Trim Tabs on a 23' SF with 250 hp Suzie?

[CaptScottNC]

Saw a deal on M-120's on THT and those are the tabs I've been considering. Guess I'm just looking for some affirmation. My boat is all original which means tough access to the important areas for intalling the hydraulic unit. Curious to know where everyone ended up mounting their units and running hoses, etc. Everyone feel the 120's are adequate for the 23' boat?

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll have more interesting questions soon that should provide a diversity of opinions. Little hint... it revolves around finding a way to make my interior gelcoat look cosmetically better for the fishing season for my customers without being off the water for very long since time is money. Should be interesting.

Thanks in advance
Scott
Atlantic Beach, NC

On my 78 23 cc the pump is mounted in the console and the hoses are routed thru the cable tray to nthe transom on my boat there are round access doors under each baitbox in the stern that provide not great but adequate access to where the hoses go thru the transom. I moved the pump and my batteries to the console inorder to better balance weight.

[CaptScottNC]

Sounds good. Are the supplied hydraulic hoses adequate to run from the console to the tabs? This is exactly what I was considering to keep the pump from the moist/salty or sometimes wet environment under the floor or in the transom.

Thanks for the input..any other advice greatly appreciated as well. Feeling good about going with bennet in general but just concerned about the size and where to mount the pump.

Thanks again in advance.

P.S. I'm trying to figure out the best price/pros/cons. Looks like the M120 does not come with the Euro rocker switch? And the 12x12 kit will come with the switch? Any reason to go with the m120 over the 12x12 flat tabs? And am I wrong in assuming they don't come with the Euro style switch? I think they may come with something but it's the glossy black "clicky" switch I think? Has an annoying feel when activated I think. Thanks for all the help
Scott

Not shur about the length of hose that comes with the bennett tabs I am using bennett's but my boat came with them I just had to buy new hose to move the pump forward and my pump is quite compact approx. 10 by 6 by 6 I have a shelf in my console and mounted the pump on the shelf and the batteries under the shelf on the floor. Worked great and left pleny of room for fire extinguisher flares tackle etc. It is raining here right now when it stops i'll go measure my tabs I think they are 12 by 12 and they work great for all water conditions.

[Scott]

Capt Scott
Those are the tabs Tabman, from Bennett TrimTabs is recommending for the 23's (M120). With their design they give the same lift as a 12x12 tab ... there is not as much slip with the "wings". The wings channel the water so it doesnt slide out and off the sides. Plus I think?? you get a better control switch with the M120.

You will need longer hydraulic lines to get to the console, I did. I would drop an email to Tabman .. he might be able to help you out with that

I was back and forth with the tabs … Tom convinced me that the M120 was the one to go with. Also if a bracket is in your future the actuator will fit under one better … Sounds like same “throw” but a shorter cylinder.

[CaptScottNC]

THanks and that's what I'm thinking. I am now trying to find out which control switch comes with the 120's. Anyone know? and can you upgrade if the the "cheaper" one? Thanks

[Scott]

I'm almost certain this is the one in the box ... M120
This replaces the older style rocker.

[warthog5]

the desigination is and "E" at the end of the part number fo that it incldes the Euro switch.

You will need longer hose's. They are not long enough to go to the console with the one's that are packaged.

The M120's are a 10X12 tab, but it's the batwing style. That makes them have spill plates on the side's and they are = to the same performance of a 12X12 in a smaller package.
I actually have the 10X12 Bass Tab's on my boat. I wanted Black tab's. They are the batwing style so the look just like the M120's in Black. I swaped the ram's out to get the longest ram's. This was more so to get the point where the upper end of the ram was above the floor, but it's still below the swim platform on the bracket.
They make 4 diffrent length's of ram's.

I installed a 1/8inX3in nipp;e in my ram's. This got the nipple thru the transom core and could easially hook the hose to the nipple.
The instruction's say to hook the hose to the upper part of the ram and then push the hose thru the hole in the transom.

Filling the resovior. I found that if you will use a male air fitting [Milton 727] like you would have in your air tool's. Then stick a clear hose on the threaded end of the air fitting this is a spill proof way to fill the unit.The male end of the air fitting will go into the fill hole on the resivior.
I used a pour spout that come's on a gear lube bottle to screw onto a qt of ATF. Those nipple spout's are also on the fill hose from Teleflex to fill your hyd steering.