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Author Topic:   Trim Tabs on 22'Daunt;less???

fnbray posted 08-13-2001 12:48 PM ET (US)
Dear Group: I have a pretty good deal offered me by a dealer with a left over 22' Dauntless with a 225 hp Optimax. The probelm is that the boat does not have the trim tab option. From your experience, are trim tabs necessary? Thanks
gf posted 08-15-2001 10:16 AM ET (US)

Have the dealer add Bennett trim tabs. It should cost around $500.
B Bear posted 08-15-2001 10:27 AM ET (US)
You would be happier with trim tabs.
Wild Turkey posted 08-15-2001 11:47 AM ET (US)
fnbray... You should really read the threads about Optimax's in the Post-Classics section before you purchase the boat.
Just my $.02.
Chris
lhg posted 08-15-2001 08:40 PM ET (US)
Wild Turkey makes an excellent point. If you want the boat, have him swap it out with a 225 EFI instead. You'll even get more speed out of it.
dauntlass 18 posted 08-15-2001 11:35 PM ET (US)
If you can sea try a Dauntless with tabs and one with out tabs you may find tabs are not nessary. Also a Dole Fin on cavitation may help to get boat on plane at lower rpm for a lot less cost.I have Dole Fin & trim tabs I had Dole Fin first and added tabs later. I think Dole Fin got boat on plane at lower rpm On my boat I am too heavy handed on the trim tab switch but a person with a more gentle touch has corrected list, chine walk to port side.I have owned two Opti Max engines a 1998 150 hp and now 2000 200hp with no problems maybe I am just luckey.
Wild Turkey posted 08-16-2001 09:11 AM ET (US)
Dauntless 18... I' don't think Mercury has been having problems with the 135, 150, 200 HP Optimaxs's. If you read the Post Classics threads, the problems have been with the higher horsepower 225 and 250 models.
lhg posted 08-16-2001 12:37 PM ET (US)
The problems have been with the 3 litre block, the 200's and 225's. They don't make a 250 yet. The 2.5 litre 135's and 150's are evidently pretty good, although they run much noisier than the same 2.5 Litre EFI's.
I think it's the air compressor pump.
fnbray posted 08-16-2001 05:31 PM ET (US)
Wild Turkey et al: Thanks for your advice. I will get the trim tabs and forget about the optimax. Found a host of horror stories on the net and Merc even stopped production on the Optimax. In the catalogue, BW does not have an engine weight limit on the 22 Dauntless as they do on the smaller models. Can the 22 Dauntless handle the weight of a Honda? I hear Honda is coming out with a 225hp 4 stroke but do not know the weight of it. There is a Whaler an 18 ft whaler in our marina with a 130hp Honda on it. According to the catalogue the Honda exceeds the recommended weight limit and the boat does not seem to sit right in the water. The owner, however, is very happy with it. Does the absence of a weight limit in the BW catlogue imply that the larger BWs can handle what the market offers? Excuse all the questions, but my wife says this is the last boat I'm buying and I can't afford to make any mistakes--if you know what I mean. FB
kingfish posted 08-16-2001 06:12 PM ET (US)
If you are going to get trim tabs, give electric tabs (i.e., Lenco) a good hard look. Hydraulics have sort of been the "generic" over the years, and for a long time they were really the only game in town, but that has changed. I opted for Lencos on my Outrage 22 because I didn't want to lose space to a hydraulic pump, and their stated simplicity of installation and operation appealed to me. Having run them for most of a season now, I am more convinced than ever that they are the way to go. And with a 22' boat, go for 12"x12" tabs, whichever type you settle on.
kingfish
Wild Turkey posted 08-16-2001 06:24 PM ET (US)
lhg...
Thanks for the correction on the Optimax HP's.
I really think we have the obligation to inform boat buyers about Mercury's Opimax problems (dealer certainly won't).
Believe me... I have nothing against Mercury. I just don't want fellow Whalers to fall into the same situation Juris is in.
JE Mejia posted 08-17-2001 12:22 AM ET (US)
I own a 22 Dauntless with a 200 Yamaha HPDI, no trim tabs. I would be really surprised if you ever needed trim tabs UNLESS you added a jack plate. The boat jumps on plane even with a full load and is really wide and stable, so weight distribution does not become an issue even with four large guys around. Given the layout of the boat, I would recommend LENCO tabs, not Bennetts, because there is no easy place to put your hydraulic pump.

