2002 Carver 346 Trim Tabs - Can I add a gauge?

[NHCarver346]

Hello! I purchased a 2002 Carver 346 last summer and am looking to make a few updates for the 2026 season.

Would be nice to know the position of the trim tabs vs. just pressing the dash toggle UP or DOWN not knowing when the tabs hit their stops (as I dont have a dash gauge). Currently I just keep pressing the button and holding for a while assuming eventually I will be all the way up (or down), not sure if that does any harm to the hydraulics either.

Does anyone know what brand Carver used and if they have any sort of a position wire that might work with a trim tab gauge that I can still purchase? There are some outboard 2" gauges that look at resistance and then of course there is an entire new setup with hydraulics, wiring, UP DOWN buttons and a gauge.

My tabs still work fine so just looking to install a compatible indicator on my dash.

[km1125]

If you can take some pics of the setup you have someone can probably ID the model or make. Bennett trim tabs were used on a LOT of boats and it wouldn't surprise me if that's what you have. Theirs can be upgraded to include a display that shows their current setting and you can also add some "auto retract" features too.

To add the displays you have to change the hydraulic cylinders with the new ones having the sensors built-in.

[g36]

There's a good chance they are from boat leveler company. A pic of the control on the dash would confirm this would be difficult in this instance to add any guage. I am assuming you can feel the change of the boat when using the tabs?If your new to them I think over time you will get more accustomed to them and really adjust by feel rather than needing a guage. If I'm planing and before slowing down I adjust them where the nose points up and I know they are up all the way then slow down. Speeding up i adjust all the way down where I'm plowing then adjust up from there.

[Viper]

I’m thinking that for your vintage they are Bennett tabs. If that’s the case, they sell a kit where you replace the top covers of the actuators with new ones that have sensors going into the existing actuators. These get wired up to a control box and bar graph readout/control at the helm. I can’t remember if the kit comes with all the hardware or you have to buy the control and box separately. Look for the Autotrim Pro sensor kit….
https://bennetttrimtabs.com/product/autotrim-pro-sensor-kit/

[kgarguilo]

It will get easier to learn the characteristics vs. an indicator. Speaking from experience and depending on the Carve model this may vary but on my 406, I have two dual actuator trim tabs. In 20 Seconds while pushing the down arrow I am at full trim likewise you can deduce in 5 seconds 25%, 10 seconds 50%, 15 seconds 75%. While in the water at the dock engines off and you can hear the trim tabs pump, have someone press the down button while you reach under the swim platform and put a finger on the tab and time the full descent until it stops. Then divide by four and see how the trim tabs react likely very linear in the overall descent of the tabs. When coming back to the dock as you come off plane, just hold it in the up position for the full number of seconds to fully retract. Trust me, you will find many other things to spend money on a boat. Side note: Watch your RPM's and speed as you lower the trim tabs and at some point in the near future you will feel it. Use the force Luke for the Star Wars fans.

[sbb2112]

If they are Bennett tabs, I installed the kit mentioned above on both my Carvers. The cylinders are left alone but the top mount does have to be changed to add the sensor. Not a difficult install, just has to be done on the hard. Auto retract on power up, all up, all down and the bar graphs. There is a version with memory settings that can be retrieved too but I didn't spend the extra $. It was ~$300 for the kit.

[bud37]

Yup, we had an 01 and it had Bennett tabs on it. Insta trims have the hydraulic hose on the outside going to the ram, the Bennetts have the fluid going thru the transom fitting that is flexible. At Least they used to be that way for some years. The dash rockers can be retrofitted so I wouldn't go by that alone.

I remember from years back refitting insta trim to Bennett on another boat. Bennett was extremely customer friendly as far as after sale help. Now the guy that I dealt with may be gone now, as I remember he had a presence on a forum, don't remember what one.

FYI...if you decide to change these out, be aware to follow instructions closely when it comes to screwing that bronze threaded nipple into the plastic housing. You could crack that housing if too tight or have a leak if too loose and not done right. Now that said, perhaps the newer versions no longer have that make up or at least better engineered fittings.

For me though tabs are just for getting the boat attitude the best for the sea and wind conditions which constantly change so there would be no regular setting IMO. Always ran the tabs full down for the in the marina manoeuvring not backing down though !!, it slowed the sudden boat movements down a bit.IMO.

[sbb2112]

Source of the post Yup, we had an 01 and it had Bennett tabs on it. Insta trims have the hydraulic hose on the outside going to the ram, the Bennetts have the fluid going thru the transom fitting that is flexible. At Least they used to be that way for some years. The dash rockers can be retrofitted so I wouldn't go by that alone.

I remember from years back refitting insta trim to Bennett on another boat. Bennett was extremely customer friendly as far as after sale help. Now the guy that I dealt with may be gone now, as I remember he had a presence on a forum, don't remember what one.

FYI...if you decide to change these out, be aware to follow instructions closely when it comes to screwing that bronze threaded nipple into the plastic housing. You could crack that housing if too tight or have a leak if too loose and not done right. Now that said, perhaps the newer versions no longer have that make up or at least better engineered fittings.

For me though tabs are just for getting the boat attitude the best for the sea and wind conditions which constantly change so there would be no regular setting IMO. Always ran the tabs full down for the in the marina manoeuvring not backing down though !!, it slowed the sudden boat movements down a bit.IMO.

Yes, same plastic piece where brass tube is screwed into. Would have been better to have metal insert to screw into. Just have to be careful