all!!!! And they will tell you what ever you need to know over the phone!!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Be cautious of who you have install them if you have somebody else do it. There is a thread over at THT regarding a dealership that boched the install of the tabs on a brand new boat. They installed one tab crooked, and put the actuators to low on the transom and his tabs are always 1 1/2"s down:cen:.This isn't just poor workmanship, it can be downright DANGEROUS! It can create a situation where the boat will not turn, or will try to go through the waves and submarine.

[cliffpaul2]

Is that $385 for the set of 2?

[cterrebonne]

if a dealership charged you more than 160-180 in labor. which should be approximately 2 hours. that should be the max time spent on that install especially if they are lenco's.

[Sean]

I just purchased the Lencos from rivermarinesupply.com $349.00 for the set of 9x12 Edge Tabs and I think $85.00 for the controll. 18bucks for shipping (UPS Ground), not to bad.....

[cterrebonne]

cool thing about lenco they are real easy to deal with about warranty. i havent had any problems with they yet.

[HammerTime]

Let me know how you like your trim tabs. I am considering Lenco but don't know whether to get the 9x12 or the 12x12. Thanks, Barry

[THEFERMANATOR]

I would think 9X12 would work fine on a V-20, that is what is on my HYDRA-SPORT.

[Sean]

Let me know how you like your trim tabs. I am considering Lenco but don't know whether to get the 9x12 or the 12x12. Thanks, Barry
Will do Hammer, they came in Friday and I am going to install them Tuesday, I hope. (to much fishing todo for the weekends)
I have the 9x12, but I am putting them on a 18ft skiff...

[Sean]

WOW, on my skiff these things are like night and day........ :sun:

[whatknot]

Bit the bullet finally on trim Tabs. The custom T-Top from Boykin Marin is awesome, but set me back a few bucks last year. This week I'm adding Lenco Electrics with the LED switch (that really hurt), but in the long run, worth it I hope. I thought I would like to know the position at a glance.
I've seen guys monkey around in a bad chop retracting all the way and then adjusting from there to know where the tabs actually are set.

UPS is great. Waiting is not. Whatknot.

[reelapeelin]

Bit the bullet finally on trim Tabs. The custom T-Top from Boykin Marin is awesome, but set me back a few bucks last year. This week I'm adding Lenco Electrics with the LED switch (that really hurt), but in the long run, worth it I hope. I thought I would like to know the position at a glance.
I've seen guys monkey around in a bad chop retracting all the way and then adjusting from there to know where the tabs actually are set.

UPS is great. Waiting is not. Whatknot.

How bout some pics of the install?...then a report on how well they work...then a COLD beer!!...:beer:

[macojoe]

I wish I had a tab indicator!! I really have a hard time trying to get them rigbht at times. But they want as much for the switch as the tabs themself!

Good luck!

[whatknot]

I know. I hated to spend that much on a switch.

I talk myself into a lot of situations by dividing the cost by years I might use it.
These are rough figures.

$229/7 years =32.5 per year.
That works out to about $2.75 a month.

I waste more money letting beers get hot while I work on the boat!

It's the up front money that hurts right now....

[RidgeRunner]

I had a Lenco go bad due to water intrusion. I have a Bennett that sticks down on the Whaler, still haven't figured that one out as they are spring loaded to help on retraction. I love them both but I did forgo the fancy switches. The self retracting module on the Bennett is a plug and play that gets hidden under the dash. Don't know about the Lenco.
Whatknot, your V is nice with that four stroke..

[Genie Aye]

I have run both Bennett and Lenco.
I had Bennetts on my 33' Penn Yan sportfisher and burned down 2 pumps in 7 years--and I rarely used them on the boat.
Last year I put Lenco's (9x12) on the V-20 and they are awesome--faster reaction than the bennetts and no problems so far. Easy enough to figure out where they are at--the boat responds very well with little bumps on the control to fine tune the attitude.
Install is easy and the wiring is simple--the auto retract is included and is mounted by the control. Takes about 2 hours to do the install.
They were highly recommended by the guys out here fishing.

