Trim Tabs. QL's or Lencos

[Midnight]

Gday,

I have to fit new trim tabs to my 25 Bertram.

I would like to hear peoples opinions and actual experience with either QL tabs or Lencos.

I am looking at the 450mm ones in either.

Cheers,

Myles

[ozscott]

Gday Myles - I thought there was a thread recently about a fella having dramas with Lenco backup...and trouble finding an agent in Australia to handle the warranty on his control panel?

Apart from that I have a mate with Lencos (can recall the size) on his Carribean Reef Runner and has had a good run with them over the last 3 years, but he doesnt use the boat much so that might not be a representive guide.

Good luck

Cheers

[PWCDad]

I'm going through the same questions for my whittley... QL or Bennets?

I like the way the QL are much safer if backing into a beach to unload when camping onshore which we do regularly.

I also mucho like the ease of connection of the QL via simple electrical connection verses a whole hydraulic system.

MMMMmmmm!!!

Anthony

[megafish71]

I have only done a couple of small trips with the QL tabs now, but I would say that I do prefer them over the Bennets on my previous boat. My only complaint is that the buttons in the control are not illuminated for night use.

Ron

[rat_catcher]

I fitted a set of QL tabs to my Signature 702L and absolutely love them. It was a pain free installation and they work very well. From memory they were cheaper than the alternatives as well.

I wouldn't hesitate using them again.

[chucknduck]

I fitted Lectrotabs bought from Stones Corner Marine, who I think fit them to their Barcrushers.

http://www.lectrotab.com/

Made in USA with 5 year limited warranty. POP to install and look and work great.

Mick

[ozlongboarder]

I have QL's on my 25 Bertram runabout. They work well, kick up a bit of spray when fully down but I rarely run them in that position. My boat lives on a swing mooring all year round, have had the tabs fitted for about 18 months+ with zero problems. I mine are the 300's.

[joe 09]

I have QL's on my Yalta 555 and i think there great. one to two pushes of the button and Alls good

Joe

[Midnight]

Thanks fellas,

Ozlongboarder, Just the bloke I need to talk to.

I take it they are fitted to the flat area in the middle of the transom where the engines are mounted?

I have a single diesel in mine and was thinking I could fit the 450's.

Do you notice much lift at the stern when you put them down?

And do you notice any change in speed, increase or decrease?

Sorry for all the questions.


Cheers,
Myles

[ozlongboarder]

Hi Myles, I have a single Volvo V8 stern drive. I fitted my QL's out wide on the transom, 450's would not fit out there so went with the 300's. Reason for not fitting them to closer to the leg was was due to the increased thickness of the transom to core through would have been difficult.

Also the new engine mounts that run fore and aft between the transom and the original forward transverse engine mount are very thick and would have blocked access on the inside for coring for the the big center plug with the electrical connections.

The hull also has a slight downward kick as it meets the transom in the same spot so its already deflecting the water flow downwards.

They work well, but in saying that I have not had any other trim tabs to compare them to. Do they lift the stern...? Hard to say as I have never really looked, I'm usually watching the bow raise or lower and listening/feeling how the boats is cutting through the chop.

They work really well at leveling the ride due to uneven weight distribution or in windy conditions when beam on. Next time I'm out I will see if they have much effect on speed and let you know.

[PWCDad]

OLB,

My boat is an outboard. Do you think the spray is enough to worry the engine air intake slots at the top of the cowl? Dont want to suck in too much salt spray.

Or is the spray more deflected sideways of the tabs rather than up?

Anthony

[Midnight]

Thanks Oz,

I was thinking about the thickness of the transom there as you say, and the thought of boring a 32mm hole right through it does put me off a little.
I will have to take some measurements and see where my engine beds are in relation to where the tabs would go if I did put them in the middle.

I was thinking about putting them out where you have yours but was wondering whether the angle in the transom there would cause any probs.

It is the logical place to put tabs, as you mentioned with the downward curve of the hull there.

If you get the hull up around the 25-26 knots without the tabs, it sits well, due to that built in "tab" in the hull.

Unfortunately with only 200hp, I cruise around 18-19. But there a not a lot of days around Moreton Bay and offshore when you would want to go a lot faster than that anyway, especially on a summers afternoon.

Thanks again for the info mate.

Cheers,
Myles

[ozlongboarder]

OLB,

My boat is an outboard. Do you think the spray is enough to worry the engine air intake slots at the top of the cowl? Dont want to suck in too much salt spray.

Or is the spray more deflected sideways of the tabs rather than up?

Anthony

It does throw a bit of water out sideways. If these westerly winds calm down over the weekend I will go out to the boat and take it for a run and get some pictures to show the spray. Its not to bad, but I dont usually stick my head over the back when underway

[ozlongboarder]

I was thinking about putting them out where you have yours but was wondering whether the angle in the transom there would cause any probs.

Cheers,
Myles

Not sure what angle your talking about mate???

My single V8 is much lighter than the old 4cyl motors so the stern sits a few inches higher out of the water now. The tabs are are 2/3 in the water 1/3 out when at rest but when underway the full length of the blade is in the water.

I cruise around 20-22knots at around 35lts/hr. Will do almost 35knots WOT but 85lts/hr

[Midnight]

Gday,
Just the slight angle forward toward the bow that the transom has on the outer parts compared to the straight, flat section in the middle which is 90 degrees to the centre line of the boat.

That is, that the tabs would enter the water on a slight angle compared to the water flow relative to the centre line of the boat, creating a bit of a wedge if you get my drift??

I hope you get what I mean through my cr@ppy explanation?? hahaha

Anyway, they seem to work well for you there mate.

If you do get out for a run, I would be really interested as to what happens to the speed as you go from tabs full up, to some tab down in increments.

Cheers and have a great weekend! (I'm workin thru until tuesday night )

Myles