Bennett M180 Trim Tabs Report on 204 c

sfc2113

GreatGrady Captain
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Just wanted to let this out in case anyone is wondering if they should put trim tabs on there boat.....

Last season I was shortening my trips or just not going out because of choppy seas so I could avoid the banging and slamming from the chop on the water. I was constantly fighting the wheel left or right depending on the wind or current or weight dist. I dreaded the 4-5 mile journey to the inlet. So did my passengers. After reading posts about trim tabs I decided this year I would get them. All I can say is !WOW!

I was out is sw 20-25 mph wind yesterday with my brother, white caps on the bay. Real snotty. I was not even going to go out. I was ready to put the boat back on the trailer and go home, but figured I got the tabs lets see what they will do. Put the tabs down, got up on plane and immediately felt the difference, made some adjustments to the motor trim and tabs and.. what’s this , NO bang, we can drink our coffee…..better yet, put it in the cup hoder and not have it fall out and land on the deck….. I am doing 27 knots, 3700 rpm and can hold the wheel with one hand……?? No water splashing over the sides…what I am on a , 40 ft cruiser….

I am very, very impressed. My brother who has a bad back would not go out with me or would have to sit in the cabin on some days. He could not believe the change. He even took the wheel and he never does. When we got home he went right online and ordered a set for his 25ft formula. Guess I have another trim tab project to do.

It didn’t solve all the slamming as there are times you just can’t have them down but, for lengthy trips across choppy seas these made a huge difference. Even crossing passing boats wakes, no problems. It is like they said, it is a different boat. I am so looking forward to my season now. I dont have to wait for perfect weather conditions.
 
Tabs do make a HUGH difference. BTW -- Anytime you have a person on-board that is having back propblems, the best place for them to be is in the stern --- any where but up in a forward cabin. That area gets most of the hard pounding.
 
[quote=" Anytime you have a person on-board that is having back propblems, the best place for them to be is in the stern --- any where but up in a forward cabin. That area gets most of the hard pounding.[/quote]

I had him do that the first time we went out, He would rather not get the soaking I put him thru that day. He compared it to like being on the log flume but at the very end, over and over and over but very salty and with out a drop off. :lol:
 
Yep... you will see soon Chris, Ganna make your ride to inlet sooooooooooooo much better. And, you will use much less gas trucicking across that bay. I usually burn about 10 -15 gal on a trip I took. I topped off before I left and topped back off when I came back, It only took 8 gal of gas to fill it back up.