Purchasing trim tabs online.

[North Shore Boater]

I was doing some shopping for tabs and I was wondering if any of you had a website that you thought was great and had good prices. I am still undecided if I am going with the Bennetts or Lencos. I am considering installing them myself, on my 1801, many say it is not difficult. But I am so nervous about drilling into the Hull. It seems pretty straight forward, I do not want to screw up, and then regreat just not paying the money and having piece of mind. I am pretty handy, and if it did not deal with drilling holes in a hull, I would do it.

I got estimates to install them where I live and most people want about $600 just to install them. Anybody know anyone good on Long Island who is reasonable?

 

[North Shore Boater]

True fish factory, caulk fixes everything right??? My brother always jokes that after doing something once your an expert.

 

[boondoggle]

I bought my Bennett tabs from BOE marine.

 

[Megabyte]

I bought my Bennett tabs from BOE marine.

Me too. 8)

 

[boondoggle]

I used the left side on my 1801. I had to notched the swim ladder platform. Easy installation.

 

[North Shore Boater]

So you mounted the pump in one of the battery compartments, how did you snake the line to the other actuator? How did you snake the wires to the helm switch, and I guess they also get hooked up to the battery as well.

Where they hard to wire?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to be sure before I purchase.

 

[North Shore Boater]

The actuators, should line up on the transome in the area of the battery boxes on both sides. This is where you will connnect the hydro lines. The lines must stay equal length, so on the side of the pump you coil it up.

Ok so snake the hydro line out of the drain in the battery box, then in order to get to the other side, it will be run in the bilge, correct?

The wire that goes up to the fuse box and the helm, does that go through the drain hole as well, if I remember correctly there are wires in there and a tube, does that run up to the console? Or does this wire lie in the bilge as well, and you just shake it. My boat is under snow now so I can not go out and look.

 

[North Shore Boater]

I am just trying to figure out how you tighten that hydro line up if the actuator does not come up to the battery box. Not alot of room down there

Do the Bennetts come with auto retract or is that another part you have to buy?

Did you go with the M80's or M120's?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[North Shore Boater]

Where on the console did you install the switch/indicator?

 

[seaweasel]

you are getting good advice there. I mounted the motor in the console to keep it out of the elements- my rear lazarettes don't stay dry.

The hardest part of the tab installation is getting both tabs mounted in exactly the same level. They are rather heavy and awkward to support. I also drilled out the tab holes and backfilled them with epoxy so no wood was exposed. It is not that hard to do and gives a little peace of mind.

they really help an 18 dig down in rough seas.

 

[Sleigher]

Get the Bennet tabs.
By far the best customer service I have ever experienced.

P

 

[North Shore Boater]

I have been looking at both the Bennetts and the Lenco's and want to read the instuctions on how to install them. I searched the web for the instruction manuals for both brands and can only find these brief 2 page instuction sheets. Are those the only instructions that come with this tabs? I have not seen any instuctions about how to connect them to fuse panel on the boat. If anyone has the instructions for either brand, would you mind posting them.

 

[North Shore Boater]

I just received my tabs today in the mail. I decided to go with the Bennett M120's with the EIC 5000 switch, I purchased them from BOE Marine. Very good service and a great price.

I just have a quick question. As I read the directions for the installation of the switch it says to install the EIC Module in a dry location close to the Hydraulic Power Unit. Would the Battery compartments in the back of the 1801 be deemed a dry location? If I mount the Hydro Power unit in the console, I would need longer hydro lines. Is that an option? What should I do?

 

[North Shore Boater]

When mounting the HPU with the plastic bracket to the side of the battery box, it seems as if the whole unit is suspended. Is this correct? Or am I mounting it wrong, it looks right to me, but should something go underneath the unit or towards the front of it so it does not bounce around. It seems like a lot of stress on that little bracket. It is only like a 1/4 of an inch, or is it suppose to lean a little so the fluid goes towards the hydro lines?

 

[North Shore Boater]

I completed the install of my M120's last week, thanks everyone for you help. Like all of you said the install is pretty easy. I can't wait to wet test them. This is a job everyone can do, measure twice, drill once, be patient. Once you get over your fear of drilling the transom, everything else is easy.

To me the most difficult part was splicing into the ignition wires. I will post pics after I complete all my projects.

 

[Megabyte]

Congratulations!

You're going to see a big difference in performance with those tabs. 8)
Just remember to fully retract them in a following sea...