Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I'm in the process of rebuilding an '86 4winns 190 Horizon and upgrading from a cracked 305 to a 350. My question is do Smart Tabs really work well? Or would I be better w/Instatrim or Bennett tabs? I do pull multiple skiers and tubers and without tabs the boat goes vertical when starting out.
Thanks

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

My personal opinion is that this comes down to:

a) budget and

b) whether or not you like to adjust, monitor and play with stuff

If you don't mind the difference between $300 vs. $600 and you answer yes to "b" then go with Bennett's. If you care about the $ and you answered no to "b", then go with SmartTabs. I have installed and operated both. SmartTabs work very well and they will definitely give you what you need based on your post. I prefer adjustable, but the install job is a lot tougher. We all believe that each company's service is outstanding. I know nothing of Instatrim.

BTW, welcome to iboats!!!

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Never used adjustables but I can say the Smart Tabs made a new boat out my 35 y/o 20 footer. They did absolutely everything that I could have hoped for with no diddling around with a control stick.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Now I'm a diddler . . . 8)

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I agree with all above.

If all you want to do is get the bow down go with smart tabs or instatrim.

If you want total control of your boat go with Bennett. If you want your boat to come up on plane at wake board speed no problem. If you want to correct a left or right lean no problem.

For me being able to adjust my boat for the best ride at any speed or sea condition makes Bennett the only choice for me. Big chop or big swells or a following sea or cross winds does not matter I can adjust for best safe ride in all condition.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I have Smart Tabs and like them, they have done everything advertised.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Boatist and I continue to be on exactly the same wavelength in this extended discussion . . .

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Thanks, but I was hoping that someone had a strong opinion. The goods new is that the Smart Tabs sounds like they will solve my issue and with them adjusting automatically it's one less thing to tend to while pulling skiers. One question for the people using switch operated trim tabs, How do you know the position of each tab when driving? by the feel of the boat?

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

MN86_4winns said:

Thanks, but I was hoping that someone had a strong opinion.

Click to expand...

Boatist and I feel strongly, stick around for a while . . .

MN86_4winns said:

One question for the people using switch operated trim tabs, How do you know the position of each tab when driving? by the feel of the boat?

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I use feel of the boat, but you can install indicators, just mo money and a more difficult install, but I wish I had them . . . The most obvious difference is the ability to adjust for people sitting on one side of the boat and then they move. If you have ever asked someone to move to make your boat more stable, then you will appreciate that feature. Yes, they take some more dexterity and concentration to use while pulling skiers. They can be a distraction. I mounted my trim switches on my first boat adjacent to the throttle. I could adjust the tabs without taking my hand off. My new setup I have to reach slightly forward and hit the switches on the "dash". But they are still very close to the throttle handle. Thought long and hard about that before I drilled those holes . . .

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

QC said:

Now I'm a diddler . . . 8)

Click to expand...

Only if the shoe fits, QC.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I never think about the position of the tabs. I adjust to the ride I want. On that day that the water in like glass and just crusing I take them all the way off and enjoy the ride. However if I round the corner and see a 30 foot boat pulling a wake boarder with 3 foot wake I just hit both switches for about 5 seconds until the bow comes down on the water in my best wave cutting position. When I get to the wake turn to a good angle and cross then take them right back off.

On the day when you come out to the main body of a large lake with wind blowing 30 mph from starboard my boat will lean into the wind. At that poiint the chop comes off the side of the boat and the spray goes up into the air then the wind blows it all over the back of the boat and everything get wet. All I do is adjust boat back to level and now the spray comes off the bottom of the boat. The spray now instead of going up into the air now shoots out to the side. The wind still tries to blow it back to the boat but by the time it does the boat has moved foward and the back of the boat stays dry.

I also have fun with it when we start out and have a new Lady on board I will adjust her side low. After we get on plane and out in the open I ask her if she would mind changing side with the fat guy on the other side. As they change sides I adjust her side low again. Best if the lady is wearing a Bikini so you know she has no gun or club or pepper spray. Also hope she laughts when you tell her.

If you go in big swells like in the ocean and have a following sea You should have no tabs down at all as it is unsafe. Swells run at different speeds but usually about 20 miles per hour. With big swell the safest way in is to ride the back of the swell but near the top so you can see over. This allows you to see boats ahead and confirm your target heading. You never go over a big swell and in this position you want no trim tabs down at all.

With the tabs down I can stay on plane down to 9 mph which is a big help running into big swell where you must run slow enough to to allow the boat to ride up and over the swells. More speed and you slam into the sea and the bow goes way up but then it comes down in the troff just in time to hit the next big swell, Not Fun or Safe.

Takes about 10 minutes the first day to learn how to adjust but after that it is so easy. You can adjust for best ride in any condition.

