tabshift
20.05.2021 16:39:17
The forgotten option that most don’t know about serves a great purpose. more
See full version: Cobalt Boats Forum
The forgotten option that most don’t know about serves a great purpose. more
Cross head wind .. your boat will lean into regardless of weight balance. It can be annoying for long trips and promotes harder contact in qtr wakes when leaning. here
Post by Brunosr » Fri Oct 05, 2018 7:48 am
A 800lb extra that I can’t change without asking people to spread out. But with one tap tap of my tab. . It is perfectly balanced and cutting efficient through all types of water. [links]
Beam Sea – Boats operating with waves approaching from the side often throw spray up on the windward side. This spray often is carried aboard by the wind (particularly on smaller boats). Trim tabs are used to raise the windward side of the boat, blocking the spray that blows over the boat, often resulting in a drier ride for you and your passengers. [links]
“I don’t need Trim Boats for My Boat, I have Power Trim on my Outboard Engine.”
This is a common misconception that if a boat has power trim on the outboard or outdrive it does not need trim tabs. Yes, power trim can be used to adjust the boat’s attitude, but it is highly inefficient. This is because a propeller is designed to force the boat forward. When trimming the boat with the propeller, the propeller must not only push the boat forward but raise the stern, as well. In this situation, prop slippage is greatly increased thereby wasting RPMs. Also, power trim cannot correct listing and is ineffective at slower speeds.
The key to getting the best results from your trim tabs is to operate them in short half-second “bursts” and let the boat react before making another adjustment. The amount of time between corrections is influenced by the size of the trim tabs and the boat’s speed. By operating your tabs in this manner you will avoid over-trimming, which occurs when you’ve deflected the tabs too far. Be careful not to over-trim your boat. An over-trimmed boat will “plow” or “bow-steer”. If you over-trim the boat, simply press “Bow Up” and the bow of the boat will rise.
A list can occur due to the following sea conditions, uneven weight distribution, water conditions, passenger movements, prop torque, strong winds etc. Since Bennett trim tabs may be operated individually you can easily bring the boat level by using your trim tab control. If the port bow is high, then push the port side button on your control “Bow Down” direction. If the starboard bow is high, then push the starboard side “Bow Down” direction until the boat is level. Bennett trim tabs operate the reverse of what you might think. The port trim tab controls the starboard bow. Conversely, the starboard trim tab controls the port bow. The helm control should be wired so that all you have to do is press the control in the direction you want the bow to move “intuitively”. You don’t need to worry about which trim tab is actually moving, just concentrate on the position of your bow.
Choppy Head Sea – for the most comfortable ride, when running into a head sea you will want to trim the bow slightly down, so the sharp forward sections of the boat do their work cutting through the waves. This will bring the “V” of the hull in contact with the waves rather than having the waves pound the hull and your passengers. here
TRIM TAB SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
AND TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
Note: If additional technical information or troubleshooting assistance is needed, contact
Bennett Marine's Client Services Department at (954) 427-1400 or e-mail trimtabs@earthlink.net.
System Specifications
Trim tabs - Stainless steel
Actuators - Upper hinge material (part #A1103) made of flexible nylon. Remainder of actuator made of high impact fiberglass filled nylon.
Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) - HPU draws a maximum 18 amps (broken-in) and operates on 12 volts DC (except 24 and 32 volt HPUs). Approximately 22 ounces of ANY TYPE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF) is required to fill the reservoir to proper level for single actuator installations. With the trim tabs fully retracted, proper fluid level is about 2" from the bottom of the reservoir.
The HPU forces both trim tabs full-up to full-down in 9-10 seconds, individually in 4-5 seconds. (Trim tab travel on dual actuator systems takes twice as long.)
Helm Control - Controls on 12 volt systems use 20 amp in-line fuse. (24 and 32 volt use proportionally smaller.)
Hydraulic Tubing - Tubing has 1/4" outside diameter and 1800 lb. burst pressure.
