Auto Trim Tab Control

[shivertown1]

I am thinking of buying auto trim tab control, Has anyone used this before and is it worth the outlay,any opinions greatly appreciated, thanks :-/

[Getout]

Is that the device that automatically retracts them when the ignition is turned off?

[shivertown1]

no, it makes the trim tab adjustments automatically for you, for example if someone moves to the other side of the boat it automatically compensates for this change in boat attitude by lowering or raising the tabs going off a pre-programmed memory of the ttrim originally set by the owner..

[Getout]

Sounds a bit too high tech for me. I think that trim tabs need the human touch.

[shivertown1]

you can switch to manual control if you want to, or need to, Getout

[sid_fishes]

shivertown1 first up welcome to ausfish.. so how much does a set of auto trim tabs cost[ just out of interest] cheers ian

[shivertown1]

Thanks for the welcome Ian, around 750 for the tabs, electro/hydraulic and the same for the auto control, that is why I am trying to find someone who has used this setup. If there is no benefit I will just have the manual setup.The boat I am getting tends to lean into the wind (plate aluminium) and this setup would automatically adjust the trim as the wind increased /decreased which to me when at speed is one less thing to concentrate on :-/

[sid_fishes]

so what platey are you getting??

[shivertown1]

Barcrusher 560 Cuddy

[sid_fishes]

very nice!!!!!!

[sid_fishes]

then go with what you feel is right, but then i have manual tabs fitted to my plate boat to which i have just straighten out[ plates had a BIG bend in them]and am yet to try them out , but i would really ask the question,,, do i really want/need to spend that much??? cheers ian

[legless]

Mate,, I own a 530c cuddy and have done 110 hours in it.. Wouldn't be leaning hard to the left would it? Had the very same problem with mine and when i took my boat dealer out in it,, he now only orders them with trim tabs attached. I fitted the lenco manual electro tabs to my boat with the trim gauge,has the retractable feature.Work well and in fact are a must with this brand of boat.If you have any questions regarding the barcrusher give me a call,be glad to give you some ideas.
jason

[megafish71]

Shivertown, don't waste your money on the auto control, in a small trailer boat as yours the tabs would be continually ajusting themselves, never letting the boat reach a happy medium. They will always be trying to keep the boat at the preset level, in a choppy sea the effectiveness of the tabs will not be as good as a manual set up, I know that you can switch from manual to auto, but in my opinion the auto control would only be effective on flat calm days, not on the days when tabs really help. I would hate to see what happens with the auto unit when you are in a following sea when no tab is required, better to stick with the manual set up and think about what your doing and not rely on a computer chip for your comfort and safety.

The auto control unit was developed for the larger boat market, 8mtr + boats like game boats etc, and has found a spot in the market with high performance calm water boats like the yanky bass boats.

Hope my thoughts are of some help to you and welcome to the site.

Cheers Ron

[Getout]

I'm interested in how effective those Lenco tabs are. I went for Hydraulic only because I knew they worked and couldn't find any good reports about the Lenco system. The Bennet sport tabs work well on my boat but I really like the slim, unobtrusive feature of the lencos.

[Chimo]

Hi Getout

I've got Lencos with 9inch square plates (23 cm) on a 6.2m Seafarer Vagabond with 2 x 115s and they work well. The Lencos are a small, compact and effective system.

Very precise control that is best achieved by tapping the controls to get small plate movements. Seafarer fitted them so they are in the right spot.

Tabs should be on all boats. I had an old hand pumped hydraulic system, forgot the name of them, that I picked up second hand and I fitted them to a 5.6 m Al boat I had some years ago with a 90 on the back. Tabs were worthwhile on that one too.

Cheers

Chimo

[Ian_Reeders]

I tend to agree with megafish. My experience is the auto controllers are only good on flat water where you don't need the tabs anyway. In a rolling choppy sea they chase the boat around continually. I have a set of bennet tabs on a 235 caribbean (without auto) and they are great. I prefer to control the tabs myself. Any boat going offshore should have tabs. I wouldn't be without them. Hope this helps.
Cheers
Ian

[Getout]

Yes, I must say that the tabs have been a great addition to my boat. Insted of leaning into the wind, landing hard on one flat surface and chucking spray everywhere, the thing eats a big sea. It is very easy to over trim because any adjustment takes a moment to have effect. I don't have to keep sliding the esky and moving passengers across to keep the boat level. I don't understand why they are not a standard item on deep v boats.