Still for river boating and small lakes and all you need is to get on plane faster at a lower speed Smart Tabs work good and are well supported. You can adjust your ride some with the throttle and your motor trim but will not be able to adjust for lean into the wind or unbalanced load.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

"Still for river boating and small lakes and all you need is to get on plane faster at a lower speed Smart Tabs work good and are well supported. You can adjust your ride some with the throttle and your motor trim but will not be able to adjust for lean into the wind or unbalanced load."


He said it right for small lakes and rivers!!! Also, my Smarttabs reduced low speed bow wander which makes trailering/docking and picking up skiers safer and easier.

For my money Smarttabs are IT! "Must have" for the casual weekend boater with bow rise problems.

I own Bayliner 1750 Capri Mercruiser 135HP 14x19 pitch 3 blade prop.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I had Bennets on my 17' 4Winns with a 350 mercruiser. With the added weight of the engine and samll size of the boat they were great! I really miss them on my 22 footer but the Bravo III helps a bit with planning speeds and control. The tabs would help a lot with big waves and wind though. Its true, you can leave the enginw trimmed and use the tabs to raise or lower the bow to "Cut" right through a big swell. Primo Product. I've never used smart tabs but I might try them, those Bennets are pricy!

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I have now had experience with both.

My 21' Pro-Line with 175 Johnson was terrifically stern heavy and I put Smart Tabs on it last year. They made a huge difference in reducing bow rise when accelerating, and being able to stay on plane at much lower speeds. The tabs in combination with a high-stern-ift prop (Solas Titan HR 4-blade stainless) transformed the boat. I never seemed to have much problem with port-starboard trim, so they were an excellent addition to the boat

My new Chris Craft has Bennetts. I;ve discovered that this boat is more sensitive to passenger placement than the Pro-Line seemed to be, possibly because it has a deeper "V" to the hull than the P-L, but it has the same beam and more length. Just guesses on my part, but I'm learning to use the Bennetts and they do a great job of correcting port-starboard trim.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Amen to Boatist last post.

I have Bennett, love em!

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

Bennett's were the only choice for me... I run a small boat out in the Gulf and didn't want to worry about auto tabs doing something to the boat I didn't want it to do. Not only that, but I like the ability to run more tab at higher speeds if the conditions call for it, or less tab at lower speeds. If you shop around you'd be surprised how cheap you can find them too. I got a set of indicator switch M120's for less than $500.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

I love my Bennett sport tabs. Mine are the dual actuator models, and really make a difference.

When I make a holeshot, I put them all the way down, straight arm it and it is on plane in 4 seconds on my 1978 Wellcraft Nova 21'. Yesterday there was some good chop in the open bay and I ran with the bow a bit lower than usual and it cleaved the waves like so much butter.

I love the the fact you can fine tune your ride on the fly. Not sure why you would need any indication of where the tabs are, as you adjust them to how you want the boat to ride, when it's perfect, who cares where they are?

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

ovrrdrive said:

If you shop around you'd be surprised how cheap you can find them too. I got a set of indicator switch M120's for less than $500.

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Two years ago I paid $399 for a set of 12" x 12" Bennetts off E-Bay. Had a cracked control switch. Called Bennett to inquire about a replacement and they sent me a new Euro switch for free.

FWIW: I would never own a boat that didn't have a set of helm adjustable tabs. A good high performance prop will do wonders as well.

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

anything I could say has been sayed.but I will put in a vote for Bennets any day

Re: Trim Tabs (Smart Tabs .vs. Instatrim or Bennett)

BayBoy1750 said:

"Still for river boating and small lakes and all you need is to get on plane faster at a lower speed Smart Tabs work good and are well supported. You can adjust your ride some with the throttle and your motor trim but will not be able to adjust for lean into the wind or unbalanced load."


He said it right for small lakes and rivers!!! Also, my Smarttabs reduced low speed bow wander which makes trailering/docking and picking up skiers safer and easier.

For my money Smarttabs are IT! "Must have" for the casual weekend boater with bow rise problems.

I own Bayliner 1750 Capri Mercruiser 135HP 14x19 pitch 3 blade prop.

Click to expand...

Anyone care to chime in on how the Smart Tabs work on lakes with 1 to 2 foot chop?

I remember many trips where the wind kicked up in the afternoon when we were 30 miles from the ramp, pounding along at the low end of our planing speed. I have fixed tabs (step-n-trim) on the boat, so no adjustments there. Also, it's an older boat with no motor trim ('74 OMC stringer) so I don't even have that option. Will Smart Tabs keep the bow down enough to cut that kind of chop? The boat is a 19 foot Gulfstream runabout with a 302 v8, so the back end is heavier than modern boats.