Trim Tabs and Drive Trim

[Madcow68]

I am thinking about putting a Lenco setup on my Captiva 232 next spring.

Question, how do you set the drive trim if you are using trim tabs?

[earl1z19]

I use both and sometimes one against the other. It is common for me to have the trim up about 1/4 and use the tabs to get the nose down. I also use the trim to off set any weight issues side to side.

[Capt Ron]

I trim my tabs all the way down to start. Once on the plane, I bring the drive trims up to slipping and then a touch down. Then I trim the tabs up until the boat starts to porpoise, then provide just enough trim to stop it. Then your boat is optimize for both drive trim and trim tabs.

[Madcow68]

I trim my tabs all the way down to start. Once on the plane, I bring the drive trims up to slipping and then a touch down. Then I trim the tabs up until the boat starts to porpoise, then provide just enough trim to stop it. Then your boat is optimize for both drive trim and trim tabs.

What do these mean?

[Capt Ron]

The drive and tab trims work independently. What I was describing is how to work them. Trim tabs not only help you to get onto plane, it also allows you to balance the pitch of the boat while at plane. For example, if you had three people sitting on the starboard side and only one sitting on the port side, your boat would be on an angle. While at plane ( your boat is moving at cruise speed) you can adjust the angle of the boat to be level by adjusting the port and starboard trim tabs. Once you get these installed on your boat, you can experiment with their operation. They will make a big positive difference for your boat.

[earl1z19]

It may be best if you can catch a ride with another captain who has them on their boat to run through the features of the system. That way you can be sure that you actually want them on your boat.

[RinkerBuoy62]

I may be wrong... Tabs and drive fully down, as boat gets on step retract tabs. At this point start start trimming your drives... if the boat starts to porpise trim down a bit. I use my tabs to balance my load lateraly after that point. It's been working for me for seventeen years. Anyone?

[alswagg]

I may be wrong... Tabs and drive fully down, as boat gets on step retract tabs. At this point start start trimming your drives... if the boat starts to porpise trim down a bit. I use my tabs to balance my load lateraly after that point. It's been working for me for seventeen years. Anyone?

Good advise for most applications.  I will throw a curve into it though.  On the 262 SS with 525's or larger, once you are on plane running around 65 to 70, it might start chine walking.  If so, just tab down  a littl bit, once you do, you will notice the aft of the boat starting to raise, at this point you can trim out more, and increase the speed, up to 72 to 75 mph.  Basically the boat is ballancing on the tabs and drive at this point.  Be carefull as one false move can lead to catastrophy, ie getting all wet,.   Al

[rdunning]

Is it a good idea to trim the trim tabs down if you are going over +50 MPH? I thought the mfg advises against doing this?

[bat32]

Is it a good idea to trim the trim tabs down if you are going over +50 MPH? I thought the mfg advises against doing this?

In my experience you are trying to trim up at this point and tabs would be up too.

[Argonaut]

I am thinking about putting a Lenco setup on my Captiva 232 next spring.

Question, how do you set the drive trim if you are using trim tabs?

Also take a look at Smart Tabs ... superb investment, and you won't need to use Trim other than for loading onto trailer ... great product, do excatly what they say they will do.

[Madcow68]

Also take a look at Smart Tabs

The bad thing about SmartTabs is that you cannot adjust on the fly and one of the biggest reason for the Lenco's is load balancing.

[RobyW1]

I use both and sometimes one against the other. It is common for me to have the trim up about 1/4 and use the tabs to get the nose down. I also use the trim to off set any weight issues side to side.

On  my 232 this creates bow steer. Be careful because if you over correct bow steer you can spin-out

[Madcow68]

Also take a look at Smart Tabs ... superb investment, and you won't need to use Trim other than for loading onto trailer ... great product, do excatly what they say they will do.

Why would you use trim tabs to load onto a trailer?

You just hook the bow eye and crank it on the trailer.