OK here goes, I'm hungover so bear with me. It doesn't take much nowadays.
So the catalyst for this decision was my LED switch acting up. I had the LED switch that connected to a separate and rather large Lenco box inside my console. Unfortunately Lenco doesn't sell this switch anymore so if mine shit the bed I'd have to buy the new version which doesn't have a separate box since the brains are in the switch itself.
Anyway, I've thought about converting to an automated trim tab system for a few years and before I entertained the idea of a system like Zipwake but was discouraged by some of the reviews. When I came across Lectrotab recently (which I never heard of) it was billed as this plug and play easy to install system that was compatible with Lenco actuators. I read/researched what I could find online and watched a few videos and I was impressed, almost seemed to good to be true. I revisited the other option from Lenco and Bemnet and read some some not so good reviews, specifically reports of these systems having a tendency to overreact etc only for the owner to shut the auto feature off all together. I could not find any negative reviews on Lectrotab who BTW is based out of Richmond, VA. In fact one of their senior reps was initially a customer of Lectrotab and was so impressed with the system, he went to work for Lectrotab.
I placed the order and the switch showed up a few days later and I was surprised to see this tiny box it showed up in. I opened the box and it was just this rather simplistic looking LED switch. It was pretty flat, no bulky backside, just the plug where you connect the actuator wires. I was asking my self how they got this functionality out of this simple looking switch.
Install:
Started with me removing the old switch, then I pulled out the Lenco box. I cut the wire bundle coming out of the box (which was nerve racking knowing right then I had no trim tabs) cut the insulation to expose the power, remote and actuator wires which I stripped back.
I took the template for the switch and drilled the 2 holes. I also had to modify/open up the hole a bit with a Dremel to accommodate the plug connection on the back side of the new switch.
I connected the 7 wires, followed the simple initial calibration instructions and it was ALIVE! There is also an on the water calibration which literally takes 4 seconds. This is to program your desired running attitude at cruise. This is the benchmark by which the system tries to attain and maintain while cruising.
Unfortunately, this didn't go to well for me because as it turned out I got a couple of wires backwards so the tabs were going up when they should have gone down, and the wrong side was lighting up on the LED when I pressed the bow down button for port or starboard.
Needless to say the boat didn't handle as expected. Back to the dock to switch the wires.....
Tools - wire strippers, wire cutter, Dremel and a small flathead.
It was really that easy to install.
Test:
OK with the wires connected properly and my running attitude programed it was time for an on water test. We had good conditions to try this out, it was a little swelly with a stiff breeze out of the east just the type of conditions that would cause my boat to heel and me to use some tab to correct depending on the direction I was traveling.
I ran out at 33 mph, set the AP to get the boat on a straight line track which also freed me up to observe the system in operation. At first I was taking quartering swells and a quartering wind to my port which causes my boat to heal slightly to port. I set the switch to auto and shortly after I noticed a blinking starboard led indicating it was deploying my port tab to bring my starboard bow down to level the boat out. Cool.
As I ran a large circle in open water to take the swells and wind from various directions which would effect my running attitude differently the Lectrotab switch was blinking in response to changing conditions and my boats running attitude to try and maintain a level ride. I wanted to habitually touch my tabs to correct running attitude in response to the wind/waves but the system just did its thing. Wow.
Also interesting as I headed back to the creek where I reduced my speed since we have some narrow S curve channels, as my speed came down, naturally the bow goes up and obstructs visibility, in response Lectrotab deployed the tabs in an effort to lower the bow. The slower I went the higher the bow would go and the more it would deploy the tabs. At this point I was going maybe 18mph and the tabs were almost fully deployed in response to the boats pitch.
As I came off plane in our creek going 7mph the system fully retacted the tabs.
Normally I don't deploy my tabs under these conditions so the system definitely activates the tabs way more than I would, which I don't think is a bad thing especially when your talking about trying to keep the bow down to provide better visibility from the helm. For me it was more of a psychological battle knowing the tabs were fully deployed at those speeds and i normally dont use them but in the end the boat ran great.
My wife and I later ran by boat to a restaurant for dinner.. I hopped in the boat flipped my battery switches and Lectrotab was still in "auto" because that's how I left it which I thought was cool. I dont have to activate auto every time I hop in the boat, I just hop in and go and not even think about the tabs.
So in conclusion and based on my limited experience I am really impressed so far. I actually found myself at times not even thinking about tab adjustments because I didn't have too, the system took care of that. It allows me to focus on the basics - the water, throttles and steering the boat. The other thing is, if you only want to use the system at cruise because for whatever reason you dont want the system deploying your tabs at slower/semi displacement speeds the 'auto' feature can be turned off or on by a push of the button. I am not sure if I would ever turn it off. In fact I see myself eventually forgetting all about my trim tabs, well except for the reminder of the blinking red led light when the system is doing its thing.
The other unintended benefit is, I was able to remove a few more wires and black box from the rats nest of wires and cables in the console so it freed up some space.
Preliminary I'd recommend this system to anyone that finds they have to adjust their trim tabs frequently in response to weight distribution, prop torque, wind or waves and or if your boat tends to run bow proud. I could also see this system as a benefit for anyone that tows a skier or tube as it will help keep the bow down.
Me likey!