[whatknot]

I had a Lenco go bad due to water intrusion. I have a Bennett that sticks down on the Whaler, still haven't figured that one out as they are spring loaded to help on retraction. I love them both but I did forgo the fancy switches. The self retracting module on the Bennett is a plug and play that gets hidden under the dash. Don't know about the Lenco.
Whatknot, your V is nice with that four stroke..

Thanks! I figure any trim tab is gonna fail sooner or later. I do love that 4 stroke. The tabs will help the ride so much more because I have a bracket and she's *** heavy for sure!

[joe7670]

Same here. With the bracket and motor it is definitely asking for the tabs. Especially when full of fuel and I fill the bait tank.

[whatknot]

Speaking of Livewells, I have done the unthinkable. I have a 20 gallon stock (modified for sure)
in deck tank on my 85 CC Closed transom that works like a real livewell. Basically an in and out pump each with it's own on-off switch that runs through a 30 sec to 5 min timer. I can also control the water intake via modified rule thingamajig. Will be posting pics later. Only tested in driveway. Looks like output is Gallon every 30 seconds. With that rate, i should turn over completely fresh tank every 10 minutes. Should be great for the pogies!!!!

First time I did the plumbing, I was sure everything would work great. So i laid down enough 4200 to stop a rhino when I put the tank in place. Well Phuc. I should have tested first. The rule 500gph pumps have NO pick-up whatsoever. In order to prime, The pump MUST be at or below the water level in the tank. Stupid move on my part. However, after haveing to create a tool from a oyster knife that would break the 4200 seal. I found that the 4200 had actually created a large and very nice gasket like seal around the tank. When I laid the tank back in, i just screwed her down where she lay.
Get outta the gutter boys.

Very excited about using the in deck tank instead of it being just beer storage.

Dang. Just saw ups shipping and my trim tabs won't be here till monday. Oh well, the Cobia run is on this weekend and will be for another month. Will post victory pics.

[spareparts]

RR, back the tube that goes into the top of the cylinder out two turns, you may have to remove it and put some teflon tape on the threads. What happens is the tube gets threaded too far into the cylinder and bottoms out. Fluid will bypass when the pump applies pressure, but it won't let fluid exit the cylinder, causing it to stick. Don't ask how I know this one

[reelapeelin]

Thanks! I figure any trim tab is gonna fail sooner or later. I do love that 4 stroke. The tabs will help the ride so much more because I have a bracket and she's *** heavy for sure!


Looks like the 21 is @$$-heavy too...the extra 6" off the transom are like a fat-boy on a see-saw...can't wait to apply the tabs to her...

No stern-heavy issues on the old 74, but tabs made all the difference there...IMO, these boats should have come standard w/em...

[Genie Aye]

And I feel that they make all the difference in the world--especially in bad seas--I am totally happy with the install of a set of trim tabs.:clap:

[whatknot]

Well, on our first outing with the trim tabs installed and the livewell re-plumb, Jodi and I were heading to the Betsy Ross (25 Miles out) to pick up some cobia. After waiting weeks for the cobia run! Filled the livewell with 45 large menhaden and pushed the throttle down to head offshore.

About 3 miles off the beach, I started bogging. She would only turn 3700 rpms. Seems I got the dreaded ethanol issue. Shucks was not the word I used. When I came off plane and shut her down, I looked over the side only to see a 27 inch cobia checking us out. I put some baits in, but was more concerned with getting the engine to start again. Did that and we strolled in the shipping channel back to Tybee. Great news was the in deck wellcraft livewell kept 45 menhadden very much alive for 6 hours. And, the trim tabs worked great. As for the Betsy Ross cobia,..... shucks.

I have since then replaced all the fuel filters (even the hidden ones) and removed and inspected the VST. The filters on the Yami F150 are expensive. Then I pulled the Fuel injectors and they are being cleaned right now. Will pick them up in a bit, re-install and hope that fixes everything. it's a 3 week wait for mechanics right now. Fingers Crossed.

