Trim tabs can noticeably improve driving behaviour and help save fuel:
- For a boat whose motorisation is at the lower limit, flaps can be used to shorten the transition from displacement to planing speed.
- The high rise of the bow during the transition phase, which severely restricts forward visibility, can be avoided by using trim tabs. - The flaps can also be used to reduce the lower planing speed. This means that the boat enters the displacement phase later.
- Boats that tend to rock at high speeds can be stabilised with the flap insert.
- Heeling caused by one-sided loading or wind can be equalised with flaps.
Hydraulic vs. electrically operated trim tabs
There are hydraulic and electric trim tabs. In the hydraulic version, the tank, pump and motor are mounted in the boat, while the flaps, blades and hydraulic cylinder are mounted on the outside of the transom. The flaps can be raised and lowered using a rocker switch, push button or joystick. The same applies to electrically driven flaps that work with electric motors.
The interceptor technology
Another solution is interceptor technology. These systems replace the flaps with blades, so-called interceptors, which are driven electrically. The blades are integrated into a robust box that is mounted on the outside of the lower edge of the transom. The trim effect is created by the fact that when the blades are moved out into the water running off the stern, a flow resistance is created that lifts the boat.
The trim tab systems
However, trim tab systems are not only available for manual operation, but also as automatic versions. In some cases, even the rolling movements in rough water are compensated for. Trim tab systems can be found at, among others: Bennett, Eltrim, Humphree, Lenco, Seakeeper, Volvo Penta and Zipwake. If you already have trim tabs on your boat and would like to convert them to automatic, you will find what you are looking for at Mente Marine.
More articles on the subject of boat trim:
- The 3 most important motorboat types and their trim angle
- To adjust the trim bolt
- How to achieve the power trim
- How the power trim works in practice
- Trim tab systems and the advantages they offer
