Tabs on 20SF w/ 200 HPDI - Size & lenco vs bennett

[mbo_1971]

Just picked up a new motor for my long term project '84 20sf. It is a 200 HPDI with 200hrs - very excited. Thinking about trim tabs - are 12 x 12's overkill on the 20 footer? Also, I would rather not have to deal with the hydrolics of the Bennett's - any major downside to Lenco's? Thanks.

Matt

[captj2]

I just installed Bennett M120's on my 1978 20"/ 200 hp Merc. and could not be happier. The installation was quick and simple and the control is amazing. We ran the boat 150 miles in the keys on the first trip with the tabs and I am sold.

There is no reason to be concerned with the hydraulics. I mounted the pump in the CC well away from any possibility of contact with salt water and mounted the tabs a bit outboard of what Bennett recommends. Check out Capt.Brad's installation photos
1983_seacraft_master_angler.]htm

The hydraulic lines were easy to snake through the bilge to the cc. I am not familiar with the Lencos but I do not trust electric motors in that close contact with salt water. I can tell you that the customer service from Bennett is the greatest. They maintain a presence as TABMAN on another forum and supplied me with extended hydraulic lines and a surface mount for the pump without charge. They even paid for the shipping!!!

No I don't work for Bennett but when you find a product this good and a company this supportive, they deserve recognition.

Capt.Jim

[NoBones]

Bennett's are the only tab I would ever use.
When I bought my '70 20SF in 1984 it had 24 inch tabs on it.
They are the only thing that was reused when the restoration
was complete. Go with what works---FOREVER!!
See ya, Ken

[JW-Tex]

If you do the research on other boating forums...you will find that Lenco is second choice by a longshot.

Based on my research I would not install anything other than Bennett (too many electrical failures on the Lencos).

I recently installed the Bennett M120's on my 20.

[Bigshrimpin]

Another nice thing about bennett tabs is that you can replace the lines (if you need too) for about $10 using regular compression fittings and black irrigation tubing from the hardware store.

[alarie]

I have used both brands, currently using Lenco's which were a lot easier to install, but I have only 1 season on them. The M120's on my last boat worked very well.

I would recommend mounting the trailing edge higher than the 5/8" (or whatever the number is) that is recommended in the directions. I find that going down swell it is nice to have them fully retracted, and always felt that the stock setting did not allow enough clearance for this. I would go with 3/4-1" of negative trim at installation.

By contrast, it also seems like you never put them down very much with that hull, so adjustment range will not be a problem.

[warthog5]

Here's my Bennett story from the last 2 day's.

On the 2nd seatrial when I got home. I was washing the boat and kept hearing this funky noise. After investigating I found it was the trim pump motor running. I had raised the tab's when loading on the trailer.

The port switch which control's the Stb tab was stuck in the down position. I throught maybe it was hanging up on the switch bezel.

I didn't have time to mess with it until I got to Destin early. I pulled the bezel off and played with the switch some. You could tell it wasn't quite right and still stuck in the tab up [Bow up] position.

On Monday I sent a email to Tabman. I got the switch this afternoon and installed it. No big deal there. Then I tried cycling the tab's. The port one work's fine, but the STB one doesn't move. The pump does run.

I called Tom aka Tabman and told him what was happening. He said it sounded like the solinode got burnt out whan the switch stuck and that's what I thought too.

He told me he had to hang up and quick check something.

About 10 or 15min latter I got an email from him saying it was on the way and overnighted. I told him I had a tournment to fish on friday.

How's that for service? Buy Bennett Tab's!


Update to today:

Got the new solinode at 11:30 this morning. It's installed and all is working fine.

Why would you buy anything else?

[Fishjack]

Bobby - I have heard dozens of great customer service stories about Bennett. - Here is my story from last week..

Getting closer to finishing my transom I am going to reinstall my Bennett trim tabs that I removed to work on the boat. These tabs have been on my boat for about 10 years (One of the 1st (and best) mods I made to the boat when I bought it). I have never had any problems with them.

Anyway - I wanted to replace the metal "tubing benders" that hold the hard hydraulic lines at a 90 degree angle and could not find anywhere to only buy the metal benders.
I e-mailed Bennett to ask if I could buy a couple direct from them - they e-mailed me back (wanted my address) and they are sending me a couple for FREE..

GREAT service, GREAT product - GREAT Company..

[Ikan Besar]

had Bennett's on the last SeaCraft, have Lenco's on the current SeaCraft, very happy and have had no problems with either one

[Bryan A.]

I have had my lencos going on 6 years now with no problems at all. I hope that does not jinx me. But like everyone else I have heard nothing but good about Bennett.