Bennett trim tabs have failed twice

C

captain Al

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Age
75
Model
Canyon 336
I have a 2017 336 Canyon with triple 300s that I have put approximately 300 hours on the engines. On two occasions I have suffered a structural failure with one of the Bennett trim tabs. Prior to the most recent event I started noticing the boat lean to starboard while the boat was underway. I compensated by adding opposing trim tab to level the boat. The condition kept worsening and I had my Grady dealer pull the boat. What he discovered was that the port plate was badly bent and they replaced the defective tab. The boat is stored in a slip and the boat has struck nothing. Are the trim tab plates possibly undersized for this boat? Can I expect this to keep happening?
 
I would say that if you are putting those engines through their paces on a 33 footer, then using recreational tabs may be unrealistic. At the very least you should have dual cylinders and plate stiffeners. The real deal is replace the recreational ones with some like the offshore racing boys use.
 
Bennett has excellent customer service -- would definitely start by calling them and discussing... Loads of Bennett tabs on the 336 Canyon and 330 Express (same hull)... Never heard of structural failures before...
 
I know Bennett is the top of the line but I am not a fan. I have had more failures than I care to remember....pump several times....cylinders....I even had a tab separate from the hinge while underway. When I took a look the tab was hanging from the cylinder and the hinge was still attached to the boat....all the rivets had failed.

I have been very happy with my Lenco tabs....no internal plumbing or pumps.....if an actuator fails it is a simple matter to replace it.

Just relating my experience.
 
Buuuuut...having said that.....could the tab/actuator be mounted incorrectly....maybe misaligned....putting undue stress on the tab when deployed?
 
The first time that my Bennett tab failed it completely separated and the tab broke off completely. On this recent failure it just bent causing the boat to list to starboard. We checked the alignment of the tab/actuator. Also, I do not run the boat hard and try to keep my fuel economy around 1 mpg or better. But when running in the Atlantic ocean off of New jersey I do run into rough conditions at times. During those instances I slow the boat down and adjust the tabs for the best possible ride. If these Bennetts are not strong enough for the boat then I would have expected Grady White to have installed the appropriate tabs
 
I do not recall ever backing down with tabs extended. When I get to the fishing grounds my habit is to retract the tabs, especially when trolling
 
Capt Al, Whatever is causing the Bennets to fail you, I think going to Bennett with pictures and descriptions is going to get things resolved in a more timely matter. Too bad the Tab Man is not here, as he would have something in the works for you already. I think the Bennett engineers would be very interested in failure of their product when being used as it was intended. You are obviously running the boat in an ordinary way so their tabs should not be failing you and I would think they would be interested as to why you are having a problem. If you can get past the front desk and talk to the engineering dept. I think you would get their attention.
 
Sounds very strange. Could you be hitting something while running? Long shot. GW uses them on all their boats. If a compatibility issue, you'd think we would have heard it before. Call the manufacturer and see what they say. As stated, pics a must.
 
Definitely get Bennett involved. They're a good company and would want to know and try to help figure it out.

It's possible that you may, at least, be able to tell if the damage happened by something pushing up on the tab, or something that pushed down on the tab. The way it's bent/damaged should be able to help narrow that part down.
 
Thank you for your replies. I have reached out to Grady and I will also contact Bennett
 
post some pics here and keep us all in the loop!
 
Do you have your boat dry stacked?

Kinda looks like forklift damage if that's what has been handling your boat.
 
is It on both or one? could it be due to low water and the boat sitting on something at low tide?
 
The boat went into the slip in April and all was normal. Problem developed gradually starting in June. Boat stayed in the water the whole time. I have a solid 3 ft of water under the boat at low tide. The problem has only been with the port tab. The first time I noticed anything unusual was coming back from a trip the port tab showed one light when fully retracted
 
Fishtales said:
is It on both or one? could it be due to low water and the boat sitting on something at low tide?
Click to expand...

To continue with Fishtales thought.....You say there is always a minimum of 3 feet of water but if you are slipped and the boat is near piling or other structure, could there be an obstruction such as a bolt or a piece of timber protruding into the path of the hull as it rides up and down on the tide? Might be worth a few minutes with a mask and fins to make sure it's all clear.

Another thought.....it appears that the tab is bent down. The pressure exerted while running the boat is upward, so the damage is not being done by using it for its intended purpose. Its not a trailer boat so heavy people are not using it for a step to climb in the boat. Do you stop at bait/fuel docks where you always go port-to? Maybe there is something you are hanging up under at their dock as the boat bobs up and down in wakes, etc. Are you slipped in such a way that marina personnel could be using that tab to stand on to do their dock maintenance or handle equipment, hoses, lines and such. Just some things to think about.
 
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I’d guess that bend was caused by something impacting or pushing against it with hundreds of pounds of force. Have you tried bending it back by standing on it? Were you able to even bend at all without machinery?
 
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I'm with the others. That looks like man made damage not just simply damage from use.
 
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