bertram25 trim tabs

[spencer]

How many guys with bertram 25's are using trim tabs?

I am rewiring the boat during the repower and am thinking of removing them, they are always a
maintance issue , the boat is stored in the water.

[Joseph Fikentscher]

I have them on my boat but they don't work. I think the actuators are bad.

[captbone]

I used my boat for two years without them. I thought that I did not need them.

Once I got them fixed I was very glad that I did. It was so easy to dial in the ride just the way that I wanted. Using doel fins on the engine and tabs, I would make the boat do anything that I wanted for the conditions.

I ended up doing something very different and was so happy that I did.

I had a Bennett system and did a retrofit over to Lencos. I think Bennett is a better system but the Lenco conversion uses the old wiring and switch. It is such a simple system with no external controller. You simply hook the two wires of each tab to the pump wiring and modify the switch. You can get your tabs working better then new for 2 hours and $300.

Here is the link. It is so simple of a system you can troubleshoot the entire system in 2 minutes with a test light. It is the best way to do tabs out there.

http://www.easternmarine.com/media/down ... _specs.pdf

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... id=1951751

[Joseph Fikentscher]

Thanks captbone, looks like I will go the Lenco route in the spring. I like the simplicity. No pump or fluid to worry about.

Great idea!

[MarkS]

Never had them never will, and I have stern drives which makes me stern heavy. of course I am on plane at 14 knots and top out about 32.

[John Swick]

I liken tabs to power windows/locks in your vehicle.
You don't need them, but they sure do enhance the ride.
Personally, I wouldn't be without either.

I have instatrim by boat levelor on both my B25's and they've been flawless.
They have a model specific to the B25 transom bump out.

Good luck,
John

[Joseph Fikentscher]

I never had them before, but i had outdrives previously. You can trim them so they weren't needed.

Now I have the inboard B25 and although the tabs haven't worked since I have owned the boat, I usually don't go fast (wife likes slow and easy), so not a problem. I will do the Lenco conversion this year and see if they make any improvement in handling.

[spencer]

Thanks guys , just trying to simplify the boat
I took two of the old gass tanks out one original the other added 20 years ago putting in a new 150 gallon gass tank, eliminating all the fuel transfer valves and extra gas lines
having to replace wiring, new battery switches and new dash pannel with switches
new hydraulic steering
new floor, and bulkheads in the vberth area and gass tank area

so think I will convert to lenco

[Rocket]

I don't think the B25 needs tabs, although there was one time when my hydraulic steering failed and I crossed the straight of Georgia steering just with the trim tabs. Port down, boat went to Stbd and vice versa! Nice to have in a quartering sea, but not a need to have in my world