Trim Tab info and selection.

 The time has come to put trim tabs on the old 5.8m westy and I am caught between the classic bennet/Lenco style tab vs the slim line smaller Volvo BTS 300 interceptor.

What I'm really interested in is the performance at lower speeds. From what ive read the Volvo penta tabs don't work that well at lower speeds and provide no where near as much lift compared to the other tab style. I want to be able to drive the nose down and have good trim control from speeds as low as 15 knots. I domt drive around flat stick.and do most of my cruising around at 17-20 knots as the is still good enough for me to read good bottom on the sounder. The transom and ladder are setup in a way that will make the installation of a larger 9 or 12 inch tab a bit more of a stuff around. I will have to extend the step and make the ladder come out further. But saying that I am happy to do so in order to get a better performing tab if I need too. As it stands the easiest install for my transom set up would  be the volvos. 

Has anyone got any experience with the Volvo interceptor tabs and how they perform at slower speeds (obviously still on the plane) compared to the traditional tabs and any other info would be greatly appreciated. 

Cheers. 

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Posts: 4561

Date Joined: 01/02/10

 I had the volvo Penta ql

Thu, 2020-05-21 15:42

 I had the volvo Penta ql tabs on my last rig which was a 7m Hampton platey. I never had any issues and they performed well at every speed. 
Unfortunately I seemed to be the only person ever to not have issues with them. Lots of stories of stripped internal gearing and tabs stuck down are enough to make me not go for them again. 

I also had well over 1000 hours on an etec so maybe it's just me having a good run for a change. 

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Mitch Westy's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 16/07/19

You are right there.

Thu, 2020-05-21 16:20

 Definetly a few stories about plastic gear problems. Makes me wonder if poor installation is a factor or just not being used enough and jamming up. They gotta be perfectly flat both ways and screws can't be over tightened. But that's exactly what I was thinking too. Cheers for the feed back mate 

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hilko's picture

Posts: 58

Date Joined: 27/03/18

I've never had any problems.

Thu, 2020-05-21 17:28

My 7.2m Razerline came with Volvo Penta QL Tabs. Works a treat. Never had a problem.

The best part is that they sit close to boat, so braid line - is further away when big fish come in and are around engine / back of boat... and so less likely to snag.

Ditto also with sea anchor rope etc.

Mitch Westy's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 16/07/19

Good to hear

Thu, 2020-05-21 17:45

 That's what I like about them. Nice and slim line so when they aren't in use you don't even know they are there. 

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Posts: 80

Date Joined: 30/03/16

Zipwakes

Thu, 2020-05-21 20:50

 Mitch have a look at the Zipwakes. Have them on my 675 HH Offshore and they are brilliant. Had no issues at all. Sit very close to the transom so no issues with protuding out. can put them on auto so need to be trimming. Brando

 

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 Brando

Mitch Westy's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 16/07/19

$$

Fri, 2020-05-22 07:47

 Would love to get the zipwake tabs mate but they are a bit out of the price range for me right now. More then double the price of the volvos. They will go on the dream boat one day. Cheers 

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Perfish's picture

Posts: 103

Date Joined: 15/11/11

Interceptor trim and tm mounted transducers

Fri, 2020-05-22 11:26

Am looking at adding trim tabs to the tub too and have landed on 'interceptor' as my preferred type.   any feedback and/or views on using these with a transon mounted transducer?

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Man with line in water catches fish!

You only get what you always got if you only do what you've always done!

Mitch Westy's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 16/07/19

Where's your transducer.

Fri, 2020-05-22 12:20

Where's the transducer positioned on the transom. How much of a gap could you leave between transducer and tab 

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scubafish's picture

Posts: 947

Date Joined: 15/08/12

Just my view

Fri, 2020-05-22 20:43

Isn't the volvo and zipwake just working on a counteracting force that creates more drag and deflects the water witch in turn creates lift .
The old bennett hydraulic/new elec style would create less drag and more lift ,would it not ?

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Mitch Westy's picture

Posts: 29

Date Joined: 16/07/19

 I think the interceptor type

Sat, 2020-05-23 06:48

 I think the interceptor type make slightly less lift but have less drag since theres only a small blade in the water (full stroke is 30mm). Compared to a 12 inch flap on either side. The bennet style can generate more lift because your pushing a much bigger surface area into the water. It all depends on the speed your travelling too. With my motor trimmed almost all the way down i am only after a but more lift in the rear to drive the nose down a bit more. I don't  think you would be driving the bennet style all the way down because you would bury the nose of your boat. 

There's pro's and con's for both styles, i guess. 

I got in touch with a boat builder and was told the zipwakes are the ducks nuts. Unreal auto control constaly adjusting to stabilise pitch and role. 

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Posts: 4561

Date Joined: 01/02/10

 There was a good thread on

Sat, 2020-05-23 08:45

 There was a good thread on this on tht. Interceptor style was thought to create more drag until someone with a fluid engineering background got involved and produced all the technical data. 

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Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?