G8rfisher Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 I currently have Bennett trim tabs with the upgraded cylinders and switch that shows tab position. I have had them less than 6 months and one cylinder is already shot and the connections are not great. I am thinking of moving to Lenco. I am looking for opinions between Bennett and Lenco. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarleyG8r Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Had 3 boats with Lencos. My folks have had 3 with Bennetts. I've replaced every Lenco actuator at least once, a couple of them twice, all at my expense. Bennett, I've barely had an issue, the two times I did, one time they sent me new parts out of warranty for free, the other, they talked me through fixing it on the phone. Get your Bennetts right, and stick with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Tyler Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Lenco for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 So do you have the new Bennett Electric tabs? I haven't anything about them, but it looks like they have a good warranty. I have had a few Lenco actuators go out, so the move might not be as hassle free as you would wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G8rfisher Posted June 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 14 minutes ago, hurricane said: So do you have the new Bennett Electric tabs? I haven't anything about them, but it looks like they have a good warranty. I have had a few Lenco actuators go out, so the move might not be as hassle free as you would wish. Hurricane, I have the hydraulic Bennett's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Wow, I have never heard of any issue with the hydraulic systems, they have been around since Noah put tabs on the ark......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G8rfisher Posted June 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Maybe I shouldn't have upgraded the switches and made it more complicated. Maybe I should go back to the basic Bennett's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 19 minutes ago, G8rfisher said: Maybe I shouldn't have upgraded the switches and made it more complicated. Maybe I should go back to the basic Bennett's. that would be my plan. never saw a need for showing where the tabs are. look and feel of the boat tells all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemott Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 12 hours ago, G8rfisher said: I currently have Bennett trim tabs with the upgraded cylinders and switch that shows tab position. I have had them less than 6 months and one cylinder is already shot and the connections are not great. I am thinking of moving to Lenco. I am looking for opinions between Bennett and Lenco. Thank you! Have LENCO on a 2012 boat and never look at the settings. Between trim of the motor and adjusting the tabs the attitude of the boat tells me where I should be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 I've had Lenco's on a PF 2000 model 2400v and a PF 2009 model 2200XL and have only replaced one motor / cylinder in 12 years. Boats get used almost every weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imsnookyrd Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 I have owned my 2001 2200v since new and just replaced my first Lenco actuator. I would rather not have an extra pump taking up space so it's Lenco for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G8rfisher Posted June 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 imsnookryd, that is also part of what I was thinking - one less pump is good for me but not familiar with Lenco electric tabs. I appreciate all this info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imsnookyrd Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 The part that failed was a seal, when I took it off and opened it up it was full of water. I figure it wasn't Lenco's fault, seals can go bad on anything, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Thats the same thing that has happened to me. Agree one time, things just happen. However when happens much more often, the manufacture should do something. That said, I will still use Lenco, because I don't want the pump either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telltail Posted June 28, 2016 Report Share Posted June 28, 2016 Bennett's are usually pretty bulletproof--not saying stuff doesn't happen. But, I can say Bennett's customer service is one of the best in the business. Call Tom, or Tabman on the forums, and I guarantee he'll get ya taken care of! Tight lines!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveC Posted June 29, 2016 Report Share Posted June 29, 2016 If you could define what "shot" is it would help us try to determine the issue, since you have hydraulic tabs I (is it a new boat installation or refit?) the issue is probably related to the o rings at the top of the upper hinge where the cylinder meets. If that is your cylinder has failed? If it's shot wiring at a connection then I'd just redo it and seal it properly? These actuators are really bullet proof but like anything else they need to be removed and reinstalled correctly or you'll have issue like any other electro mechanical boat part. At 6 months you are well within your warranty period and the CS team at Bennett will take care of you for sure... If you are compelled to go to an electric setup you really should try the Bennett Bolt, you can eliminate the pump and the actuator setup is easy, the controls will work with the new actuators and the design is superior to the market. Limited lifetime warranty too (I am pretty sure?).... Good luck, it's easy to fix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HewesYourDaddy Posted June 30, 2016 Report Share Posted June 30, 2016 Never had a single issue with my Bennett hydraulic tabs. I will always chose Bennett over Lenco. Have had too many friends with Lenco actuator problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabman Posted July 1, 2016 Report Share Posted July 1, 2016 On 6/27/2016 at 8:20 PM, G8rfisher said: I currently have Bennett trim tabs with the upgraded cylinders and switch that shows tab position. I have had them less than 6 months and one cylinder is already shot and the connections are not great. I am thinking of moving to Lenco. I am looking for opinions between Bennett and Lenco. Thank you! G8r, Can you tell me what you mean by "Shot" and what other issues you are having? Let me know and I will be delighted to help me. You can contact me at Tabmanhelp@gmail.com I check that more often than this forum. Tom McGow Bennett Marine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polliwog Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 I have Bennets on my 20ft LT hewes that are originals in 1998,still fine,so that's where I would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooks V Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 I like the lenco actuators better still have the original on my maverick . there faster and less parts to install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstdue Posted July 9, 2016 Report Share Posted July 9, 2016 All of the boats I have owned have had tabs on them, primarily Bennett hydraulic, never had a single issue with the exception of a bad tank on the pump that was replaced by Bennett w/o question and way out of warranty! The Lenco's to me seem slower on my 24 TE, than they were on my Maverick and I have replaced both of the actuators, and the switch on my boat, not bad for 8 years but customer service is what makes a business and Lenco is weak at best on it. If I was building to order or replacing them it would be going with the Bennett system, but I also have the room for another pump vs a smaller boat! Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarpon Terry Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Have had both. Bennett warranty and customer service cant be beat. That said, my Lenco's on 2006 boat have never failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawg Posted July 13, 2016 Report Share Posted July 13, 2016 I put Lenco's on a 23 Mako that I rebuilt. They lasted 2+ years with about 250 hours of use before the first one failed due to water leaking past the seals. I called Lenco and they told me to go buy a new actuator. 2 months later, the second actuator failed due to water intrusion past the seals. I couldn't se any future in replacing the actuators every 2 or 3 years so I installed Bennetts. I had run Bennetts for 25 years on my 17 Mako and never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slo Poke1 Posted July 16, 2016 Report Share Posted July 16, 2016 Have only had my 2003 2200V with Lenco tabs for only s year, do I can't say much about them. Previous boat had Bennett tabs for 30 years before a problem, then customer service was second to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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