Boat Leveler Trim Tab - Bad Hinge - Any Leads?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:48 pm

Finally got out last Friday for a 6 hour cruise - ran fine!

Got my bottom cleaned today (lots of barnacles this time of year - must clean every 3-4 weeks) and going tomorrow ...

Need to replace my starboard trim tab. My diver says the hinges are about gone. Larry and I plan out together this fall at the Navy yard and do both boats, so I need to have the new tabs by then. Any leads on 24x8 Boat Leveler Trim Tabs (just the tabs - all else is good)?

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:25 pm

Insta-Trim quotes $1.10 per square inch for new SS tabs with hinge... so for about $211 you can get official replacement parts. They quote a full set (I am guessing switch, wiring, pump, plumbing, cylinders, and a pair of tabs) for $640... Why not just buy the full set and put the rest aside as spares?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 11:30 pm

a) Want the holes to line up like original if possible
b) I'm cheap.
c) I don;t have time to replace working stuff. Rather spend it fixing broken stuff (plenty of that around)
d) Make old stuff Spares? 39 year old spares? hummmmmmmmmm If it lasted 39 years, and I replace it now, I'd assume the new would last as long, and I don't plan on replacing these when I turn 90.

But I do need at least 1 replacement tab - wasn't there a Bennet guy on here with some sheet metal tabs without the whole package?

I have an old set of Kiekhaefer race tabs ... might use them .. don't see a lot of racing in my future

Boating season is finally here, and I'm sitting on the hill with a tab ready to break off ... ouch.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:24 am

If you want the holes to line up get a set from insta trim .
http://insta-trim.com/

you can use Bennett taps but will have to re-drill the holes on the boat or drill the tabs and maybe the mount holes for bottom of the cylinders

koviak · Post by **koviak** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 7:21 am

Rossjo, I have a set off my boat (replaced with Bennett). Let me know if you still need a replacement. Dennis

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 9:07 am

Dennis - I'm very interested.

The Instra-Trim site has no picture of tabs for sale, just a line item of $1.10/Sq-Inc for tabs, but not sure they will have the same hole pattern or size.

Mine are 24" wide x 8" long, with 9 screws holes:

> 4 along the top @ | 7-5/8" | 8" | 7-5/8" |
> 5 along bottom @ | 3-1/2"| 8"| 8"| 3-1/2"|
the top and bottom row are 1-1/2" apart.

PM me if you want to sell the tabs or whatever.

Thanks!

bkwesq · Post by **bkwesq** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:04 pm

rossjo wrote:a) Want the holes to line up like original if possible
b) I'm cheap.
c) I don;t have time to replace working stuff. Rather spend it fixing broken stuff (plenty of that around)
d) Make old stuff Spares? 39 year old spares? hummmmmmmmmm If it lasted 39 years, and I replace it now, I'd assume the new would last as long, and I don't plan on replacing these when I turn 90.

But I do need at least 1 replacement tab - wasn't there a Bennet guy on here with some sheet metal tabs without the whole package?

I have an old set of Kiekhaefer race tabs ... might use them .. don't see a lot of racing in my future

Boating season is finally here, and I'm sitting on the hill with a tab ready to break off ... ouch.

I love your letter b) !!

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:35 pm

Unfortunately c) is too prevalent

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:16 pm

rossjo wrote:Unfortunately c) is too prevalent

Think thats about all of us!!

bkwesq · Post by **bkwesq** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:20 pm

rossjo wrote:Unfortunately c) is too prevalent

I am redoing my tabs after I found out how much they cost. It appears that my flat plate just slides in to the hinge and then the hinge gets screwed to the boat. The wood backers were rotted and fell off, i am going to replace with 1 x 4 and fiberglass them before i attach them to the boat.

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:45 pm

rossjo wrote:c) I don;t have time to replace working stuff. Rather spend it fixing broken stuff (plenty of that around)
d) Make old stuff Spares? 39 year old spares? hummmmmmmmmm If it lasted 39 years, and I replace it now, I'd assume the new would last as long, and I don't plan on replacing these when I turn 90.

Maybe you misunderstood - I meant buy the full set, replacing the one tab that needs it, and putting the rest of the new parts (cylinders/pump/etc) aside as spares for when other parts in the system fail.

In any event, hope you find a match.

trojanmanXS · Post by **trojanmanXS** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 6:07 am

would tabs of a 79 f26 work? I had the owner give me a new set of bennet tabs and planned on installing these and wouldnt need the old set.
if they are the same as your boat let me know and I'll have my marina buddy assure me the new ones are in working order and have all the parts."came out of the box" and I'll take my old ones of.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:46 am

Ross,Tabman, who is a member here too has an offer he posted on BE. If you have what he wants, you could be set. Hopefully the link works for you.

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=149845

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:47 am

captainmaniac wrote:
rossjo wrote:c) I don;t have time to replace working stuff. Rather spend it fixing broken stuff (plenty of that around)
d) Make old stuff Spares? 39 year old spares? hummmmmmmmmm If it lasted 39 years, and I replace it now, I'd assume the new would last as long, and I don't plan on replacing these when I turn 90.
Maybe you misunderstood - I meant buy the full set, replacing the one tab that needs it, and putting the rest of the new parts (cylinders/pump/etc) aside as spares for when other parts in the system fail.

In any event, hope you find a match.

No problem - I just don't need to spend a lot of money on more spares sitting around (you should see my garage now - with music from "Divorce Court" playing in the background). As someone else noted here, my hinges is shot, so I just need the tab with hinge. If I had more time/money I might get a full set and upgrade or something, but not now ... (If I had more money I'd snap up a nice, newer 10Meter!).

If Koviak has his old ones, they're probably the same screw pattern ...

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:52 am

Stripermann2 wrote:Ross,Tabman, who is a member here too has an offer he posted on BE. If you have what he wants, you could be set. Hopefully the link works for you.

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=149845

Darn - my tabs are Boat Levelers, not Bennets, and the hinge is shot while the cylinders looks good (the pump/housing is ancient looking - might be a good antique shop addition).

Jame - BTW, Jamie, what does "January 20, 2013 - The end of an error." mean?

Someone who has Bennets that look this bad should take advantage of this free upgrade:

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=149845

Tabman on BoaterEd Site wrote: I Want Your Dirty, Barnacle Encrusted Trim Tabs
Posted - Sep 17 2011 : 06:51:15
I am looking for dirty, barnacle covered Bennett Trim Tabs and Actuators. If you have a set of Trim Tabs and Actuators that is covered in growth we will send you new ones, plus either a Auto Tab Control or an Electronic Indicator Control (about a $380 retail value). Preferably the Trim Tabs should be 12" x 12" or smaller, but if you have some really gross Actuators on a larger set let me know. Bennett will pay all of the shipping charges.

We use a fouled Actuator and Trim Tab in an underwater display and the barnacles and growth have fallen off over the years and we would like to replace them.

So if you have ugly Trim Tabs or know of a boat with some you could get an Auto Tab Control or Electronic Indicator Control, plus new Trim Tabs and actuators just by sending them to us.

Send me an e-mail at Tabmanhelprb2rb2@gr5tgr5tgmail.com

Thanks!
Tom McGow
Bennett Marine