Trim tab drop fin question

[see ray]

for those that have the drop fins on larger boats have you noticed any adverse reaction to side to side left/rt moment of the boat when your docking since the fin,s extend 3 inch from the tab and would be pushing against the water as the stearn swivels to left or right

 

[Siboatguy]

I had them on my 320... Noticed a difference in sensitive for bow hight... Never thought about checking on turns dipping into the turn... Sold that boat... debating on putting them on my 340

 

[PlayDate]

I have had them on my 370 for 5 years. I installed them at the same time I extended each tab 3”. The drop fins were recommended by Bennett and frankly are an inexpensive add on.

They definitely helped with tracking at slower speeds and improved handling on plane. To your question, I haven’t noticed any difference docking but I usually don’t have the tabs down when docking.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I've never run the same boat with/without them, but have run a number of boats with them over the years. I've never noticed anything abnormal that would make me question them. If you think about (but don't overthink it!), the amount of surface area that the side of that fin represents is EXTREMELY small compared to the boat. I highly doubt you could even measure a difference in a laboratory. So.. short answer... no problems.

 

[MiLoII]

I have them on my 320. No issues

 

[see ray]

Thanks , I’m putting them on my 06-40DA , I do have bow/stearn thrusters , I hope the drop fins help with bow rise at speed , the boat comes on plane like a champ no tabs .

 

[Steve S]

Thanks , I’m putting them on my 06-40DA , I do have bow/stearn thrusters , I hope the drop fins help with bow rise at speed , the boat comes on plane like a champ no tabs .

I do have a set of Bennett 30 x 12 drop fin tabs in my garage if you are interested.

 

[Juliery]

I've never run the same boat with/without them, but have run a number of boats with them over the years. I've never noticed anything abnormal that would make me question them. If you think about (but don't overthink it!), the amount of surface area that the side of that fin represents is EXTREMELY small compared to the boat. I highly doubt you could even measure a difference in a laboratory. So.. short answer... no problems.

Correct, as usual. I have extended tabs and drop fins on my 290DA. There is little influence from fins at docking speeds. The influence is related to speed-squared so the effect becomes significant at planing speeds.

 

[Three Seasons]

for those that have the drop fins on larger boats have you noticed any adverse reaction to side to side left/rt moment of the boat when your docking since the fin,s extend 3 inch from the tab and would be pushing against the water as the stearn swivels to left or right

I have 12 X 24 tabs, where do you purchase the drop fin add on’s? I looked at Bennetts web site and did not see them.
Thanks

 

[Avenger]

I have 12 X 24 tabs, where do you purchase the drop fin add on’s? I looked at Bennetts web site and did not see them.
Thanks

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=6508000

 

[juggernaut1]

No before/after difference when docking on my 38.

 

[Blueone]

for those that have the drop fins on larger boats have you noticed any adverse reaction to side to side left/rt moment of the boat when your docking since the fin,s extend 3 inch from the tab and would be pushing against the water as the stearn swivels to left or right

I think your rudders would be more of a problem then anything.

 

[see ray]

didn’t think of that thanks for the Advice have you put your boat away yet.

 

[see ray]

I do have a set of Bennett 30 x 12 drop fin tabs in my garage if you are interested.

thanks Steve I appreciate the offer but I already had my Trim Tabs off once and I put them back in and they’re all nice and settled now I’m not gonna replace them again but I appreciate the offer. The factory ones are 28 I don’t know if the 30 inch tabs would fit

 

[see ray]

I have 12 X 24 tabs, where do you purchase the drop fin add on’s? I looked at Bennetts web site and did not see them.
Thanks

BENNET cannot sell you them direct.
You can buy them here it’s a great price
.https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=6508000

 

[see ray]

No before/after difference when docking on my 38.

Did you have a problem with the docking how were they once you were running I believe my boat runs great now. Just wanted to have a little bit of improvement and the running attitude, the boat pops on plane in a heartbeat with no tabs , I just use them to bring the bow down a little bit so I could see over the windshield

 

[Three Seasons]

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=6508000

That looks easy… and inexpensive too.
Thank you

 

[juggernaut1]

Did you have a problem with the docking how were they once you were running I believe my boat runs great now. Just wanted to have a little bit of improvement and the running attitude, the boat pops on plane in a heartbeat with no tabs , I just use them to bring the bow down a little bit so I could see over the windshield

Never been a problem docking before or after.

Big difference in attitude especially at lower speeds i.e down to 12 knots when it previously it used to plow at those sorts of speeds

However, I did also extend the chord of the tabs by 3.5 inches when incorporating the 3 inch drop fins in the tab design. So the extended tabs may have played a significant part in the before after performance, but would have had no impact at docking speeds.

 

[Blueone]

didn’t think of that thanks for the Advice have you put your boat away yet.

Last Friday in that wind rain storm