Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Anyone using the Volvo trim tabs? Anyone have any input? Couple of folks using them here in NC and swear by them. Thinking of putting some on the 23 CC.
Any feedback is welcome.
Thanks,
BA

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

My buddy uses them and LOVES them. My dad just sent me a pair for my SC 20 footer, can't wait to try them out. :D

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I have the smaller ones on my 27 and they work great. A few things to keep in mind. I did have the relay block go bad, but Volvo sent a replacement right away. You have to make sure the surface you are mounting them to is perfectly flat. I had a fiberglass backing plate made that worked out great. If the surface is not flat, they will bind, and I think that is why the relay block went bad. Now they run up and down with no resistance or binding. There is also a calibration procedure where you hold down the upper and lower buttons for 10 seconds during power up, make sure you do that during install, otherwise they will not retract all the way up. They are very responsive, and should never cut off your line if a fish turns and heads for the transom.

Dan

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I must admit they have a few qualities that probably are a good. But there a few thing that are not.

Good things list
If you have a bracket boat they would not get in the way.
They look pretty cool.
Price is good.

Bad things list
Got to have more drag reducing performance with the 90 degree angle.
Since they don’t go back 12” in the water it would keeps the boat from acting just a little bit bigger in seas.
I did here of One case where the 90 degree lip got hung up on something floating in the water when the boat ran over it and ripped it off. Caused a lot of damage to the transom.


FellowShip

………………………

Just for the Grins :D

Official Antique Classic SeaCraft Owner

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Bushwacker: Any response? You are our engineer on call :D. What do think about the more drag part?

They would be a nice neat package.

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I just picked up a set. I will let ya'll know how well they work.
BA

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Great...every other site I've been to the majority of the owners like them. One guy stated he saw no loss of speed with them down.

When I get to that point of my restoration I do believe that they will be the tab of my choice.

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I do not see any loss of speed with the tabs down, relative to my old tabs. Keep in mind, when you lower the tabs, you raise your transom, and lower your bow, that should slow down most boats anyway, no matter what tabs you have. They are extremely responsive, and with the indicators you always know where they are. As for causing damage, I can't imagine that hitting something with a plastic flap hanging down about 1" would cause any damage to a Seacraft transom, I can assure you it would not affect mine. I could see it causing damage to the tab itself, but not the transom. You are making the right choice, if not Volvo, my second choice would be Bennett.

Dan

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Can you post a picture after you mount them? I'm looking down the road for my 20 SF and this thread has raised my interest about the Volvo tab. The website I found didn't give any dimensional information and they looked much longer than a standard tab.

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

OK, I found the site with the needed info but would still like to see pics. Thanks

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I have the trim tabs installed and have run the boat several times and must say that I am very impressed with them. They are very responsive and I can get the nose down as far as I need with these. Below are a couple of pics. They are definately a good idea with the bracket. I still have the Bennett system I took off, just didn't want to have to cut holes in the bracket to put the trim tabs back on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/DSCN7106.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/DSCN7107.jpg

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

are those your scuppers running out the sides??? if so how they work. better then out the transom???

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

BA....what model# did you go with? Thanks.

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

I went with the 12" model. Don't have to exact model number. They work great.

No those aren't scuppers, they are both drains for the livewell. If you look more forward you will see a little clam shell cover. That is the scupper out of the side. I have plugs on the inside as the boat rides low in the back. Next changes I make will be to the scupper system.
BA

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Can someone with the Ql tabs on a 23 take a measurement from bottom of the outside strake (hull bottom) to top of QL tab? Alternatively I am in Chatham MA (boat in south harwich) and for a six pack of your choice would appreciate the 15 seconds to measure myself! I cannot fit the 12x12 bennets with a bracket-I would need to drop the bracket/engine and cut it, the actuator hits the bracket on the 90 degree piece of bracket that meets the hull, so no way can finagle a cut when on the boat that I can figure out. Plus the bennet mounting plate for tab hits the bottom of the scupper ( could cut the mount plate I suppose). If the QL tabs will fit it is a no brainer. Took the boat out this weekend in some 2-4 seas in the Bay and off Race Point, and would have liked the tabs :). Just put a merc 4 blade revolution 17P prop on yesterday so will see how that does to help as well.

Thanks!

PS-The 300MM QL trim tabs=12 inches

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Josh,

If I understand correctly you just need to know the height, I just got nack from Taiwan, I can measure them tomorrow. I have the 12" on my 27, feel free to take all the measurments you need, I am right on 137 in Chatham.

Dan

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Josh,
Those QL's are on a 23. I had the same problem, I would have had to cut my bracket to put the bennets back on. There is plenty of room for the QL's on my boat with a potter bracket. The boat is not at the house, but can try to get a measurement tomorrow afternoon.
BA

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Thanks Dan and BA. The bracket will not be the issue. But the scuppers are re-done amd shoot right out the back now, and they maybe are in the way is worry-the Bennet mount plate just hits them in fact. Dan I am just down street from you off Morton. Much appreciated! PM sent to Dan....

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Josh,

Almost exactly 4" x 12" maybe just a hair over 4" on the height, including the distance from the bottom of the hull.

Dan

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Thanks Dan, I stopped by and chatted with your dad for 5 minuts, took some measurements. Should fit. QL tabs on order :).

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Hey Josh....where did you end up buying the QL tabs from? Got a good source?

Thanks

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

think i got them from foreandaftmarine.com out of SoFl I think, maybe 600. but do check prices locally of course, and other places, not sure this is the best price.

i wrestled my install, note there are 6 or 8 screws per each tab, i opted to thru bolt thru my transom as not sure I liked screws partial into transom, and read my note about having to drill out more for correct angle making the screw approach more problamtic :). so got real long bolts (5" ss!) and then cut them back and washered them and double bolted on inside, liberal with 5200, and some dielectric as well on wires on inside. as far outboard as possible, but my scupper got in the way a little.

The real issue I had on install-they require a very flat surface with less than a few MM diff off on both vertical and horizontal, or those screws/bolts will cause the tabs to bend and you bind the tab operation. In my case, I grabbed a (1/4"? thick) piece of starboard to size, and sanded away, and sanded away, and test fit, and sanded. Think the Kernel(Dan) had a piece of glass fabricated to serve the same purpose, or you could put the boot to the transom with a sander. Highly unlikley your transom is flush enough but trust me when say they are sensitive to binding! I prob have extra starboard lying around if ya need a couple pieces instead of buying a sheet of the thinnest stuff.

Next I found the holes I drilled for the screws were not quite at the needed angle so that when you tightented down i again had tab binding issues due to torquing the tab so I just drilled out a little bigger was all at a more downward angle. Leading to the bolt versus screw solution.

Net is install tab,test that work, then unscrew the shebang, and then 5200 :). or better have that orange solvent and a heat gun handy. been there done that.

As always, if you are overly cautious, drill out, then expoy, then drill again. Problem for me was I had to drill out these 6-8 holes to get the right angle for long bolts being tightened. so forgo the epoxy part since was a lot of testing and fitting and time already and figured I'd end back up with drilling out wider, and would have gone beyond the tab outline at that point with the epoxy to accomodate a 2"inch thick transom and angle needed.Last note, I never hooked these into my start key circuit, i put them on my house battery panel, did not like the idea of splicing my starter key circuit.



Don't be afraid though, i <font color="orange"> those tabs now!

PM me be glad to chat or show you my hard lessons learned :), you are down in Chatham?

Re: Volvo Trim Tabs
 

Nice...thanks for the notes :cool: I am just going to grab a set over the winter for a spring install....yup boat and I are in Chatham...the boat is all wrapped up for a winter nap.