Trim tabs position question

A

Arnold

Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2003
RO Number
12330
Messages
544
I am always confused about the relation between trim tabs position and the controls which say bow up and bow down. If I need the tabs fully retracted for backing up, should I push the bow up switch?
Sorry for the stupid question.
 
Yes, bow up. That'll raise the tabs. (Bow down takes tabs down)
 
That's right. Tabs bring Bow Down by actually lifting Stern UP, so Bow down means Tabs Down.

Moreover, the Tabs are wired crossed from the Switches. To bring Port Bow Down, the Starboard Stern goes UP. So, the Port Side Switch is controlling the Starboard Tab.
 
And consider, with normal wiring the switches represent how the boat attitude should react, not the tabs.
The port side switch activates the stbd tab/ stbd switch to port tab.
 
I mounted my switch upside down so the switches do what the tabs do. So if I want the port tab down, I push the port switch down, or starboard tab up, push the starboard switch up. That is easier for me to understand.

Roy
 
quote:
Originally posted by Roy

I mounted my switch upside down so the switches do what the tabs do. So if I want the port tab down, I push the port switch down, or starboard tab up, push the starboard switch up. That is easier for me to understand.

Roy

Click to expand...


Oh-oh, coloring outside the lines! That will undoubtedly go on your Permanent Record!
 
Your way would confuse the heck out of me Roy. The way they are supposed to be wired requires the least thought: If you want stbd bow down, you have to lift the port aft. Pushing the stbd switch down accomplishes that even though it's actvating the port tab. What could be easier?
 
Roy, you confused me also when you said that you turned the switches up-side-down. On my switches there is a picture of a boat with arrows on the bow pointing up on the top of the switch and pointing down on the bottom of the switch. From what I now understand there is direct correlation between the arrows on the switch pointing up to the tab going up.
 
I have a Bennett euro style trim tab switch, it is West Marine model number 6885263. You can go to their website, type in that number in the search box and see exactly what my switch looks like. I mounted my switch so the words Bow Down are on the bottom and Bennett is on the top - both now upside down. Hope this helps.

Roy
 
So....at hull speed, what would be th most fuel efficient position? Retract to reduce drag? Is there an easy answer to this question?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Carvervirgin

So....at hull speed, what would be th most fuel efficient position? Retract to reduce drag? Is there an easy answer to this question?

Click to expand...


In most cases that would be correct , though some boats' steering tends to wander more w/o some tab deployment.

You can watch your SOG and RPM to see if tab drag is reducing low (or high)-speed efficiency.
 
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