Old Bennett Trim Tab Indicators and Switch

[OldSchoolBoats]

Has anyone replaced these? My Howard had them and the switch was a color matched billet and indicator frames were black.

New boat has them and they are yellowed.

I absolutely can't live with them looking like this so has anyone replaced/upgraded them. Give me some ideas!!

 

[BingerFang]

Let’s see the boat!!!!

 

[Shlbyntro]

you're going to have a hard time finding any of those. Bennett switched to a soft touch pad quite a while ago with the indicators built in. one of them is about the size of your existing switch panel but you have to wire in a control box and switch the wiring by the HPU. but then your stuck with what used to be the old indicator.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

you're going to have a hard time finding any of those. Bennett switched to a soft touch pad quite a while ago with the indicators built in. one of them is about the size of your existing switch panel but you have to wire in a control box and switch the wiring by the HPU. but then your stuck with what used to be the old indicator.

View attachment 1093808 View attachment 1093809 View attachment 1093810 View attachment 1093811

Could I replace the switch with something Iike this? Not sure what to do with the indicators though........ugh

 

[Shlbyntro]

Could I replace the switch with something Iike this? Not sure what to do with the indicators though........ugh

View attachment 1093812

should be able to. those old school switches are just basic double pole (on)/off/(on) switches. theres some basic wiring involved at the switch but nothing too challenging

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Could I replace the switch with something Iike this? Not sure what to do with the indicators though........ugh

View attachment 1093812

Bob at Marine Industries West made me a custom bezel for my trim tab switches because of the space constraints on my dash. Easy to fix Joe.

 

[rivrrts429]

Bob at Marine Industries West made me a custom bezel for my trim tab switches because of the space constraints on my dash. Easy to fix Joe.

Good advice right here ^^^

 

[Riverryder]

Stop giving him advice on his boat that he hasn’t shared with us yet! Haha

 

[BingerFang]

Stop giving him advice on his boat that he hasn’t shared with us yet! Haha

Exactly!!

 

[shunter2005]

Take them out and bleach them. Go to a beauty supply store and buy some hair bleaching product similar to below pic. Remove them from the dash and coat them (plastic only) with the stuff, put them in a plastic bag (keeps the product from drying out) and set them in direct sun for a couple of days. They will come out almost white again.

Before and After

 

[Flying_Lavey]

should be able to. those old school switches are just basic double pole (on)/off/(on) switches. theres some basic wiring involved at the switch but nothing too challenging

That's double throw. A double pole double throw switch would have 6 connections. A Single pole double throw would have 3.

 

[OldSchoolBoats]

Take them out and bleach them. Go to a beauty supply store and buy some hair bleaching product similar to below pic. Remove them from the dash and coat them (plastic only) with the stuff, put them in a plastic bag (keeps the product from drying out) and set them in direct sun for a couple of days. They will come out almost white again.

Before and After

Damn, that turned out great! The plastic frames just pop off? How did you remove them?

 

[TrojanDan]

Bennett Trim Tabs

Just wondering where to buy the o-rings for the actuators ? Some place online even. No eBay though. thanks in advance !

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[shunter2005]

Damn, that turned out great! The plastic frames just pop off? How did you remove them?

No, the frames don't pop off, but just like most gauges, they have a bracket on the back held on by a nut. If you zoom in to the bottom left of the pic below you can see. Not the best, but you'll get the idea. Unplug the tape wiring from the gauge and take them out. I don't think the product will hurt the glass, but I tried to keep the stuff off of it, just in case. Make sure you keep the solution wet. The plastic baggie will help. If they look like they are drying out, just put more solution on them. The longer you leave it in the sun, the whiter they will get.

Guess it would help if I loaded the pic for you.

 

[02HoWaRd26]

I’ve done a few in the past years. Talk to Bob at MIW at shop with cash in your hand he will take care of you. On @Springfield ’s boat we had a new card made, than sent to hydrodip then Livorsi for that perfect match to his new gauges.

There are always ways to rehab things just sometimes is a little a little expensive and complicated but to go full modern is way more money and way more expensive.

 

[RiverDave]

Prime marine used to install metal faced switches that were that size. I’d bet they’d be a drop in replacement

 

[Yoshiro]

You can replace those old yellowed switches on the bennet system. I got the below switch from Eddie Marine. I found a diagram at the time online that told me where to hook up each wire. It was easy. (see attached wiring diagram)

 

[BUDMAN]

Stop giving him advice on his boat that he hasn’t shared with us yet! Haha

Can I give him advice?

 

[Riverryder]

Can I give him advice?

no we should all ignore him until he shares the boat with us hahaha.