Trim Tabs

[touche]

I have the Bennett Sport tabs (dual ram, biggest they make think they're 12" x 16") and I need more tab. They're mounted about a half inch ABOVE the bottom of the boat - not flush. So to get them to bite well I need to deploy them more than I'd like. They work fine, just wish they were longer and flush with the bottom - have had K-planes on other boats and looking for something similar that can be adapted to or replace the Bennetts. Any suggestions or products out there that do this? Boat is a 32 seavee and I know of one other owner that installed starboard on the underside of the tabs to increase surface area and length - it made them flush with the bottom of the hull too. He likes the results but I'm concerned if the rams are powerful enough AND I'd rather find a product designed for this as opposed to doing it myself. Replacing the entire system with k-planes is an option but looking for other less costly solutions. Gracias

[kerno]

If I recall correctly, the Bennet tabs have a very simple hinge that is really just a bent flange. If you take oneoff and take it to a decetn industrial sheet metal shop, they should be able to duplicate them while making them longer and wider. I had a set made like that once and had them turn a one inch flange down on each side that helped containthe water and kept the spray down a little while making the tabs stiffer. Type 316 is the best stainless to use, buit 302/304 is OK as well. Be sure to have the passivated or electropolished before you install them or they will rust, even if made out of stainless.

K-planes work well,but I even made a set of them bigger!

[touche]

kerno - thank you. That pic is helpful and I also like the idea of having new tabs made. My concern is can the existing rams and pumps handle it? I think I'll have get the specs from Bennett. I'm afraid of making the modifications only to find the rams can't push or hold them down. I knew someone out there had to have done this in the past. Do you think that if a set of k-planes could handle that much more surface area that the dual ram Bennetts could handle a similar upsize?

Wet-n-Wiley also thank you to you. I do not post much and not much of an internet community guy but appreciate the resource when needed and the high quality content. I put this same post on THT and its instantly a circus about how the tabs are mounted wrong, or I can't drive...blah blah...until finally a few knowledgeable individuals added some value. I will never post on THT again as a result and hope this new site does well.

[kerno]

The job of the trim tabs is to shift the weight of the boat. The force on the tabs is the same, no matter if it is a lot of force on a small area or less force distributed over a larger area, the force seen at the end of the piston is the same. Big tabs halfway down are equal to small tabs all the way down.

[TooReel]

Very nice. I've made a lot of parts in my VTC's but i never though of custom trim tabs. Next time one of my machines is empty I may have to play.

What machine and cad/cam program are you using?

I have Mazak VTC 300's and SolidWorks/CAMworks.

I have the Bennett Sport tabs (dual ram, biggest they make think they're 12" x 16") and I need more tab. They're mounted about a half inch ABOVE the bottom of the boat - not flush. So to get them to bite well I need to deploy them more than I'd like. They work fine, just wish they were longer and flush with the bottom - have had K-planes on other boats and looking for something similar that can be adapted to or replace the Bennetts. Any suggestions or products out there that do this? Boat is a 32 seavee and I know of one other owner that installed starboard on the underside of the tabs to increase surface area and length - it made them flush with the bottom of the hull too. He likes the results but I'm concerned if the rams are powerful enough AND I'd rather find a product designed for this as opposed to doing it myself. Replacing the entire system with k-planes is an option but looking for other less costly solutions. Gracias

[kerno]

I have Mitsui Seikis and Fadals. We're using Gibbs software and an NC machine is a great toy to have! I hard anodized the tab extensions before I hung them.

[lekrej]

Bennett makes tabs up to 6 feet wide. Have you asked Tom if you can fit something larger to your existing rams?

[Dan in Alaska]

Dang, Kerno! Those trim tabs look nice.

[touche]

Bennett makes tabs up to 6 feet wide. Have you asked Tom if you can fit something larger to your existing rams?

yes. an email, pm and i even tried through their website. waiting on a reply

[Tabman]

yes. an email, pm and i even tried through their website. waiting on a reply

Did someone get in touch with you? If not please contact me at Tmcgow@bennnetttrimtabs.com

Tom McGow

Bennett Marine