Boomyal
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2003
- Messages
- 12,072
Just received my new trim tabs. I'll start out with my one complaint. May be a minor one but it bothers my sense of balance.<br /><br />THE BRACKETS THAT MOUNT ON THE TRIM TABS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN A LEFT AND RIGHT VERSION. Even though the tabs are a good value for what I hope they will do, it wouldn't have cost but pennies, in the long run to make a left and right bracket. The transom bracket is already a universal unit but you cannot use it that way because you have to keep it in line with the lower tab bracket. Also, as the cylinder ends screw in so you cannot rotate one ball joint end 180 degrees without loosening it.<br /><br />Lacking a left and right lower bracket, you have to mount both cylinders on the left side of the brackets and at minimum it does not look good. There probably is no other signifigant effect.<br /><br />Other than that, the Smart Tabs are nicely made and installed easily. I can hardly wait to try them.<br /><br />One hint for those about to install. If you would like to keep from lifting your gelcoat and outer surface of glass, use a counter sink bit to slighly widen the opening of your mounting holes. Now when the screw is threaded into the hole, it is not biting the outer surface. It you want to remove the tabs later, for any reason, you will have a much flatter surface to fill the holes.<br /><br />Prior to installing the Smart Tabs, I removed the brackets for the old stationary tabs that I had tried unsucessfully, years ago. All of the holes were pooched out, like little volcanos, and it made it impossible to patch the holes neatly.
