Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

[ingalp01]

OK, I previously posted inquiring about Smart Tabs II for my 25 ft Chris Craft.

Most people believe with the big heavy boat, I would be better off with Helm controlled tabs.

That being the case, How much would the Bennett's be 18 x 9 inch with controls, and the ATC. The tabs with switch on this site are $637.00 and the ATC seems to run in the $300.00 range. A thousand bucks seems awfully steep, compared to the Smart tabs II which I found for $229.00 on Ebuyersworld.com

Granted I would have control, or the ATC would handle it for me? Do I have the option of disengaging the ATC and trimming it myself with the Bennett's?

I really want to help my boat get on plane better, then I can Prop it correctly and get the most out of my boat.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

I just Goggled Bennett trim tabs. The M120 tab kit was $435 and the ATC kit was $220 so we're looking at $655 or so. A wee bit cheaper than the $1,000 you mentioned.

I run Bennetts with ATC on my boat. You can turn it off and run manual control and let it do it's thing. I leave mine on unless I'm running in a following sea.

I can't tell you much about getting on plane quickly. I don't have a problem getting out of the hole. I run in a lot of slop and bought the Bennetts for the control they give me over my running angle on the run. Bow up, bow down, lean left, lean right. Can't do that with a fixed rate tab. In fact, a fixed rate tab would be detrimental in some of the places I operate.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

support the company that provides you, with this free informative forum. not Ebay!!!!

http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...16475--submit.Search--submit.x.42--submit.y.9

 

[Tabman]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

OK, I previously posted inquiring about Smart Tabs II for my 25 ft Chris Craft.

Most people believe with the big heavy boat, I would be better off with Helm controlled tabs.

That being the case, How much would the Bennett's be 18 x 9 inch with controls, and the ATC. The tabs with switch on this site are $637.00 and the ATC seems to run in the $300.00 range. A thousand bucks seems awfully steep, compared to the Smart tabs II which I found for $229.00 on Ebuyersworld.com

Granted I would have control, or the ATC would handle it for me? Do I have the option of disengaging the ATC and trimming it myself with the Bennett's?

I really want to help my boat get on plane better, then I can Prop it correctly and get the most out of my boat.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

Of course I'm biased and think that helm controlled Trim Tabs are the way to go. In fact since smaller boats are more affected by weight placement and changing water conditions and speed, I really think that they are better suited for all boat sizes. But yes they are more expensive but they absolutely give more control over any boat in a broader range of conditions with their ability to make corrections on the fly.

As far as size goes for a 25 ft Chris Craft, well the bigger the better. The fact is that the bigger the Trim Tab the LESS drag it will produce in relation to the lift it generates. Simply put it needs to be deflected less than a smaller Trim Tab to produce the same amount of lift, thus it is projecting less area into the waterflow. If it were my boat I would consider Trim Tabs in the size range of 18" x 12"

The Auto Tab Control (ATC) can indeed disengaged and the Trim Tabs operated manually at any time. It is set up to act like cruise control on a car, when you tabs the brakes cruise control turns off, on the ATC if you tab the manual controls it turns off.

Contrary to what some think helm controlled Trim Tabs don't need to be "constantly fiddled with" and while the ATC is a great product that does an excellent job of handling the trimming of the boat it is not a "must have".

The ATC can be very easily added to a boat after the Trim Tabs have been installed and can be done with the boat in the water. I often encourage people how are installing Trim Tabs for the first time to run the Trim Tabs for a while without an ATC and then decide if you want to have the job done automatically for you.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

I have 1981 model Bennett trim tabs. They are 18 wide per side and a cord of 11 and 3/4. I installed them when my boat was 1 year old and to this day it still the very best thing I have done on my boat. My boat is much different than yours as it is 21 feet Aluminum Runabout and weight is 2800 pounds dry.

When I first got them they came with a joy stick control and for a while I would have to think about which way to push the control. After a few days it was automatic just like the throttle or the steering.

After about 10 to 15 years the joy stick got where you would sometimes have to push a little harder for it to work so I changed the control to dual rocker switches.

With this controll a 6 year old can learn it in ten minutes and you have complete control of your boat attidude in the water.

I do not want or desire Automatic control. I like full control of my boat trim.

As an example I launch in the morning and there is not even a ripple on the lake so I run with the bow a little higher and for a little better fuel mileage with the spray coming off the hull way back by the stern.

Then I round a point in the lake and see a 25 foot cabin Crusier pulling a wake board at speed below planning speed with very large wake.
So I steer away to gain some seperation and when it time to cross the wake I push the top of both switches for about 2 to 3 seconds to bring the deep V of the bow down on the water to cut the waves. Then I steer into the wave at about a 45 degree angle Splash Splash thru the wave then hit the bottom of both switches for 2 seconds and am right back where I wanted to be.

In the ocean with 5 foot swell and a 2 foot wind wave I can slow down for a safe ride over the swells but still adjust the bow down to the best angle to cut the 2 foot wind chop.
It makes for a much better ride. With out the tab I could not stay on plane and slow down enough to be safe on the 5 foot swells.

Down in San Francisco bay with no swells but a 3 foot wind wave again I need the tabs to be able to slow down and cut the waves but still stay on plane.

If you just need the tabs to get up on plane at a correct attidude at your desired speeds then maybe the ATC might help but for me it is so quick and easy to adjust I have no need for the ATC.

 

[ingalp01]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

Ok, here's another question for Tabman...

How much mounting area is needed for the hydraulic rams? I only have about 11 1/2 inches beneath my swim platform.

Thanks...

 

[Tabman]

Re: Bennett Trim Tabs with ATC???

Ok, here's another question for Tabman...

How much mounting area is needed for the hydraulic rams? I only have about 11 1/2 inches beneath my swim platform.

Thanks...

The standard actuator (ram) needs about 13" of height to mount on the transom, remember that it is measured perpendicular to the bottom of the hull and in the middle of the Trim Tab. We make several shorter actuators that can reduce the requirement to about 9-1/4". The measurements can vary a bit due to the rocker on the bottom of the boat.

Here is a photo illustrating how we measure the height needed. In this case I was helping mount the actuators under an overhang.

But it sounds like we can easily fit a set under your swim platform.

I hope this is helpful.