Trim tabs, controller/pump drama

[Phrancus]

My Carver 26 (recently bought, discovering many things) seems to have an Insta-trim boat leveler pump. The red cover is still there, but the bottom white part (reservoir?) is missing and I noticed a sharp corner in a pressure line... So that one has a disappointing history and does not work any more.

My question; is it worth to replace the pump or should I install a different type of trim tabs control (no pump, manual position, different brand pump)

general question: how does the trim tab and the heckdrive position trimming work together?

We will seldomly be able to go so fast to get her into plane but when I'm at it (overhaul everything) anyway, I'd like to do the job well. Within reasonable cost.

Any tips welcome.

[bud37]

I had a few boats with Insta trim with the external hoses that go to the rams....critters like to chew them, then you have an environmental issue.

Anyway long story, I just bought a complete refit kit from Bennett trim tabs ( fantastic after sales support ) to replace the old Insta trim, thereby using the existing wiring, switch etc.....you get the pump, plastic hose/fittings and rams that go to the exiting trim planes.....No external hoses..... Easy refit....check out their site....there are electric options as well from ???? the name escapes me right now.

[Beufort]

Dunno if this will be helpful, I had to replace my trim tab pump too, it was already a Bennett model, my boat did not have tab indicators, this annoys the heck out of me, I’m gonna have to, at some point, add this, if your gonna replace stuff anyway and its in the budget, i would certainly go ahead and add the indicators while i was into it.

[Phrancus]

Thank you for the information, for the moment I will stick to getting the drives and their lifts back into operation before I start on the tabs. Reasoning is simple: we hardly ever get a chance to run her fast for a longer period so for their use, it's not a priority. I will get them sorted at some point, what's on the boat, must be functional is my motto.

A former owner had a problem with them, one of the tabs was 'off' and he only came up with cutting the hydraulic hose..... perhaps after molesting the unit itself as the bottom part is missing.

Anyway, first up is the port drive; cooling problems on that engine, probably growth in the inlet. I am going to add a bypass water pickup near between the drive and the engine. For our use, there's not much benefit in have the water coming through the vulnerable holes in the drive. In fact, this boat is not coming out of the water all season so growth is a given. Better to have an extra pickup which is also easier to clean regularly while in the water.

[Viper]

What kind of drives do you have?

[PossiblyPaul]

I have a Carver 2827, which appears to be broadly similar to your boat, and have, during the single season that I've been using it, had awful issues with the trim tabs - I suppose that the Volvo diesels don't really have the power to get a 'plane' properly, but the tabs' performance hasn't been spectacular at all. One of the problems came to light when we hoisted out in late October; the mounting plates fixing the tabs to the hull were corroded badly, tabs wobbling around wildly, and need replacing (tried to get some from the US, but they were 'lost by the US Mail'...) Associated issue was the fact that those plates had been screwed to the hull, and with A2 (I think) screws - talk about crevice corrosion, and no wonder that my aft bilge pump seemed to be on 24-hour duty.

I'm presently hoping that https://www.trimtabsdirect.com will be able to replace for me - and they'll be bolted to the hull with A4 steel and a lot of Sikaflex! The 4-button controls are a perished pain, too; will be replaced with DPDT switches.

[tomschauer]

Anyway, first up is the port drive; cooling problems on that engine, probably growth in the inlet. I am going to add a bypass water pickup near between the drive and the engine. For our use, there's not much benefit in have the water coming through the vulnerable holes in the drive. In fact, this boat is not coming out of the water all season so growth is a given. Better to have an extra pickup which is also easier to clean regularly while in the water.

What drives do you have? There is a good chance you impellers are inside the drives. You cant just bypass them.

[Phrancus]

4 cylinder diesel with duoprop sterndrives. AD31B if I remember correctly by heart. 130bHp each.

The impellers are at the front of each engine, and for winterizing one is supposed to detach the tube from the drive and dip in an a bucket of coolant.

Sorry to hear about your trimtabs adventures, especially the water coming in must have been a pretty nasty surprise!