Eic?

[Gary Lewis]

I just bought a 2002 SeaRay 230 with what I'm pretty sure are factory-installed Bennett tabs. (I say that because the switches are the same as in the factory brochure and are in the same location at the helm.) But, there is no indication of the tab positions, so I'm considering replacing the switches with the Bennett Electronic Indicator Control, using the EIC 50002 kit. Will that work? Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ten Years Gone]

edit

 

[Gary Lewis]

Good question. And, I'll show my ignorance here, but I've never had tabs before so…

Years ago I had a 18' Webbcraft cuddy that was awful to get on plane. I really should have put tabs on it, but money was tight, so I suffered with it. Lately I've been in the market for a boat large enough to hold my whole family, inc kids and grandkids, which totals 9. And, since the grandkids are 3 and under I want to be able to pull them at slow speed w/o being bow-high. So, I wanted a boat with tabs.

But, I have assumed that I'll need to have the tabs set to one position for coming out of the hole and another for streaking across the lake. And, that too much tab might get it on plane quickly but that it would hurt handling and even moderate speeds. So, I thought it would be good to know where the tabs are before hitting the throttle. No?

 

[Tabman]

I somewhat agree with Ten Years Gone, on most smaller boats it's pretty easy to know where the Tabs are by what the boat is doing. You may want to try running the boat for a while before springing for the EIC.

You have a good point regarding deflecting the Tabs for coming out of the hole, and indicators are really helpful for that. But you can also do it by timing, my old boat did not have indicators, but after some experimentation I found that holding both "bow down" buttons for a "three count" gave me the right setting for take off with little bow rise. Then when coming up to plane I tapped the bottom buttons for a "two count" and was set. It's all a matter of getting used to the Tabs and the way the boat reacts.

Now, I do work for Bennett and should be trying to encourage you to buy more products So the EIC is nice to have and having indication is helpful. Also the EIC incorporates an Auto Tab Retractor that fully raises the Trim Tabs when the boat's ignition is switched off. Great to have if you dry store the boat.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you have any questions.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[Gary Lewis]

TYG - Just noticed your info - how ancient? With a 7.3 you are probably "new" compared to me. I have two '81 F150's. And Dad's truck, under resto-mod, has/will have a TFS-headed full-roller 400 backed by a ZF5. Small world.

 

[Gary Lewis]

I somewhat agree with Ten Years Gone, on most smaller boats it's pretty easy to know where the Tabs are by what the boat is doing. You may want to try running the boat for a while before springing for the EIC.

You have a good point regarding deflecting the Tabs for coming out of the hole, and indicators are really helpful for that. But you can also do it by timing, my old boat did not have indicators, but after some experimentation I found that holding both "bow down" buttons for a "three count" gave me the right setting for take off with little bow rise. Then when coming up to plane I tapped the bottom buttons for a "two count" and was set. It's all a matter of getting used to the Tabs and the way the boat reacts.

Now, I do work for Bennett and should be trying to encourage you to buy more products So the EIC is nice to have and having indication is helpful. Also the EIC incorporates an Auto Tab Retractor that fully raises the Trim Tabs when the boat's ignition is switched off. Great to have if you dry store the boat.

I hope this is helpful, let me know if you have any questions.

Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

Tom - Thanks. Ships/night.

I agree that I need to at least try the tabs w/o the EIC before adding it. And, I now understand that it'll be pretty obvious where the tabs are based on what the boat does. But, knowing that others, who don't have even my limited boating experience, will operate the boat I'm struggling with how they'll know where to put them.

So, please humor me for a bit. Will the EIC work properly with my tabs? Will it fit in the footprint of the existing switches? Is there a better approach?

 

[Tabman]

Since you are new to Trim Tabs take a look at this tutorial on how to use them to get the best results http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/39630-Trim-Tabs-101-How-To-Get-The-Best-Results

I think that it is best if you go over the use of Trim Tabs with your non-boating operators before the use the boat, and / or tell then not to use them until they gain some experience simply running the boat. Maybe print the guide out for them as reference?

If you later decide you want indicators the EIC will work and is probably the best way to do it in your boat. The EIC indicator is 2-1/8" x 2-1/8" and fits the foot print of Bennett switches, SeaRay has used some non Bennett switches for the Trim Tabs so you will need to check. Here is a link to the installation instructions for the EIC http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/pdf/instIcon/EIC5000_installation_instructions.pdf

Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[Gary Lewis]

Tom - Thanks. I had read the tutorial on use of tabs, but reread it more carefully this time. And, this phrase popped out at me: "Trim tab angle indicators and a power trim angle indicator are particularly useful in duplicating effective settings." That fits perfectly with my concerns - how do I know when sitting dead in the water where the tabs are without running them all the way to one extreme or the other? And, since I have granddaughter who hasn't met a button she doesn't like, there's little chance they'll stay where they were left.

