Trim tabs on V ?
 

Before and after installation - ride performance differential ?

I have them. They help get the boat on plane quicker, provide stability from Port to Stbd.

Notice much difference when cutting through 2' chop by keeping the bow down ?

Yes

I love my V-20 since I put on my Lenco trim tabs---a great investment!!

Yes...big improvement

I put Bennett M120 Sport Tabs on my V20 and love them. Quicker to plane, can plane at lower speeds, higher top end, side to side levelling, and greatly improves the ride through any kind of chop or wave activity.

I had Bennett's on my Mako, a must for that model boat, but were factory standard.

Questions:
1. How much dough ?
2. If you installed yourself - how tough to get it done ?

Thanks

I paid around $420 for mine a year ago. I just googled "Bennett M120" and it seems the pricing for the tabs with the standard switch are still about the same. Kits with the switch with LED indicators run around $550. Sometimes wish I'd gone with the indicator switch, because an upgrade will now cost me around $250.

The instructions were very clear and easy to follow, and they provide paper templates for marking the holes you'll need to drill. It took me < 2hrs from start to finish.

O

Well.. our first trip = no trim tabs ... decent ride, thought it was good
second trip = TRIM TABS!!

They are amazing! like already stated.. faster plane, stability, ride control and the ability to push the bow down in chop.. I would not have any (almost) boat without them.. well worth the investment.. My stern is heavier then most due to NidaBond transom, bracket, 32 gall bait tank so for me i saw a huge difference

Whatever you are presently driving...truck, car, suv, whatever....take the shock absorbers off of it and put bias-ply tires on it and drive it around for a while...get used to it...then put new shocks and radials on it...

That's the difference in tabs vs no tabs...

My previous boat...........Mako CC really needed the factory original Bennett trim tabs.
Recessed, very nice.

Driving my ne w to me 96' V21 I consider it ........likely quite useful, but not as necessary as for the Mako.
This is because the V21 has a more typical ride, where as the Mako had certain definitive ride tendencies, well corrected with the tabs.

I may go with the tabs.........over this winter.

What's that, must be waaaay before my time

Best purchase Ive made for my boat!!!! I went with the Lenco 12 x 12's which work great.

Cost? - I'm a retailer, it would just tick you off if you saw what I paid for em!!!!

Install? - Very easy. I actually called Lenco and told them how easy it was......and give them my recc.'s for making it even easier.

Your gonna have to decide between Lenco(electric) and Bennet(hyd). That could be a whole new topic!!!!!

(Go with Lenco......)

Thank God last owner of the V decided to install the Tabs. Once you get the hang of it, you can really fine tune the hull to navegate pretty fast on good size rollers. You can do better than most of todays 21 footers.

V20's do a bit of chine walk at top end speeds (with the correct power & set-up) the tabs help correct that too.


And they look really cool.

sounds like everyone pretty much agrees tabs are the way to go, was just wondering what size was reccommended for these hulls?

I remember when radials 1st became popular in the US...Europeans had been drivin' 'em for some time...

They first started shippin em over on the Mayflower...so sayeth the fossil!!...right CB??

9 x 12s oughtta do it...no need for bigger on this size hull IMHO...

Think it depends how stern heavy you are. I sent Lenco my stats and they were the ones who recommended the 12 x 12's. Im 3k lbs maxed out/fully loaded

Bennett has great service to. I ordered a new wiring harness and i had it in a week. The best part was it was NO charge. You can't beat that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scott

A $50 fin mounted on your outdrive will acomplish the same ride using your prop wash on a V20. I have used them on a couple boats now and swear by them. They should come from the factory like that. Huge improvement! But hey trim tabs are way cooler right? :)

Yep...I know there are many boats the fin helps a lot...they really are effective in what they do...but tabs do much, much more...you 'bout gotta experience the difference yourself to appreciate it...

Bennett is known for great customer service!!...:clap:

Trim tabs
 

I have a dol-phin and 9-12 Lenco with the digital tab indicator switches.
Can't say enough about it, so enough said!

Rides like a hull should. BEST investment after the t-top!

Actually would appreciate and enjoy some very specific feedback on ride characteristics with tabs: ( never mind the fin, I don't need that one )

Such as...... I know the boat can tend to pound in 2'-3' chop at most planning speed so when you put the bow down with the tabs, what's the sensation ?
Less pound, no pound ?
More spray in the boat I assume ?
Any more difficult to steer with the bow cutting down into the chop ?
Increase in fuel consumption is of course likely, as is decreased speed.

For guys like me who are considering tabs, specifics.........like boat performance test results will be quite helpful.

Thanks

I'm putting tabs on mine in fall. The main reason for me is to be able to level the hull while running into a cross wind. Right now the boat leans into the wind (or whichever side the fat guy is on), and that is always the way the waves are coming from. If I can level the boat so it lands on the bow rather than on the flat side it will ride much better. Right now if I don't turn into every wave it will hit on the flat of the hull and beat the crap out of you. But if I can run directly in to the waves it will ride pretty decent.
The boat beat up the wife the last time out, so she is convinced enough to let me spend the money.

