Electric Trim System

[Fastjeff57]

I waited a year until I had this system perfected before posting it, if anyone wants to build one.

To wit: An electric Lenco trim tab cylinder (about a hundred bucks) rotates a cam that raises the tower about 3 pin holes. The obvious advantage of this system is light weight: the whole works is less than 3 pounds (and it’s all steel—Fastjeff wonder metal. Aluminum fabrication would trim some weight.) A DPDT momentary switch works the Lenco with two relays (one relay for + and one for -) to handle the amp load for Trim Out. With minimal load on the system during Trim In, the switch contacts alone handle the amps.

A ½ inch smooth rod is used for the camshaft, rotating in holes drilled through the clamp brackets (where that cross rod was bolted). A piece of 3/8 “ pipe with the cams welded to it is clamped to the ½ “ rod via two set screws in drilled holes. The cams push against an 1/8 “ pipe that rolls freely on the 5/16 “ rod that was used for the neutral/ reverse locking system. (To prevent bending of this rod, the cams are located to the extreme ends.)

After trying to mount the foot long Lenco cylinder to push directly on the arm of the camshaft, I instead made up a simple rocking arm to put it inside the boat instead. Not only is this a neater installation, the rocker arm allows adjustment for various strokes, which helps tailor the system.

That’s it. Nice and simple, fairly easy to make, lightweight, uses less than120 bucks in materials, and it works!

Fastjeff