Best ride in choppy conditions
 

So when the ocean is around 2’ + while caps etc in a head sea, and I want to cover distance .I typically run mostly full tabs down, engine down .

Result .....Bow stays down cutting through the waves and I can power up without pounding.
Burns quite a bit more fuel but no matter.
I assume most everyone does same so just chatting here .

Surprisingly .....some on all kinds of boats don’t use their tabs and trim to best advantage.

I wish I had tabs on mine, meant to do it years ago, never got around to it. Now I m scared to drill all those ones in a 37 year old transom

Likewise. I'd like to have tabs, especially in a crosswind when the boat leans into it. That's annoying.

Hah......I hear you but it's never too late !

Actually trim tabs make a very significant difference in the V boat ride.
Not a little...…...a very significant difference.

Installing the Bennett trim tabs was not difficult. Just have to measure placement and take your time.

Measuring and patience, definitely not my strongest traits. I have heard the tabs really make the hull come alive

Also, like Pipe says, be nice not to keep telling chunky buddies to move to the other side

You can do it — if I can you can

Tabs are worth it Major improvement on a magnificent boat Nothing else needs to be said. Had them on my V-21

I never got around to putting trim tabs on my V20, but I do remember being able to trim the motor all the way down in a head sea and getting a greatly improved ride over the motor being trimmed up.

I am sure trim tabs would have been even better.

I had trim tabs on my Grady White Sailfish 25 and I have them on my Ranger 250C, as stated, it is nice to just push a button to get level instead of moving people around.

A little late to the party with a reply... but I picked up my '84 V20 this summer, and already had Bennet trim tabs that I bought on hand, so I installed them before I ever took her out.

Huge, huge difference (Thanks WellcraftV20)... it was thanks to here and one other board (THT)... that I learned just how important they are.

Some people complain that these boats pound in a chop... and they do... if you don't have trim tabs.

I marked everything with masking tape and a sharpie. Measured and did a trial-run dry fit. Checked and re-checked.... then I stopped, and returned the next day (wanted to sleep on it!)... did another dry fit, rechecked everything, and then out came the drill with cobalt bits. A bit scary, but it came out well.

I had a giant tube of 5200 as well -- in a caulk gun -- and was careful to seal everything!

It was well worth it. I've been in 2-4 ft seas with an occasional 5 foot swell, and it's been fine.... had to slow down to about 20 mph, and back off the throttle at the top of the 5 footers, so that I could easy down the back side of them, but the 2-4 footers only required steering to "thread" my way through them, but the ride was fine and comfortable... other than some occasional spray.

TRIM TABS... when I put them up, it was awful.... they are well worth the money. I got mine from Hodges marine... they were drop-shipped to me directly from Bennet (I think!)... and the price at Hodges was SIGNFICANTLY lower than at some other dealers.

Pjbrownva .....great report, thanks for posting.

Spot on.....there are times I’ve put the tabs all the way down, motor also, and chugged along on plane through 2’-3’ chop without pounding. Can feel that bow digging through the waves and fuel economy must drop a lot but don’t care .....the ride is what’s important !
Tabs make it a whole different boat .