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Author	Topic: Trim Tabs on 22'Daunt;less???
fnbray	posted 08-13-2001 12:48 PM ET (US) Dear Group: I have a pretty good deal offered me by a dealer with a left over 22' Dauntless with a 225 hp Optimax. The probelm is that the boat does not have the trim tab option. From your experience, are trim tabs necessary? Thanks
gf	posted 08-15-2001 10:16 AM ET (US) Have the dealer add Bennett trim tabs. It should cost around $500.
B Bear	posted 08-15-2001 10:27 AM ET (US) You would be happier with trim tabs.
Wild Turkey	posted 08-15-2001 11:47 AM ET (US) fnbray... You should really read the threads about Optimax's in the Post-Classics section before you purchase the boat. Just my $.02. Chris
lhg	posted 08-15-2001 08:40 PM ET (US) Wild Turkey makes an excellent point. If you want the boat, have him swap it out with a 225 EFI instead. You'll even get more speed out of it.
dauntlass 18	posted 08-15-2001 11:35 PM ET (US) If you can sea try a Dauntless with tabs and one with out tabs you may find tabs are not nessary. Also a Dole Fin on cavitation may help to get boat on plane at lower rpm for a lot less cost.I have Dole Fin & trim tabs I had Dole Fin first and added tabs later. I think Dole Fin got boat on plane at lower rpm On my boat I am too heavy handed on the trim tab switch but a person with a more gentle touch has corrected list, chine walk to port side.I have owned two Opti Max engines a 1998 150 hp and now 2000 200hp with no problems maybe I am just luckey.
Wild Turkey	posted 08-16-2001 09:11 AM ET (US) Dauntless 18... I' don't think Mercury has been having problems with the 135, 150, 200 HP Optimaxs's. If you read the Post Classics threads, the problems have been with the higher horsepower 225 and 250 models.
lhg	posted 08-16-2001 12:37 PM ET (US) The problems have been with the 3 litre block, the 200's and 225's. They don't make a 250 yet. The 2.5 litre 135's and 150's are evidently pretty good, although they run much noisier than the same 2.5 Litre EFI's. I think it's the air compressor pump.
fnbray	posted 08-16-2001 05:31 PM ET (US) Wild Turkey et al: Thanks for your advice. I will get the trim tabs and forget about the optimax. Found a host of horror stories on the net and Merc even stopped production on the Optimax. In the catalogue, BW does not have an engine weight limit on the 22 Dauntless as they do on the smaller models. Can the 22 Dauntless handle the weight of a Honda? I hear Honda is coming out with a 225hp 4 stroke but do not know the weight of it. There is a Whaler an 18 ft whaler in our marina with a 130hp Honda on it. According to the catalogue the Honda exceeds the recommended weight limit and the boat does not seem to sit right in the water. The owner, however, is very happy with it. Does the absence of a weight limit in the BW catlogue imply that the larger BWs can handle what the market offers? Excuse all the questions, but my wife says this is the last boat I'm buying and I can't afford to make any mistakes--if you know what I mean. FB
kingfish	posted 08-16-2001 06:12 PM ET (US) If you are going to get trim tabs, give electric tabs (i.e., Lenco) a good hard look. Hydraulics have sort of been the "generic" over the years, and for a long time they were really the only game in town, but that has changed. I opted for Lencos on my Outrage 22 because I didn't want to lose space to a hydraulic pump, and their stated simplicity of installation and operation appealed to me. Having run them for most of a season now, I am more convinced than ever that they are the way to go. And with a 22' boat, go for 12"x12" tabs, whichever type you settle on. kingfish
Wild Turkey	posted 08-16-2001 06:24 PM ET (US) lhg... Thanks for the correction on the Optimax HP's. I really think we have the obligation to inform boat buyers about Mercury's Opimax problems (dealer certainly won't). Believe me... I have nothing against Mercury. I just don't want fellow Whalers to fall into the same situation Juris is in.
JE Mejia	posted 08-17-2001 12:22 AM ET (US) I own a 22 Dauntless with a 200 Yamaha HPDI, no trim tabs. I would be really surprised if you ever needed trim tabs UNLESS you added a jack plate. The boat jumps on plane even with a full load and is really wide and stable, so weight distribution does not become an issue even with four large guys around. Given the layout of the boat, I would recommend LENCO tabs, not Bennetts, because there is no easy place to put your hydraulic pump.