Trim Tab travel

[coreychamness]

How far should the actuator travel for the trim tabs? I'm on an R-31 and I am a tad bow - height this summer from what I can recall with the sight picture. The trim tabs only move a couple inches and our max speed is barely 15kts WOT.

 

[ronnieg]

Hi Cory,
Your trim tabs will move down about 2 to 3 inches if fully deployed. What is the fluid level in your reservoir??? Is there a lot of growth on the boat bottom this will slow your boat down

 

[coreychamness]

Ronnie, I think mine move about 2. I have filled the reservoir a couple times - most recently a couple weeks ago. I will check it again. I did notice a bit of oil sheen on surface after moving up and down and wondered if a tiny seepage was normal. I also try to ensure I run the hatch ram closed until the sound changes trying to ensure as much fluid as possible is pumped out of the engine hatch. I have definitely experienced an inability to deploy when I have not done that. There is some growth in bottom but definitely not severe. I experienced slowdown last season due to slime/algae but only drop to 17/18 kts or so. This is a lot so I hope there is something additional.

 

[coreychamness]

I definitely have at least one leaky actuator. My reservoir is empty when I fully deploy which leads me to believe if there was more fluid, they would travel further. See the sheen on the water in the pic below.

 

[Brian B]

If they are Bennets give them a call and they will probably replace the actuators for you. Speak to a service rep about how they will position the new piston for easier installation.

 

[ronnieg]

Clean your bottom of all the growth and you will see the speed increase. Even a little growth decreases the speed.
If your actuators are leaking please contact your dealer and have him take a look at them. The dealer will then contact Bennett and get this issue resolved

 

[coreychamness]

Looks like my pic was too big to post.

Ronnie, I am definitely aware of the growth sensitivity having documented that last year. That got me from 22 down to 17 but I have less growth this year and I'm down to 14.2 gal/hr and 14.3 kts WOT so I looked for an additional cause.