Cobaltchat.com

Hi Folks,

I would like to add trim tabs to my 2012 262 before spring. Hoping for any feedback on brand, tab/switch location or tech recommendations. I'm planning to do it myself. We live on Lake of the Ozarks and are hoping the tabs will help smooth out the ride there.

Thanks,
Ross

Lenco electric tabs are what cobalt uses from the factory so you should already be pre wired for them. That’s what I would go with.

That seems like a low swim platform. How much room do you have from it to the bottom of the hull?

The amount of room you have may dictate which tabs you need.

Thanks tgrace, I'll start there. xlint89, not sure of the position of the swim platform but it's factory installed. I will need to check the height.

xlint89 wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:30 pm That seems like a low swim platform. How much room do you have from it to the bottom of the hull?

The amount of room you have may dictate which tabs you need.

Tabs mount to the bottom of the transom so the platform will not be an issue.

These look to be the Lenco trim tabs for use with limited mounting height. Minimum 11"

https://www.lencomarine.com/en/Products ... Edge-Mount

These look to be Bennett's trim tabs with limited mounting height. Minimum 6 1/2" if used with adjustable upper hinge.

https://bennetttrimtabs.com/product/bol ... b-systems/


Having just installed a set of hydraulic tabs on mine, I would prob go with the electric actuators. It would be easier to run just a wire VS. having to run wires, hydraulic hoses and finding a spot to mount a pump.

If your boat does around 60 MPH, the speed may play a role in what type of tabs you would need as well.

tgrace98 wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:57 am

xlint89 wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:30 pm That seems like a low swim platform. How much room do you have from it to the bottom of the hull?

The amount of room you have may dictate which tabs you need.

Tabs mount to the bottom of the transom so the platform will not be an issue.

There is a height requirement for mounting the actuators.

xlint89 wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 9:12 am

tgrace98 wrote: Sun Jan 31, 2021 8:57 am

xlint89 wrote: Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:30 pm That seems like a low swim platform. How much room do you have from it to the bottom of the hull?

The amount of room you have may dictate which tabs you need.

Tabs mount to the bottom of the transom so the platform will not be an issue.

There is a height requirement for mounting the actuators.

If you are loading your boat and it is not perfectly centered would it impact the tabs? Just wondering

My trailer was built to my boats specs. So it's less likely to happen, but anything is possible.

They way my trailer bunks sit now, it kind of self-centers the boat.

I contacted Cobalt today and they were quick to answer. They did say that the tab option for my make and year were the Bennet 6x12. They didn't specify hydraulic or electric. That seems a bit small from what I have been reading on the Bennet website.

So I have been communicating with Bennett Marine and they were able to cross reference the part number I got from Cobalt. Bennett confirmed they were special configuration trim tabs and were 6x12, however they were no longer available as a kit, but they could piece one together. They just wanted to know if I wanted electric or hydraulic. My thinking is electric. Any thoughts on that or feedback on the size?? 6x12 seems pretty small for a 27' boat.

Bumping this up with the hope of getting some feedback. If anyone has a 262 with OEM trim tabs, I would like to know how effective they are being that they are only 6x12. Bennett marine provided me with the part numbers to put together the no longer available kit that was provided to Cobalt. They said they are small do to the available mounting area on the 262 transom and they are not sure if there is room for anything larger. I'm attaching a photo I found online with a 262 that I think has OEM tabs and the mounting diagram I got from Cobalt. I would really like to do this but not if they aren't going to make much difference.

Thanks,
Ross

My 05 262 has the factory tabs, but they are much larger and Hydraulic. Mine are also mounted inside the transom next to the drive. I've attached a picture, but unfortunately it's not a good one.

Our 293 (8500#) had the smaller Bennett tabs. At best they would help to level out the boat while running. Really did nothing to smooth out the ride. Would probably make a bigger affect on a 262. There's lots of 262's at the lake. It doesn't help with this spring off-season, but see if you can find one to test drive. Sometimes it's best to just tuck the drive and let the hull work.

If you don't have the option of going wider, then you might want to look into making the tabs longer.

That's essentially what they did with my set up. (12" wide X 16" long)

https://bennetttrimtabs.com/product/per ... b-systems/

Maybe discuss this and see if that's an option.