i just bought a 1988 268 the trouble i have is the boat (on plane )tilts to one side i hit the trim tabs to level it out boat runs fine for about 1-2 minits then tilts to other side when i say tilt it will throw drive out of seat dealer said all big boats do that to get use to the trim tabs thats fine but hitting the tabs 20-25 times in a 2 mile stretch is no fun i need help what is wrong thanks Bill any advice call 630-742-4071
tilting(listing) trouble 268 undance
- Thread starter superpro
- Start date
Freebyrdjason
New Member
- Oct 28, 2006
- 26
- Boat Info
- I currently own a Chaparral
- Engines
- 350 Mercruiser Bravo III outdrive
I'm no expert but it could be a number of things. I'm not sure, but have you checked your hydraulic fluid? Make sure you go over everything first, then maybe you ought to think about replacing the trim tabs. Just my .02...
osd9
New Member
superpro....you may be hitting the tabs for too long....you only need to tickle the switch and give the boat time to settle in....you don't hold the tab switch down until the boat changes attitude...
later,
later,
I understand your concern Bill. I have only owned my 260 Cruiser for just a short while and I can tell you that getting used to the trim tabs has been a bigger deal than I thought it would be. My 260DA acts just like your boat................if you just press the tab button down, the next thing you know is your boat feels like it's out of control just as you describe. :smt013
What you need to do is start "tapping" rather than pushing the tab buttons and then wait a second or two for the boat to "respond" before tapping the buttons again. Eventually you will get the feel for how to do this. If people switch seats when underway this too can throw the whole boat off balance again. Or like yesterday, we were running in 20 mph winds and as soon as the wind would shift directions, the same thing would happen and I would have to re-adjust the tabs. I can tell you yesterday it seemed like all I was doing was adjusting the trim tabs. :smt021
Be patient and use the tapping method and you will eventually get the hang of it.
What you need to do is start "tapping" rather than pushing the tab buttons and then wait a second or two for the boat to "respond" before tapping the buttons again. Eventually you will get the feel for how to do this. If people switch seats when underway this too can throw the whole boat off balance again. Or like yesterday, we were running in 20 mph winds and as soon as the wind would shift directions, the same thing would happen and I would have to re-adjust the tabs. I can tell you yesterday it seemed like all I was doing was adjusting the trim tabs. :smt021
Be patient and use the tapping method and you will eventually get the hang of it.
jrcinnh
New Member
You might want to adjust the drive trim down a little bit. Deep-vee hulls tend to fall to one side of the vee and stay there. So the boat feels like it's tilted to one side. When you correct with the trim tabs it falls to the other side. It's very hard to ride right on the point of the vee.
Searays are heavy boats, built more for comfort than speed so this effect is less noticable, but it is there. Trimming the drive down a little puts more boat in the water, which may help. Of course if you put too much boat in the water, it will behave differently.
Small adjustments at safe speeds are the key.
Searays are heavy boats, built more for comfort than speed so this effect is less noticable, but it is there. Trimming the drive down a little puts more boat in the water, which may help. Of course if you put too much boat in the water, it will behave differently.
Small adjustments at safe speeds are the key.
JeffM
Active Member
I've noticed the same thing, and address it through frequent, small adjustments of the trim tabs.
If that bothers you as it does me, consider the Bennett Auto Tab Control system. It automatically adjusts the tabs to correct the boat's trim. I plan to add the system in the next year or so. It's not too expensive, and installation is straight-forward. A couple of the folks on the old board (not sure if they're here) have installed the system and as I recall were pleased with it.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Bennett and do not own the system yet. I've simply heard good things about it.
Jeff
If that bothers you as it does me, consider the Bennett Auto Tab Control system. It automatically adjusts the tabs to correct the boat's trim. I plan to add the system in the next year or so. It's not too expensive, and installation is straight-forward. A couple of the folks on the old board (not sure if they're here) have installed the system and as I recall were pleased with it.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Bennett and do not own the system yet. I've simply heard good things about it.
Jeff
thunderbird1
New Member
Based on what I read above, I may be adjusting my drive trim the wrong way. I've learned that by trimming the drive UP a few notches, the listing is more manageable (trimming the drive up pushes the bow higher). Hmmm.
Tilting the drive up or down while underway can have an affect on the attitude of the boat especially if the trim tabs are deployed. Remember that adjusting either the tabs or the drive also changes the amount of hull to water contact you have. I find that it's best to first set the outdrive trim for the best speed at a given RPM and then do the rest of your adjustments with the trim tabs without touching the outdrive trim.
My 240SD also had trim tabs and after 4 years of using it, I was surprised it was a lot more difficult to learn how to trim my 260DA. One of the keys to not having to play with it a lot once it's set properly is to keep your speed constant and to tell everyone in the boat not to move around when underway.
My 240SD also had trim tabs and after 4 years of using it, I was surprised it was a lot more difficult to learn how to trim my 260DA. One of the keys to not having to play with it a lot once it's set properly is to keep your speed constant and to tell everyone in the boat not to move around when underway.
dsteele1
New Member
- Apr 27, 2008
- 325
- Boat Info
- Previous: 260 Sundancer 2006
- Engines
- 350 MAG MPI Mercruiser w/Bravo III Drive
Hi Jeff!
I was just wondering if you ever got around to installing the Bennett Auto Trim?
Bennett Auto Trim AC3000 installation questions
I broke down and bought the Bennett Auto Trim AC3000 unit to put in my 2006 260 Sundancer. :grin:
The installation looks pretty straight forward but I'm having a little problem with knowing where to tie the relay unit into a hot 12VDC line and ground in the bilge Trim Pump area and the second problem of where to find an ignition key ON hot line 12VDC and ground in the helm area near the trim tab rocker switches for the mail Controller box.
I'm a ex-electronics tech so tech talk is cool.
Thanks!
__________________
Nothings wrong, you'll get used to it as I did on my little SRV190. It scared me at first as I too thought something was wrong till I remembered the old deep V trim deal. Now it is second nature to me and I have been out twice on my SRV190! I think Ill actually remove the wale tale the previous owner put on and see how it works without that thing. I think that deal makes the boat ride to low in the rear after getting on plane.
islandhopper00
Active Member
Holy cow, what people will "accept" and "live with"... I fell for it too.
