Trim Tabs with Hermco Bracket

[RUSTYNTABATHA]

Bennett is all I recommend !!

[Handful in NC]

I didn't want to modify that beautiful Hermco bracket, nor have anything protruding from the transom to get bashed or stepped on, and installed Volvo QL tabs. They did not hold up. After the 4th tab failure, I found HydroTabs as a replacement. They are interceptor/blades and about the sturdiest device I've ever put on a boat - very stout stainless steel. They work very well.

http://www.hydrotab.gr/en/

The Hydrotab installation instructions have one major omission. They are designed for a transom that is perpendicular to the boat bottom, more common in the larger boats for which they are designed. The Seacraft transom is raked aft - sorry, I don't recall the proper nautical term - and if installed at the bottom edge of the transom as instructed, the back edge of the unit will project below the bottom and never be clear of moving water, possibly creating some undesirable drag or lift. (Plus, the water rises up after it leaves the transom, as all bracket owners know.) I got too far along in the installation process before realizing this, and didn't have time to fix it. The correction is to mount them higher on the transom, or place a custom made wedge, which means more %$#@* work and holes in my transom. I'll add photos of the Hyrdotabs later for others to see and avoid my mistake. Let me emphasize, this was my installation error, and not a Hydrotabs flaw.

Here is the Volvo QL tab.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...1&d=1467064926

[BA17]

Thanks for all of the advice everyone. I really like the hydro tab, but I am going with a Bennett Bolt. I have had several conversations with Tabman Tom and he let me know that Bennett is coming out with the Bolt 1212ED. This tab only requires 7" of clearance. Should fit under the bracket without having to modify the bracket. I called Wholesale Marine and they were able to order me a pair. They are not listed anywhere online, but can be ordered. Bennett advised Wholesale marine that the tabs would ship in approximately 5 days. I like the interceptor style of trim tab, but a little gun shy after the QL's. Bennett's seem to last forever.
Thanks again for the help/suggestions/advice,
BA

[Rufneck]

I recently had the same issue. I spoke with somebody at Bennett and he told me to send in my actuators and that they would replace (or modify) the ones I had and will return them to me 10 3/4". I have not yet received them, but I wish I had known about the Bolt 1212ED because with only 7" of clearance, I could have moved the tabs further outboard.