My last boat - a Mako CC had a ride that made the tabs more necessary.
This V21 rides flatter overall so for me, the tabs would be primarily to push the bow down into chop and cut the pounding. The V21 is a more " casual ride" ......no need to force the issue across steep seas. It's a seaworthy ride from my experience so far, stable overall.

Hey - if you want to knife through seas - get a 23' or bigger with a 23 degree deadrise - or more.

Emailed pics of my transom to Lenco for best fit recommendation and I'll go from there.
12x12's or 9x12's depending on their suggestion.

May have to move the ladder and transducer on other side.
We'll see, but looking forward to it given I'm a " blue water" fisherman !

Santa stoped in this morning in the way of some lenco 9x12's :sun:

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/...6/DSC04891.jpg

That's nice - what are you saying - that you just picked a set up to install on your rig ?

If that's it - congrats, and let me know how it rides..

Yep going on this fall ready for next year. I had issues on the coast this summer ( all my fault ) with my ice-cooler shifting around in rough seas. I didn't like the feeling of it sitting on her side going into 6'ers on 4' swell. the V handled it but it would have been sweeter if I 1- would have tied it down and or 2- had trim tabs. That and I'm woundering about the ride and fuel milage myself. If it can get better than it already is I'm all for it!!! :beer:

Just DAYUMIT!!! Now I gotta get some!! I hate ya'll!!
:hi::you:

Be prepared those Deusch connectors can be a pain to run back through your conduit to the helm. I cut mine then spilced,solder and HS tubed them back into place. I called Lenco about it and they said they would implement my suggestion next year into the design of them.

DONT FORGET YOUR FUSEABLE LINK TO THE BRAIN BOX!!!!!
And again I must point out.......If I'm buyin a $700 product from you, just throw the $3 fuseable link in the box dammit!!!!!

BGreene...when I put tabs on my 21, this is what I did to fit w/the swim platform...relocated the bracket from the transom to the side of the splashwell and notched out the platform...worked out well...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90.../95V-21050.jpg

Thought I had a close up pic, but this best I could find...

Here's the same solution, only on my old '74...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...latform044.jpg

Kept the SS frame and discarded the old plastic deck...remade out of 3/4" Starboard to fit...

Reel - from what I can see that looks good, thanks. I'll have to move the swim bracket too, along with my transducer. You ever use your boat in 3-4' chop ? If so, would like to hear more about the difference i ride with the tabs.....can't get enough feedback about this ! Thanks

HEADS UP!!!!

I just lost a tab yesterday......due to the weld. Bummer.....Whe I pulled the boat I had two guys tell me," yep, thats Lenco for ya". Im about to call em and see if they will replace it. Doesn't help me on narrowing the to-do list down for the Keys trip in 10 days though........

The only use 6 spot welds to hold the plate to the hinge. When I get it replaced Im goin straight to the weld shop for reinforcement.

I'll keep you posted........

This will be interesting..Bennett has a GREAT reputation for customer service and replacing things that go wrong on their hydraulic tabs...let's see how Lenco measures up...

Just sent the pics and got a quik reply(20mins) although it was to tell me they needed more pics........

I know they are leaning towards,"this guy ripped it off" so they proof is on me to show them otherwise I guess

All I can say is that Stuart is on the way to the Keys......don't upset me, you wouldnt like me when Im angry....

I have dealt with Bennet in the past--not such great CS or backing of their product--I know they have changed their buisness practice the last couple years because of lost buisness Like me.

As for the Lenco letting go--I have never heard of this--must have been a freak thing--cause I beat the crap out of my tabs with no issues.

Here are some pictures of my tabs set- up--similar to reelapeelin. My pictures are not as good--but notched my swimstep as well.

Alright well Lenco said they are sending me a new plate and actuator. They said it looks like electrolysis damage but since Ive only had em for a couple of months they would replace them but typically they wouldn't replace them due to electrolysis. Well like I told her, I have tabs and transducers getting voltage under water. Haven't had the first issue with electrolysis with the transducer or anywhere else for that matter. Must be a short in the actuator then right??? "Oh no it couldn't be comin from there".....well where else would it come from to start affecting it so quick????? No other boats next to me and no power down on the dock......whatever......

Here's my thing though, they said they have issues from electrolysis all the time(though doesn't have anything to do with an electric actuator, Im sure) and you just have to zinc the plates.Zincs are cheap, throw the damn things in the box with it dammit!!!!!! along with the fuseable link!!!!! They recommend it yet they dont make mention of it in the installation instructions and it IS possible to over-zinc a boat.

Still I have one day before my trip to the Keys to put this new one on and they aren't makin like they want to cut me any deals with the labor associated with it. It better get here before Wed.

So I guess it ends with "Thanks....kinda"