www.iFourWinns.com

Hi all,

I've spoken with a FW dealer who said the 2005 225 FW Sundowner did not have an offical TRIM TAB parts number but when they spoke with benett they gave an un offical word that the TRIM TAB made for the 240H/245S would also work on the 225 FW Sundowner, but they could not confirm or deny. How convienient of them. If I spend the large amount of money to buy them and they do not fit the dealer will not take them back. The closest FW dealer is about 3 hours from me.

My question is, has anyone used part number 065-0540, price $352.37. If you have a similar boat and added on TRIM TABS with aftermarket can you please tell me what will fit and any pictures would be very helpful. I need to add the TRIM TABS but FW has so little of a space that I'm not sure what will fit and I'm told FW had Benett custom make some to work with the bump outs on either side of the lower unit.

Thanks,

Paul

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Paul from Vermont! Boat on Lake Champlain! I have a 2005 225 sundowner w/ 5.0 270hp volvo sx drive

I had a 1999 225 Sundowner; the same hull as yours. It didn't have trim tabs. My 2004 Sundowner has them. The hull shape in the area in which the tabs are fitted are very similar indeed, I'd be very surprised if they didn't fit.

The tabs fitted to the 245 are standard Bennett tabs that have had the vertical section onto which the ram fits cut down on one side and the hinge bent as well. The actuator is mounted on the transom, as far outboard as possible.On each side, a little over half the tab operating area is " inboard" of the pod on the underside of hull The rest is under the "pod", made possible by the cut out section and the bent hinge

That is great news! Did you buy your boat new or used? I ask only because I wanted to know if the boat came with the tabs or you added them on? Do you mind sending me a few pictures to see the setup on the transom for location. Do you have indicators also or just up/down port/starbord buttons? Also your 2004 is a 225 or 245?

Thanks,

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Paul from Vermont! Boat on Lake Champlain! I have a 2005 225 sundowner w/ 5.0 270hp volvo sx drive

Sorry,

I meant to indicate my 2004 boat is a 245. They were factory fitted ones. They didn't come with indicators, but I fitted them myself later ( I know some people think they're totally unnecessary, but I find them useful).

I don't have any photos where it's clear how they are attached. I do have a drawing though of how the tabs are modified. I can send that to you if you like ( if so, please send me a PM with your E-mail address; no Spam, guaranteed !)

Sent you a PM. Thanks.

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Paul from Vermont! Boat on Lake Champlain! I have a 2005 225 sundowner w/ 5.0 270hp volvo sx drive

You don't need trim tabs on a 22ft boat. Get some Smart Tabs

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Well Ric,

I've liked and agreed with your posts up to now, but coming out with an absolute statement regarding what a 22 foot boat needs seems a bit rash or at the minimum unqualified. What do you mean by 22 foot boat; overall length, manufacturers designation length or waterline length? A 20 foot boat with a 2 foot swim platform is not the same by any means on the water as a 22 foot boat with a similar hull with no swim platform.

My 245 Sundowner is VERY different to my previous 225 Sundowner

Surely it's the waterline length that matters not the overall length ?.

I admit I have no experience of smart tabs, as a result I won't criticise them. I do have experience of trim tabs. The trim tabs work well on my 245 ( the waterline length is barely 22 foot at rest, much less when on the plane) !

A sundowner 225 (2005) is a 21-22ft boat. They counted the swim platform in the LOA. On paper it says 24 or something crazy.

Smart tabs man. They work amazing. A 225 is the same size as my 215 chap FYI

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

I don't know you at all, but you couldn't be farther from knowing what you are talking about. I have been boating my complete life and I know when a boat needs or does not need trim tabs.

This particular FW model needs trim tabs and No, smart tabs will not do the trick for what I am looking for. Every review I have read about this model boat states it is a great boat but needed trim tabs.

First let me tell you that this is a design flaw with the engineering of the manufacture. It is a cuddy cabin and the helm sits further back and the u shaped seating is as far back of the boat as possible sitting over the engine. The weight distribution and design was not fully thought through carefully.

If you want to ride on my boat you better be ready to bounce up and down nonstop with trim all the way down! Not to mention the listing side to side with weight distribution. Smart tabs will only help with keeping the bow down, but not offer control weight distribution. Also I don’t live on a pond everyone else calls a lake. Lake Champlain, my bay is most likely bigger than most of other user’s lakes. Heavy winds and chop comes out of nowhere often. With controllable trim tabs, I can keep the boat level and in the direction going with or against winds. I have had several boats, my last a 230 doral cuddy LOA 23'8" with trim tabs.

So before you make such a statement do not be so naive to think that just because of the size of a boat does not factor that you need or do not need trim tabs. I had a doral 190, open bow and I did not have trim tabs nor did I think I would need them for bow down situations but they would have been helpful in weight distribution. Nothing worse than asking people to move around all day long to make the boat comfortable or force someone to sit where they do not want to be just to make the boat work well.

So in this forum topic, do not tell me about smart tabs, I do not want to know. Do not tell me I don't need trim tabs, because clearly you do not know. I only want responses with others who have installed trim tabs, what ones they have used and that is the only thing I am looking for.

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Paul from Vermont! Boat on Lake Champlain! I have a 2005 225 sundowner w/ 5.0 270hp volvo sx drive

I'm not quite sure what you have against a product that works as advertised to fix your boat's exact problem. My Stingray would porpoise with 4 people in the boat also and was an all around horrible riding boat, very rough. Screwed on some smart tabs and it was like riding in an luxury ocean liner. Not kidding. I had 8 people in the thing after (first time I could) and it was like riding on a pillow. Almost sad I sold it.

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

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2006 Vista 278
First Boat:
2005 Sundowner 205
Columbus, OH

That and entry level boats are prime candidates for aftermarket add-ons. Sounds like you've gotten great advice from people that have dealt with just this sort of issue and found solutions to the same problem.

If you've an axe to grind, well, consider it ground. Now get on with adding the tabs and enjoying your boating season.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Smart tabs will only help with porpoising not weight distribution and not to mention additonal control going with and against rough seas. In this forum I'm not asking for anyone's opinion on smart tabs, otherwise I would have made a forum topic asking advice for smart tabs. I know what I want and need and my only questions are for those who have installed hydraulic tabs. I do not expect any other advice.

Graham R has already given the information I need in a direct PM as it looks the same trim tabs made for the 245 will also fit a 225.

Thanks.

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Paul from Vermont! Boat on Lake Champlain! I have a 2005 225 sundowner w/ 5.0 270hp volvo sx drive

Perhaps in your private world, everyone you know marches to your beat and asks "how high" when you say "jump." However, in a public forum, you will get all kinds of answers from all kinds of people, including people many of us don't agree with. That's just the nature of public forums and not a reason to "announce" what you "expect" and what you "want from us." If you don't like conversation or alternative thoughts, don't ask the question. We aren't your minions and there are people here who have just as much boating experience as you do.

I'm not disagreeing with your desire to go with trim tabs, I agree with you on that point (not that it matters what I think).

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Well with an attitude like the I am afraid you are going to get some. Mike and I are seeing the same here. Don't come on here acting like we are your subordinates or unruley kids. There is a lot of knowledge on this board, I advise you to be thankful and appreciative of it and not demand it.

Most of us will agree here that Ric is a D-bag...but you sir right now are no better.

I know I am not allowed to give any advice, but I will take my chances here. Your main problem is our boat is underpowered with the wrong drive. I know, not something you can change now, but it is reality with some of the issues you mention.

Have a wonderful day.