[Camo]

Shivertown1 welcome to Ausfish. Mate I have the Bennetts auto tab control system for the tabs on my boat. It's a good system and I use it a lot. My boat had a tendency to lean to the left and I got tired of continually adjusting the tabs. Once you zero the system for the optimum trim you just tune it on and it adjusts the attitude of the boat. The system has a delay so it doesn't try and adjust continually. There are times when the wind and seas are calm that I don't use it but if I feel the boat has a lean I just hit the button and it straightens it up no problems. You can live without it and the cost is a bit steep. I had it given to me as a gift, but I probably wouldn't have outlaid the money for it myself. I also have the auto tab retractors which are definitely worth having.

[Smelly]

I have the Bennetts Hyd TT on a Haines 530 SLR - manual - check out their US site - excellent service and reputation!

Nothing else but hte best!

[Ian_Reeders]

Hey Brissyguy

I got your pm but don't have enough posts to send one back, this will be 9. I will get some pics of my tab set up for you over the weekend. I don't have a pod on my caribbean but they may be of some help.
A good set of tabs is a must on the 235 Caribbean. It will bring your boat to life. I don't know how I lived without them.
I can keep my boat on the plane with the nose down at 12 knots. At that speed it'll just cut through anything. The only downside of dropping the tabs that far is added fuel consumption.
Will pm some pics soon.
Cheers

Ian

[Brissyguy]

Thanks Ian,

Little annoyed at having to constantly shift weight onboard dependant on sea conditions to maintain a level keel at speed.
Even have to watch deckies moving from seat to seat as that causing instability as well.

We used to bog down coming out of the hole as our pod is a big one, however the installation of a large foil has fixed that problem.

We are running a 2004 model 2 str 200hp Yammy, and can't speak highly enough about it's power and fuel economy.

Cheers,
Rich

[mirage]

Hey Shivertown1 and others,

Have you seen the new Volvo Penta QL boat trim system? A new radical design for trim tabs. Apparently used on very large boats and now Volvo have designed them for smaller boats like ours. A lot of the coast gaurd boats have them now and they swear by em. More efficient, small and don't get in the way of fishing. A set of the 300 series costs $899. Suitable for boats 15 to 24 foot.

I was about to buy the Bennetts tabs (a damn good product) but then I was told about these and I think I'll go for the Volvo one now. I had a talk to a few Volvo dealers in the Brisbane area and they all said these things were great and far more effective and efficient than conventional tabs. They don't get in the way of fishing or my boarding ladder, which is a problem for me, and easier to install.

They are quite difficult to explain how they work in words so there is a link below for those interested.

http://www.qlmarine.com/ql.asp

Cheers, Scotty.

[Getout]

I was a bit worried that they wouldn't work at low speeds. Also about electrical moving bits being underwater all the time. The regular type seems to work because of the foil effect. Do the QL ones induce more drag?

[mirage]

Aparrently they induce more lift at the transom whilst producing less drag than the conventional type. I'm told they work fine at all speed ranges.

[Brissyguy]

Hi Mirage,

This QL system looks like what I need.

Can you please PM me any more details you have.
Also any Brissy based dealer contacts.

Cheers,
Rich.

[Ian_Reeders]

Brissyguy
Hi Rich

Attached is the pic I promised of the tabs on my crusader. Don't know if it will help you with your pod?

cheers

Ian

[shivertown1]

Camo, Jason and Ron, sorry it took me so long to reply but have been away fishing, ;Dand only got back into town today, :'( thanks to everyone for your replies and ideas, also for the different brands which I had not heard of, looks like more research yet, question: I aim to do a fair bit of impoundment fishing Eucumbene, Jindabyne, Talbingo, Blowering as well as ocean work,Why do the bass boats use auto control?Regards Rob