Auto Tab Retractor

charlieft

charlieft

Member
Nov 14, 2006
166
Plymouth, MA
Boat Info
2003 300 Sundancer,
Engines
T-350 Magnum w/Bravo III
Hi,

I was checking out my boat today and I decided to test the trim tab operation (engine was off). I was alone and no matter how long (within reason) that I held the swirch to put the tabs down ... when I went around back to check them they were always all the way up. ???

Does Sea Ray implement the Bennett Auto Tab retraction feature? I just read about this feature and it would explain the behavior ... I think??
I'll have to get someone to go down there with me ... or wait for them to put the drive back on so I can crank up the engine.

Thanks,
Charlie
2004 260DA
350 Magnum BIII
 
Last edited:
The ATR requires a switched lead to be opened for it to actuate. If your boat has one and it is wired to whatever switch you activated, the tabs will go up. But, I would change the wiring if what you did causes the ATR to work. Consider wiring the switched lead to your electronics or accessory switch so that the ATR works when you intend to shut the boat down.

Incidently, the ATR is the best less than $100 add-on you can find for your boat if you don't have one.
 
Thanks for the info Frank.

I guess tabs are not a very provocative subject.

-C
 
I've always been surprised that very few people even consider using the ATR..........particularly when you consider that they are invisible and fit under the panel and have the ability to save you $4-$500 every time you forget your tabs and leave them down.
 
How much and how hard is this to install? Seems like a nice thing to have, not that I've forgotten to bring my trim tabs up but how does it know if they are down or up and how does it know when they are all the way up?
 
I replaced my trim tab switches this year because.......
The new bennett switches come with the ATR feature built in along with the TPI.

It is very cooooollllll.
The LED's let you know where the tabs are - at all times - I love that.
And when I power down my "electronics" switch, the tabs automatically come back up.
I wired it to my electrinics switch myself for that reason.

So, the point is, like Frank said, there may be a switch that is wired in already that you need to check. It could be your ignition switch or something else as well. Check your wiring diagrams.
 
I understand that ATR can be installed on older boats without the Sea Ray EIM switching. Is there a way to incorporate ATR on a boat that has the trim tab switches operating through the EIM?

Henry
 
Henry......beats me!

Call Tom McGow at Bennett and knowing Tom he'll almost come to your boat and do it for you.

The ATR is a sealed black box with several wires that you attach to your trim switch, to a ground, to a constant hot and to a switched hot lead. My last one took me about 5 minutes to hook up.
 
Ok whos got and done the ATR on newer SeaRays?

SeaRay didn't use Bennit's switches on my trim tabs but it appears to be bennet trim tabs on the boat.

I've been going back and forth with MJ at Bennet via email on what I need to get.

Can I just attach this ATR to my current setup? 06 240 Sundeck or do I need to switch out a bunch of stuff?
 
Not trying to break your chops or anything but just so you know ATR's are common knowledge here.
 
Wow ! I guess my chops were busted.
I have put Auto Tab Controls on the last 4 boats I have owned.
See post from last winter for present boat.
I have heard of ATR, but the only reference on the Bennett site is in the parts list and pricing.
Have not to my knowledge, been on a boat with them either.
No pictures, instructions or FAQ's
Maybe I missed something in the past 30+ years on Lake Michigan.
 
I installed the ATR last year when I replaced the rocker switches.
Downside is when drift fishing, I have to remember to put the tabs down every time when re-starting the engines after the drift.
I like the idea of wiring to the acc (electronics) switch instead of the ignition hot lead.
 
kazie said:
Not trying to break your chops or anything but just so you know ATR's are common knowledge here.
Click to expand...
Its always new info for someone, like me. How will leaving the tabs down cost me $400-$500? I have to investigate whether I have this now. It seems like a nice feature to always have the tabs in some default starting position every time you power up.
 
JV,

It's not really a problem for those who slip their boats. However, if you trailer or dry stack you boat. I have seen tabs and actuators damaged by the lifting arms of marina bulls and trailer bunks when the tabs are left in the down position. If you don't have ATR, just remember to leave your tabs up when you have the boat pulled for service or have it installed.
 
Physical damage isn't the only reason. If you are in an area that supports marine growth, an ATR is a tremendous advantage, but for different reasons. If you leave your tabs extended, barnacles, slime, worms, etc. can grow on the actuators and when you retract the tabs, the residue can damage the ram seals.

The ATR is the best money I have ever spent on my boat.
 
Well it only took me a year to install the auto tab retractor module on my 280SS. It was a straight forward install and the hardest thing to do was mounting the module. 6 wires needed connecting and I did the majority of them right on the tab switches. The module after retracting the tabs does click rather loudly and rapidly sounding like a battery shorting out. Caught me off guard the first time it happened. I placed my fingers on the module and verified that was where the noise was coming from. A couple of ring terminals and spade connectors and it was done.
 
I installed a momentary rocker switch on my instrument panel for the ATR, any time I can retract the tabs by just pressing the rocker switch.
 
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