[spareparts]

did you replace the filter on the bottom of the fuel pump in the VST? Thats the one giving problems lately. How you like that $90 fuel filter on the high pressure side. That thing used to be over $200 till all the dealers complained to Yamaha about them. For all you Yamaha fans(and all the DI 2 stroke fans), this is what teh fuel savings pay for

[macojoe]

Cause the F225 is all new to me and I wanted no problems I had the whole engin serviced a few weeks ago. All new filters, oil change, lower unit oil and gaskets, new water pump, anoids, whole VST system including injectors, ran for any codes. For a cost of $1200!! OUCH! But I wanted to make sure a new to me motor was perfect as it could be the first time!! I will do most service now, but send tghe VST out every 2 years

[whatknot]

My guy sold me a regular filter to put in line on the high pressure side. I may try to back [pressure the filter and see what comes out. And even then, I think I'll do some surfing and try to find a 10 micron in line for that spot. Need to remove 55 gallons of gas from the tank just to be sure.

[reelapeelin]

My guy sold me a regular filter to put in line on the high pressure side. I may try to back [pressure the filter and see what comes out. And even then, I think I'll do some surfing and try to find a 10 micron in line for that spot. Need to remove 55 gallons of gas from the tank just to be sure.


Sorry you had a problem...glad you made it back in OK and too bad about the Cobia gettin away, but they'll be there when you get the Yamaha goin again...55 gals gas...OUCH!!...gonna put it in the car/truck?...that's a helluva lotta lawnmower gas...

[whatknot]

The gas is not that old. I may rethink it and treat the gas, then run it hard. Shame is on me cause the fuel water sep was 2 years old. I think that's what did me in for the most part.
I didn't replace the filter inside the VST because it looked like I could back wash it and I did. Will let ya'll know how it comes out in a couple hours......

[macojoe]

I had to drain 110 gals of permix from my boat!! BS is using it in his 2 stroker and I have now refilled with all straight gas.

[whatknot]

Idles great in the driveway. Headed for the river.......

[THEFERMANATOR]

STARTRON fuel enzyme ethanol treatment is your friend here. I had 87 gallons of ethanol seperated crap in my tank when I bought it, treated it with the STARTRON and it burned through fine. Also I would look into the new YAMAHA spin on filters for your fuel water seperator in the boat. They now make a 2 micron filter that is twice as long due to all of the ethanol problems they have encountered.

[whatknot]

All is well on the SS Whatknot. Ran great all the way to my secret fishin hole called "the titty bar".
Caught 5 stag bass and managed to catch one small enough to legally keep. Thanks for the 2 micron heads up Ferm!

[reelapeelin]

All is well on the SS Whatknot. Ran great all the way to my secret fishin hole called "the titty bar".
Caught 5 stag bass and managed to catch one small enough to legally keep. Thanks for the 2 micron heads up Ferm!


So what's the story behind how the "Titty Bar" go it's name...I know there's one in there somewhere...and congrats on gettin the fuel probs settled...:clap:

[RidgeRunner]

Thanks for the tip on the Bennetts Spare. I have installed several pair w/o a problem so I know exactly what you are saying. It never gets that tight feel, the plastic just keeps on swelling. I've been putting it off because access to the inside is a PITA on the port side of this Whaler. I will take it off completely for the repair and report back. Also I need some of the little 90 degree radius makers that Bennett supplies in their kit. Annodized steel aint cutting it. :beer:

The fuel problem stinks. The Whaler has fuel from Thanksgiving. Stabilized but still, all my Opti has is the filter under the cowl.

