Unofficial Poll Trim Tabs on a 210/215?

I've got M-80's on an '04 170CC/F75 and they run beautifully. Always running level, no matter what the load or passenger movement. Planes quickly and handles like it's a longer hull. Trim the hull. Trim the engine.
Just another level of control for efficiency and economy.

WarrenM

[trainer1995]

Our 210 CC has the Lenco trim tabs. It is a rather useful option, load balance, ride enhancement and trim adjustments in calmer waters. I do not have much experience with any particular size boat in regards to trim tabs, however we will not have a boat in the future without them.

[IT'LL DO]

I Think You Should Give Me A Set Of Trim Tabs And Ill Be Glad To Give Yo My Performance Oponion. I Use My But 2- 3 Times A Week So I Could Give You Lots Of Feedback If Interested Send Me A Pm , Taylor.

[Jim Jenkins]

I have had Bennett sport tabs on 2002 170 CC w/80 hp. Yam 4-stroke since purchased new. I honestly don't use them that often but they are there when needed. They are typically set flush with the hull and help with the weight of the 4-stroke.

Running in very shallow water in the FL glades, Chokoloski. I can drop the tabs and tuck the motor under the stern and run on plane in a good sweat. And at a fairly low rpm and speed, 15-18 mph @ 26-2800 rpm. Oyster bars can jump up under you down there. This is a real plus where you can fish all day and not get more than 4 ft. under the hull outside the channels. The same benefits around Harker's and up at Nags Head.

[jergofish]

I installed a set of Bennett 18x9 tabs on my new 215. I've only had the boat out two days but found the tabs of good use. I had my daughter and son-in-law aboard along with my wife one of the days. It was a party and picnic day and people moved about the boat, sat where they pleased and frequently all three were on the same side of the boat while underway.

The tabs made trimming out a dream and really helped as well when we turned into winds of 25 gusting to 40 with one recorded gust of 92 (wow) in keeping the boat's bow down and dry while running 15-18 mph in some really close and heavy chop.

I installed them myself. The total cost was just under $500 and the install time was about six hours.

I was surprised, with the big tabs, how much the steering changed as well. I could have locked the wheel in the center and used the tabs as ailerons to steer.

[birdwatcher]

I have a '02 210 with a 115 yamaha 4 stroke without trim tabs. I've been contemplating purchasing trim tabs for a variety of reasons. However, I'm a little concerned with a following seas condition...I'm assuming you can fully retract them if necessary so you don't do too much chine walk and nose diving into the chop/swells. Crossing the entrance at Humboldt bay can get a little hairy sometimes. Otherwise, they seem like a really good addition to my boat. I think I would probably go with Bennett M120's, but the Lenco's seem like installation might be a little easier.

[special K]

Just a question, would trim tabs make that much difference on a 170cc? I have my boat at the dealer right now doing yearly tune up, and putting in a dual battery. If it's worth it might just call and have trim tabs put on.

[jergofish]

birdwatcher, I certainly can't speak to your sailing conditions but can tell you about the installation of the Bennetts. I went with the 18x9's. This was the set recommended by Bennett. They're a little bigger than the 120's but really DO WORK. The cost is about the same as the 120's. I think ease of installation would be about the same for electrics or hydraulics. Basically, here are the steps for the hydraulics.

1. Fasten the trim tab paddles to the hull. Nail a board with a screw in it to the skid on each side to set the retracted height. The instructions provided by Bennett will make this clearer. (Easy, 1/2 hour total, small amount of Rule needed, screws provided by Bennett.)

2. Locate attachment point of rams and drill pilot holes for screws (Easy, 1/2 hour total, pattern provided by Bennett.)

3. Drill center hole for rigid copper piping. You need a half inch or 5/8 inch drill, I can't remember, woodworking will do, and a drill bit extension to get through the transom. (Easy, 15 minutes)

4. Measure thickness of transom and go buy additional lengths of 3/8 copper pipe to reach through transom. (A pain, since I had written Bennett and they had shipped me additional tubing and instructions on how to install on a Triumph I would have thought they would know how thick the transom is and would have also shipped two unions and two 5" sections of pipe or two 8 inch pipes. An hour at Lowe's)

5. Mount the rams with their copper tubing reaching inside the transom. Screws provided by Bennett. Rule needed. (Easy, 20 minutes.)

6. Pull two plastic tubes for the hydraulics from the starboard rear compartment to the center console. (Easy if you have a pull cord, 15 minutes)

7. Drill a hole in the side of the starboard rear compartment close to the top and close to the transom for the plastic hydraulic tubing and do the same on the port side. (Fairly easy, again, a longer than standard drill is necessary or a drill extension. 30 minutes)

8. Pull one of the tubes through to the port side and fasten it where exposed along the transom using nylon wire fasteners. Seal the holes with Rule at the end of the project. (Easy, 5 minutes)

9. Figure where you are going to mount the control buttons, probably to the right of the steering wheel, use the pattern provided and route out the hole for the controls using a reaming drill. (Hard! In their efforts to make the footprint as small as possible, Bennett have a semi rectangular hole pattern with lots of small bumps in it. The fasteners for the panel are only a 1/4inch away from the hole. Make the hole too big and you will have no way to fasten it to the dash and you'll have to get some starboard and make a plate to mount the panel and cover your mistake! It would have been a lot easier if the mounting would have been designed around a 2 1/2" hole saw cut. At least half an hour of screwing around carefully routing out the hole and fitting the control buttons.)

10. Bennett only provides a bulkhead mount for the pump. It's not practical for a
Triumph. Mark the footprint of the pump on the floor inside the center console and design a mount using a plywood donut, or stainless or aluminum angle and bungee, etc. I used the supplied mount by fastening it to the deck and then put some ring eyes in the deck and bungeed the pump in place. (Easy but a pain in the rear. Bennett should provide both a bulkhead mount and a deck mount. Again, an hour of building your own mount.)

11. Wire the black and red wires into the accessory panel and put in the proper sized fuse. Hook up the color coded wires from the pump to the control switches and mount the switch in the dash. (Easy, 1/2 hour)

12. Overfill the pump with ATF and hook up the two hydraulic lines. (Easy if you have a small funnel. Make sure you read the instructions BEFORE tightening up the hydraulic lines. (Easy, 20 minutes)

13. Use a vice grip and put the 90 degree elbows on the pipes coming from the rams and then hook up the hydraulic lines. Again, read instructions before tightening. (Easy, 15 minutes)

14. You're done. Activate the rams ten to fifteen times each to bleed the system. At first it seems like they don't work but all of a sudden they're moving. Eureka, you now have trim tabs.

I must be pretty close on the times because it took me about six hours and my description above adds up to six hours and ten minutes.

[joelevy]

Hi I recentily installed a pair of Volvo QL Trim System, on my 2006 215cc makes a big difference on my boat. Its very responsive and was easy to install. The best thing about them is the low profile of the trims it doesnt get in the way when your fishing or swimming and they fit snug under the swim ladder, I didnt have to make any modifications to the swim ladder. I found that the bow of my boat would stick way out of the water when I had people sitting at the back of the boat the trims corrected that problem. The trims give me much more control of the boat and more confidence on the water. I LOVE MY TRIMS!!!
http://www.great-water.com/pages/pro...L_Trim_Sys.htm

[NCangler]

Hey Joe. Can you post some photos of your tabs on your Triumph. I'd love to see them. Thanks