Wire harness - Wire colors and their functions:
Red wire Port solenoid valve
Green wire Starboard solenoid valve
Blue wire Motor forward (pump pressure)
Yellow wire Motor reverse (pump retract)
Black on HPU Ground
Orange on helm control Positive
Trim Tab System Diagram - Part number and descriptions in table below. Click to enlarge. [links]
I will try to include a link for trouble shooting. here
Diagram Number Description Part Number
1 Fluid reservoir VP1139
2 #10 x 1" screw H1180
3 Filler Stack --------
4 Filler Plug VP1140
5 Mounting bracket for HPU H1179
6 Lexan cover VP1138
7 Type 25 thread cutting screw VP1154
8 Motor strap VP1142
9 Solenoid valve VP1135-RVP1135-G
10 Faceplate for HPU VP1144
11 1/8" pipe to 1/4" tube connector VP1146
12 Hex retainer VP1141
13 Nut with ferrule T1127
14 Hydraulic tubing (20' unless otherwise specified) H1171
15 Tube bending clip H1173
16 Female elbow H1172
17 Pipe nipple (3" unless otherwise specified) H1171
18 Upper hinge A1103
19 #14 x 1-1/2" screw H1174
20 Cylinder body A1105
21 Piston with o-ring A1109
22 Lower hinge pin A1115
23 Lower hinge A1113
25 Backing plate varies with size
27 Hinge plate varies with size
28 #10 x 1-1/4" screw EH1071
29 Trim tab only varies with size
30 1/4-20 x 3/4" machine screw H1175
31 Wire harness (22' unless otherwise specified) WH1000
32 Quick-disconnect plug VP1143
33 Nylon hanger H1177
34 Single lever control VC1000
35 20 amp fuse (12 volt system) H1176
36 Fuse holder H1178
37 Racing type control RT1000
38 Rocker switch control RS1000 [links]
Re: 1 of 2 trim tabs won't retract
Trim Tab System Information and Troubleshooting
Note: Click here for Bennett Trimdicator troubleshooting tips.
Bennett Trim Tabs are build to rigid quality standards. However, the marine environment is harsh. So, in the unlikely event a malfunction occurs, here is some helpful information.
1. If trim tabs do nothing. no movement. no sound from HPU -
- Inspect for blown 20 amp in-line fuse in helm control's orange wire.
- Inspect for disconnected or corroded connections on HPU ground wire, orange positive wire from helm control, and quick disconnect plug.
2. If HPU runs but trim tabs do not move -
- Inspect for disconnected or corroded red and green valve wire connections at helm control and quick-disconnect plug.
- The following test can be used to help isolate the malfunction.
Remove wires from helm control and touch together as follows:
Operation Reaction
Orange (+), blue, red Port trim tab down
Orange (+), blue, green Starboard trim tab down
Orange (+), blue, red, green Both trim tabs down
Orange (+), yellow, red Port trim tab up
Orange (+), yellow, green Starboard trim tab up
Orange (+), yellow, red, green Both trim tabs up
- If the tabs function properly in each of the above combinations, check the helm control. If during this test the trim tabs continue to malfunction, inspect the HPU.
3. If one trim tab operates and the other does not -
- Inspect for disconnected or corroded red or green valve wire connections at helm control and quick disconnect plug. (Red wire operates port trim tab; green wire operates starboard trim tab.)
- Reverse the hydraulic tubing at front of HPU to determine if malfunction is in HPU or actuator / hydraulic connections. If ,after reversing lines, the symptom shifts to other trim tab, a malfunction may exist in HPU. If the symptom remains on the same side, a malfunction may exist with the actuator / hydraulic connections.
4. If trim tabs go down but will not retract -
- Inspect for low voltage of the battery. Check battery voltage while HPU (or another accessory) is running. If voltage is less than 10 volts, valves will not open.
- Inspect for disconnected or corroded connections on helm control and at quick disconnect plug.
For additional assistance contact Bennett Marine's Client Services Department at (954) 427-1400 or e-mail trimtabs@earthlink.net.
Maintenance
- Periodically, check fluid level in HPU. With trim tabs fully retracted, fluid level should be about 2" from bottom of reservoir (approximately 22 ounces). To refill, remove the lexan cover and filler plug located on the front left hand corner of the reservoir. FILL WITH ANY TYPE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (ATF) ONLY. Brands or types of ATF can be mixed. Running the HPU with excess or lack of fluid will not cause damage.
- Periodically, check for clean electrical connections on the back of the control, HPU ground wire and quick disconnect plug.
- Cold temperatures do not affect the trim tab system. No winterization is necessary.
- SALTWATER ONLY - To deter electrolysis, a zinc anode should be attached to the top of each trim tab. The zinc must make direct contact with the stainless steel. In the case of trim tabs installed on the boat as original equipment by the builder, a bonding system may be utilized for your particular model.
- We suggest using anti-fouling paint to help protect the trim tabs from marine growth. The secret to getting anti-fouling paint to adhere to your trim tabs is proper priming, and the best people to tell you what to do are the experts at the company that makes your anti-fouling paint. We strongly suggest that you contact the paint manufacturer and tell them you are painting "304 stainless steel" trim tabs, then follow their recommendations to the letter! Remember don't paint under the zincs.
- Unpainted trim tabs may acquire an orange discoloration. THIS OXIDATION OF SURFACE CARBON MOLECULES IS NORMAL. Orange coating can be cleaned off, but will eventually return. Note: this discoloration should not be confused with the pitting and corrosion of electrolysis.
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if i list to port, do i adjust the fin to port as well? more
i have a 16' bowrider with a 'rude 88 and i max out at 35mph.
Re: correcting prop torque without trim tabs?
i also do have that little fin thing youre talking about (red arrow). i can try to mess with that. i doubt my hull is un-true, because in flat water its fine, but if im in swells and the bow is rising and falling, as it rises its lean left unless i throttle down.