[spareparts]

you don't still have the fiberglass factory tank in your whaler do you, if you do, chunk it now and relpace it before it screws everything up, believe me, it will

[Destroyer]

you don't still have the fiberglass factory tank in your whaler do you, if you do, chunk it now and relpace it before it screws everything up, believe me, it will

Spareparts, I'm always curious and ready to learn. What is the problem with a fiberglass tank? I have an alum tank in mine so I don't have that problem, but I have no problems asking the teacher when I don't know something. Is it just the Whalers fiberglass tank or all fiberglass tanks in general? :head:

[THEFERMANATOR]

Spareparts, I'm always curious and ready to learn. What is the problem with a fiberglass tank? I have an alum tank in mine so I don't have that problem, but I have no problems asking the teacher when I don't know something. Is it just the Whalers fiberglass tank or all fiberglass tanks in general? :head:

MOST fiberglass fuel tanks are made with resins that are NOT ethanol compatible and they will dissolve basically when ethanol enriched fuels are used as the ethanol will eat the resin and turn it into jelly. Then all your gas ends up in the bildge where it can eat the resin that makes up your hull.

[spareparts]

worse than that. I worked on a 17 whaler last year that the tank had gone soft from ethanol. I checked compresion on the engine(4 stroke Mercaha), and found two cylinders at 0. I could hear the vlaves tapping, so I pulled the intake off and sprayed power tune on the intake valves till I could free them up. Everything had a red gluey substance on it. took forever to get the carbs cleaned(and the kits retailed for $150 each, took four). By the time I put a new tank in the boat, replaced the fuel lines, installed a water separating filter,replaced all the filters and primer bulb, got the compresion back up, rebuilt the carbs, set up the carbs(PIA), tuned the motor, changed teh oil and filter, water tested it, etc. The bill ended up being around $1600, and I didn't charge him no where near the actual amount of time I had in it. The ethanol disolved the resin from the tank, and once air hit it, it turned back into glue. This guy was lucky I was able to save the motor. As far as i know, it affects all fiberglass tanks(poyester/vynilester resin), not sure about epoxy resin, I emailed MAS epoxy about it, they didn't recomed epoxy for fuel tanks period, neither would West. Point of story, if you have a fiberglas tank, get rid of it. If you are using cheap plastic portable tanks, throw them away every four to five years and replace them with new one(don't ask how i learned that lesson), its cheaper to replace them than to repair the problems that arrise.

[Destroyer]

Fermanator and Spareparts.. THANK YOU BOTH for the lesson!! :clap:

These are the kind of things that you don't hear about until it smacks you in the face!.. I'll be certain to keep an eye out for them in the future.
All my present tanks are either Alum or SS, so I'm thinking i'm ok.. but I do have some spare 6.5 gal plastic tanks I use for long distance runs.. Might have to get new ones in a few years.. thanks for the info guys!!!

[whatknot]

"the Titty Bar" gets it's name from the fact that I have to cross the Ga state line to fish this spot.
All the good titty bars are just across the state line in South Carolina. Don't really need to travel to those any more. Sorry it wasn't more exciting than that..... I could make something up...

[whatknot]

Up at 4:30 and prepped the whatknot for another try at cobia this morning. Idled out of the creek and,.... BAM! It was like my lower unit hit something. Mototr started idling really rough again, so back to the hill. Shucks.

I took her out last thursday and ran it hard and fast. Ran like a top.....
What the PH?

[RidgeRunner]

SPARE the tank in the Whaler is aluminum. I checked that out early on. 160 gallons worth in a 23 footer. The only time I have to worry about filling up is when I go somewhere and spend a week on the water.
SO I have a dilemma. Stale gas, constantly. (3 boats don't help) A solution to the water build up in the fuel is to keep your tank full. BUT my average outing I am only burning 30 gal. or less and I like the way the boat feels with about half a tank and the trailer likes it too. (500 LBS LIGHTER) Stabil is working thus far but the one filter is a concern.

[spareparts]

keep it as low as you can and add enough fresh fuel to get you thru the day, I've played around with an old aluminum tank, moved it around, in the sun, out of the sun, set it in a boat, set it under the boat, piled wood over it, you name it, I've moved it there, guess what, no measureable amount of water in the tank, personanly I think the whole condensation thing is BS. Better to add fersh fue, if you have any water in the old fuel, the fresh ethanol will absorb it, ya'll remeber when we used to add alchohol to fuel(dri gas) on purpose?