225WE Trim Tab Sizing

[lawndoctor]

My 225WE came with 11x11 tabs, while the sizing chart on the Bennett web site recommends 24x9 for this size boat and there is plenty of room on the transom for them. Does anyone know why Sea Ray used such small tabs? Has anyone put larger tabs on this boat, either as an upgrade or as an initial installation?

 

[Tabman]

Actually there are not as undersized as some other models. If you look at our sizing guidelines we also recommend 12" x 12", and the 10" x 12" M120s (they have downward facing fins that catch water that escapes out the sides and channels it aft to make more lift). Are the 11 x 11 Tabs on your boat "square" or are the parallelograms? Check one of the corners to see if that is the case. We make custom parallelogram Trim Tabs to fit the transoms of some SeaRays that are sightly angled.

If they are parallelograms you will have to make a shim to square out any larger stock Trim Tabs you install.

Generally Trim Tabs on the upper end of our recommendations will have a larger range of performance and will cause less drag since they will need to be deflected less than smaller ones to make the same amount of lift.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[lawndoctor]

Thanks for your quick response Tom. Even 12x12 seems drastically undersized compared to 24x9, at least based purely on the surface area. I hadn't thought of the parallelogram issue, that may be the case, I'll check it out next time I'm at the boat. One other thing, I saw another post where a 225WE owner said the transom actually had a recess in the fiberglass in the bottom of the transom to accept the hinge for the tab.

 

[Tabman]

If you can post a photo of the Trim Tabs that would be great!

Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[lawndoctor]

Thanks Tom.

The tabs are 11" square, and they are turned up on the port and starboard edges but not the aft edge. The top hinge plate is exactly 10" long, and it is attached to the transom with 4 screws. There is no recess in the transom for the top hinge plate. The port and starboard edges of the tabs are square to the aft edge. I could not tell if the forward edge is square to the port and starboard edges. The Sea Ray part number is 1292051, which I understand is also the Bennett part number. The Sea Ray parts catalog lists the part as "TRIM TAB, ASSY 10X12 PARA W/HDWR/FLUID/P/CAT." I spoke briefly this afternoon with David at Bennett tech support, and he said they are probably a parallelogram but as to the forward edge only, and that may be because the transom has a mild curve to it. He seemed to think the 10x12 size is probably OK for the boat.

The main thing I want to do is install the EIC5000, so as part of that job I will check to make sure the actuators are functioning properly, but otherwise I will plan to leave the tabs as is.

I am having trouble uploading my photos, but will try to do that.

Appreciate your help.

 

[lawndoctor]

Here is a photo.

 

[Buckeye Boater]

Based on the picture, they look to be the same size as mine (10 3/4" W x 11 1/2" L). They are very responsive and perform very well in leveling the boat.

 

[Tabman]

Those are parallelograms. I notice that the actuator has less than 1" of shaft exposed when fully retracted. That means that you will need to swap out the standard sensors that come in the EIC kit with different ones to work on those actuators. If you contact the office again they can arrange for a no cost swap if you tell them about the less than 1" exposed shaft. Also them them that the cylinder body has 4 raised rings. They will know what to do.

Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[lawndoctor]

Excellent. Thanks very much Tom. (And thanks for your input too BB.)