Message 13 of 14
Posted by member Nicholas Diffin on Saturday 28 February 2015

Hi Clive and others, I have now had two seasons experience of the Bennett trim tabs I fitted to my family pilot 20. I chose automatic control (which can be switched to manual) and am very satisfied. They are much better than the fixed tabs originally fitted. With a Mariner 80 4stroke max speed is about 22 knots but 17 at 4800revs is comfortable. Automat levelling works as passengers move from side to side but does require steering corrections since the down flap drags more than the other. I chose hydraulics rather than elecric on the principle that both work well but the hydraulic might work longer! Fitting was reasonably straightforward. Murphy's law decreed that only two of the holes from the fixed flaps suited the new. I replaced the old screws, sealing them with Stickaseal like the new ones. None of the holes go right through the transom except for the oil pipes which are sealed behind the mounts of the actuators. Regards Nicholas

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Message 11 of 14
Posted by member Clive ffitch on Saturday 7 February 2015

Hi Gerald, Thanks for that - a timely reminder of what is in MBM tucked away in my mag drawer, and of the article that I had forgotten all about! A really useful photo guide that will be my own guide on the job. From a much lamented lost magazine as well! Also some great info in Simon's recent article in HOC Mag 118, and also the article in "Trim Your Boat" in the online mag Motorboat Owner (Jan 2015), the best magazine offering now available since the demise of MBM... excluding of course our own most beloved HOC Magazine from Marie that absolutely tops them all! I'm getting a bit less worried about those holes below the waterline as well! Best, Clive

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Message 9 of 14
Posted by member Clive ffitch on Wednesday 4 February 2015

Hi Peter, Simon , all, Great post Peter, really useful - thank you Now, silly question. We are also looking seriously at going down the trim tabs route for our own Family Pilot Adele, and installation-wise the choice is likely to be the electric tabs option. However, that aside, I have a natural aversion to making holes in the hull, and go all shaky when it comes to holes below the waterline - can't imagine why. What I am a little unsure on, is how the tabs themselves are secured to the hull - surely not bolts as access to any nuts inside is nigh on impossible given their position - indeed, see Peter's excellent photo. So that leaves screws, which on the face of it, give me jitters just thinking about it! Holes in hull... below waterline... only screws... sealing?... scary water... what am I missing?!!! Or is the hull just so thick and safe there that visions of hull breach or unseen leak are just not going to happen, and it's just me that's thick? Reassurance sought! Thanks! Clive

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Message 7 of 14
Posted by member Peter Wales on Thursday 8 January 2015

Hi. I explored issue of tabs in some depth for my 1989 Pilot 20 with long keel hull. When I bought the boat in 2013 it had 50KG of sand bags in the bow, but would not plane with more than 2 people. It is powered by a Mercury 80. I was not looking for high speed, but wanted to plane at about 12 knots. I am in the marine industry and so had easy access to manufacturers at International boat shows. I looked at trim tabs, Volvo Interceptors and Hydrotabs. The issue that I found was that the trim tab/interceptor reviews and technical articles focus on stability at high speed, none of them talked about semi displacement planning speeds. When I spoke with the manufacturers, they also actually had no experience at the speed that I was targeting. In the end, it was Bennetts who gave me the most confidence. I think the interceptor/hydrotabs solution need speed. And I am not confident on electric actuators sitting in the water 365 days a year and so did not consider this. Bennetts also had really good and responsive customer support. Bennetts size guide on their website states the tabs should have 1" Tab width for every foot of boat length. That would be a 20" tab for the Pilot. I considered that there is not enough transom width for this. And it is not practically possible to trial and error this. Also all the references that I found on the Hardy forum, and looking at photos of tabs on Hardy Pilots in the owners club gallery and even the trim tab article from Simon Kidd in 2013 and other sources gave no reference to actual results. I struggled with this lack of precision, despite best intensions by all contributors. I communicated with Bennetts again and they said the bigger the better (I guess obviously), so instead of using the standard chord length of 9", they recommended 18" wide x 12" chord. I went with that, had the hydraulic pump installed in the main starboard rear locker, the control switch fitted horizontally in front of the helm and the tabs fitted with a small wedge to accommodate the slightly curved transom. This was transformational. A year on it is transformational. With two people it planes at 10-13 knots depending on sea conditions. It planes at 22Knots at 5300 RPM on calm water but I never do this. 4900 gives me 18 knots. But it is rarely calm, even in the Solent where I am based. When it gets choppy, the trim tabs enable 10-13 knots to be maintained without falling off this gentle planning speed. If it gets tough, we slow down 7 knots and plough. But... It also enables me balance the boat. Raise the bow a bit into the waves, lower the bow to get a bit more speed when it is calm. It will balance the boat laterally if the load is uneven or the wind or waves are pushing on one side. I also have my Mercury 80ELPT interfaced via an NMEA2000 Gateway to my Raymarine a78 Multifunctional Display. This brings the engine data onto my MFD - so I can display RPM, temp, pressure, engine hours, alternator volts, fuel flow, fuel remaining in my tank etc. etc I can see that with trim tabs, I get 7 litres per hour at 7 knots but significantly also 13 litres p/H at 13 knots. It does not change much at high speeds. The significant influence on fuel consumption is sea conditions, but the trim tabs smooth this differential out. However for me it is not about fuel consumption, it is about setting the boat underway on the water. Peter Wales

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Message 5 of 14
Posted by member Jstarboat on Sunday 30 March 2014

Hi Ron Clarke, While I worked at Haedy Marine we made up fixed trim tabs for Hardy Pilot's and these worked well and it a cheaper option than going down the elecrtic option. Regards Simon Papendick J-Star Boat Services

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Message 3 of 14
Posted by member ron clarke on Saturday 21 September 2013

Hi Mike, I've seen the old posts but thought I'd fire an e-mail off to members to see if there's any newer makes around that have come out recently that I'm not aware of. I've looked at the smart tabs but these appear to be installed in a down position and only start to retract once under power with water resistance. This of course would be okay but as I currently only have a Honda 50hp I felt that ones that I can adjust from the cockpit would be preferable. If you have any luck then please let me know. Regards Ron

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Message 1 of 14
Posted by member Ron Clarke on Friday 6 September 2013

Hi guys, I'm thinking about installing a pair of trim tabs early next year when the boats out of the water for annual maintenance. Can anyone offer any help based on their experience of trim tabs as to the best make to use on a Pilot and whether to use electric or hydraulic? Any help would be much appreciated. Ron

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