I plan on adding Smart Tabs to my 19' bowrider in a couple of weeks. They
cost significantly less than Bennett.
I expect the trim tabs to do a better job of getting me on plane without a
lot of bow rise, and to let me stay on plane at slower speeds. Nice for
wakeboarding and tubing with children. (I've been using a hydro-foil to
avoid bow rise for a couple of years.)
Tabs that are individually adjustable, remotely, while under power, are nice
because you can compensate for weight port and starboard. You pay the extra
money to have that convenience.
Smart Tabs are set when you install (and test ride) them; after that they
work on water pressure against the nitrogen filled cylinder. I'm hoping mine
will help with leveling the boat port/starboard when heavy people move
about, but don't know how much improvement too expect.
Trimming the outdrive only helps when on plane. I normally keep mine trimmed
all the way down; once on plane, I give it a couple of taps up and get a
little more speed/RPM as it lifts the bow up a little.

"-v-" wrote in message
m...

"werlax" wrote in message
om...
My next purchase for our 18' bowrider (4.3L Mercruiser, 14x23P, 1.81)
will be trim tabs because I like the idea of planing quicker and a
more level ride for an unbalanced load (like me sitting on one side
and my wife on the other).
Given my unfamiliarity with them, I'd like to know a couple of things.
I am comparing the Smart Tabs by Nauticus and manual adjust trim tabs
with a control at the helm. What reason would I need to manually
adjust the tabs? Will this make my outdrive trim unnecessary if I
were to go with the Smart Tabs?
Thanks for any help!

Bennett is the only way to go with trim tabs. I have used them since 1989.

You want to be able to adjust the tabs individually so you can trim out
the
boat from side to side.