As as for the switches, thanks for the info. Here's what I have, albeit a horrible pic as it was cropped from a larger one to post.

 

[Tabman]

That is a Bennett switch, so the EIC will cover it up.

You sort of answered your own question about knowing where the Tabs are when sitting dead in the water. All you need to do is hold the bottom buttons for a 12 count and you will be assured that the Trim Tabs are all the way up. It does not hurt them to run them all the way up or down to be sure where they are.

But, as I mentioned the indicators are great to have and are useful as noted in the tutorial. Depending on the passenger loading you really won't always be duplicating settings on a smaller boat since it will be more affected by weight positioning than a larger boat.

Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[Gary Lewis]

Good info. Thanks. Bennett switch so the EIC fits. But try before you buy. Got it.

 

[Gary Lewis]

OK, time for an update. We've put 10 hours on the boat and I've used the trim tabs quite a bit to help get out of the hole quickly and to level it going down the lake. But today was the first time we had quite a few people in the boat (7) and pulled skiers, tubers, etc. And, I have to say the tabs really work. The boat will come up on plane with the bow obscuring the far shore maybe 2 seconds if the tabs and trim are all of the way down, and that's excellent in my book.

However, I have two issues with them:

1. Knowing where they are. This is still an issue with me, even after I've used them quite a bit. But, the problem may be #2 (pun intended).
2. Key Off: I really hate that they always retract when the key is turned off as I frequently turn the engine off when I pick up a skier, drop off the skier, etc. That means I have to hold the switches down until I think the tabs are fully down before pulling the skier up. That creates a lot more uncertainty in where the tabs are unless I do hold them for a 12-count, which apparently puts them fully down. And, it adds a lot of wear and tear to the tabs as they are being moved bunch more than needed.

What would be the harm in moving the switched power to battery power so that the tabs don't automatically retract each time I turn the key off? Or, maybe I should ask why they are wired that way?

If the issue is battery draw then I should explain how I operate. I have two battery switches, one being an added-on two-battery switch that chooses Off/1/2/1&2, and the other being the factory switch in the gunnel that kills all power. I turn the two-battery switch to Off when we leave the boat in the marina each day, so there wouldn't be any draw from the tabs during the night.

Or, should I just move to the EIC and get indicators? Unless it will still retract the tabs when the key is turned off?

EDIT: Just found this: "Assures trim tabs are all the way up every time boat is started if boat is not equipped with trim tab indicators." Apparently there is an Auto Retract module that is retracting the tabs. So, I can disable that? Or, if I install EIC will I not have the Auto Retract? My trailer nor lift can possibly hit the tabs.


Thanks,
Gary

 

[Tabman]

Gary,

It is very simple to "disarm" the Auto Tab Retractor.

Look under the dash for a small nylon "box" that looks like this:


That is the standalone AT512 Auto Tab Retractor.

The small 22 gauge orange wire is the "trigger" wire that tells the Tabs to retract when the ignition is turned off. Simply remove the 1.5 amp inline fuse from this wire and the Tabs will not auto retract any more, and will stay where they are until you bring them up manually.

The EIC does have a built in Auto Tab Retractor, but all you have to do is not wire it (it's the purple wire at the keypad) and it will not work.

I hope this helps,
Tom
Bennett Marine

 

[Gary Lewis]

Perfect! Thanks. I'll make that change next time I'm out, and will probably add the EIC this winter.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Update: I pulled the fuse on the ATR today and the tabs stayed down when I turned the key off. :thumbsup: Thanks a bunch.

So, when I put the boat on the lift I was able to see where the tabs were when I had the boat trimmed out where I wanted it while running 30 MPH. Turns out the port tab was straight back, meaning basically at zero degrees from the hull. But the starboard tab was deflected down slightly, which was what I expected since the boat doesn't sit level in the water and I'd trimmed it out level going down the lake.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Tom/Tabman - I'm ready to order the EIC, but I have a few questions first:

1. Model: According to the instructions on the Bennett site, special sensor coils are required if there is less than 1" of piston showing when fully retracted. I'm not 100% sure where to measure, so have included a picture, below, of my cylinder to ensure I get the right one. (Well, I can't post pictures. I've gotten my file down to 79 kb and I'm told it still exceeds my quota by 39 kb. Which is strange since it said it exceeded my quota by 50 kb when the picture was 1.0 Mb.)
2. O-rings: Both of my pistons are leaking, and it appears to be from the bottom rather than the top. So, how do I get the right o-rings in order to replace them while I'm in there?

Thanks in advance,
Gary

 

[Tabman]

Hi Gary,

Would it be easier to send it to me at Tabmanhelp@gmail.com also send me your name and address and we will send you new O-rings and instructions how to change them, no charge.

I am on the road this weekend, so my replies may take longer than normal.

Tom
Bennett Marine