www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 2007 Four Winns H190 with a 190 HP merc 4.3 engine. I installed Bennett Trim Tabs and use my boat mostly on the Colorado River. The trim tabs work great for leveling, especially with excess weight.

I have not been on in a while so am late to responding to this post.

I have no real trim or porpoising issues with my 2003 240H -- 5.7Gi --- I think the difference could be the drive.
I have a DP-SM -- and duoprops produce a lot of sternlift which can counter some of the issues you are having.

However -- I want to plane at slower speeds -- like offshore in salt water, and have the ability to compensate for side to side loads.
I therefore added Bennett trim tabs to my boat.

Here is a picture of where I put mine, and how the straps still clear.
I would highly recommend the real trim tabs, I use them frequently.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Rob, did you do this? If so what did you order? FW factory parts or Bennets?

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

OK I ordered the factory parts. Very similar price to Bennet's or Lenco's so I decided to get the ones listed in the catalog to ne sure they fit.

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

So I got my parts (finally). Got the tab kit and the switches that go in the factory cutouts. I am worried however because it did not come with a hydraulic pump. I had assumed the factory kit was hydraulic (maybe incorrectly?). Either these are electric actuators or I am missing parts. Does anyone know if the factory trim tab kits were electric or Hydraulic?

I am ok with either I just want to make sure I am not missing some parts...

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

what brand are they? --- I believe Lenco is electric and Bennett is hydraulic.
thx
Dale

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Definitely Bennetts. I have a note into the marina and Four Winns to ask where the hydraulic pump is and why it was not shipped with the kit.

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

OK so what a ripoff. The "kit" from FW does not come with the hydraulic pump. I called Bennett and told them what I was doing and they confirmed that the part numbers are indeed OEM parts they make for FW. Bennett does not sell a 9X9 and the FW part is a special "short throw" specification made just for them.

I just ordered a pump on Amazon.

Had I know all of this ahead of time I would have ordered a standard 9X12 and them cut 1.5 inches off each side to get them down to 9. It would have saved me some $$. The only thing I am not certain of is why they have a "short throw" actuator... Assume that a regular actuator would interfere or hit something?

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

Re: Mounting location - I thought that mounting them as far apart on the pods would be the best place for stability - so far, my smart tabs have worked fine mounted here, but don't really have anything to judge performance against, and i notice that a lot of you mount them on the inside on either side of the outdrive...

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

The factory fitted tabs on my 2004 Sundowner are fitted such that approximately 2/3 of their area is on the inside of the "pods" i.e towards the centreline of the hull, with 1/3 under the "pods" ( the vertical faces of the tabs onto which the actuators are bolted are cut down to allow this). The lower face of the tabs are virtually perfectly in line with the planes of the hull "V"; with no step.

Done! Can't wait to get my boat in the water and try them out!

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

OK so now for a 4 blade prop?

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

OK, I put my boat in the water this weekend for the season! First time testing out the trim tabs. All I can say is whomever believes that tabs on this 24 ft hull would not make a difference is insane. My boat is transformed! Holes shot is awesome now and I can hold plane at very low speeds.

These tabs should have been standard. NO MORE PORPOISING!!!!!

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2003 Horizon 240 With 5.7 Volvo Penta

Glad the tabs work --- that is exactly what I would have thought would happen.
I am a strong advocate of tabs for many issues a lot of dynamics are changed with tabs. I use mine most times we are out.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop