Lenco 12"x12" Standard Trim Tab Kit LED Switch 12V Complete

The Lenco 15109-103 is the complete trim tab kit - everything you need to install a Lenco trim tab system on a 17-to-30-foot boat in one box. Two trim tab blades (the metal plates that hinge down off the transom and create lift to adjust running attitude), two electric ballscrew actuators (the motors that move the blades up and down), the LED-indicator switch kit (the helm-mounted control with position display), and all the mounting hardware, brackets, and wiring extensions needed for a typical install. For boat owners adding trim tabs to a boat that didn't come with them, this kit is the right starting point - no hunting for separate components, no compatibility surprises, no missing brackets discovered halfway through the install.

What trim tabs actually do. Trim tabs are metal plates hinged off the bottom edge of the boat's transom. When deployed (rotated downward into the water flow), they create lift on the back of the boat - which trims the bow down, gets the boat onto plane faster, lets the boat plane at lower speeds, and reduces porpoising in chop. Different deployment angles between port and starboard tabs adjust the boat's lateral trim - useful for compensating for uneven loading, single-side passenger weight, or wind pressure on a bow-mounted hardtop. For boats that don't have trim tabs, adding them meaningfully improves ride quality and fuel efficiency at planing speeds.

12-inch x 12-inch standard tab size. The 12 x 12 inch tab blade is the right size for boats in the 17-30 foot class - meaningful surface area to generate useful lift without being so large that the tabs protrude excessively below the keel line at full deployment. For smaller boats (under 17 feet), Lenco offers smaller 9-inch or 10-inch variants. For larger boats (over 30 feet), the 12 x 24 inch and larger sport variants give more lift authority. The 12 x 12 inch tab is the default sizing for the typical recreational center-console, sportfish, walkaround, or cruiser-class boat.

12-gauge 304 stainless steel blades. The blade material is laser-cut 12-gauge (2.7 mm) 304 stainless steel - the marine-grade stainless that handles saltwater service without significant corrosion over a typical decade-plus service life. The 12-gauge thickness is the right balance: stiff enough to resist deflection under hydrodynamic load (a flexing tab loses lift authority), thin enough not to add excessive drag at non-deployed positions or weight to the boat. The 5/8-inch flared trailing edge improves the blade's hydrodynamic efficiency (cleaner water release at the trailing edge). The 1/8-inch diameter hinge pin handles the cyclic loads of typical trim tab deployment without fatigue failure.

Ballscrew actuators - meaningfully better than hydraulic. Lenco's electric ballscrew actuators are the company's signature design - twice as powerful as equivalent hydraulic actuators of the same physical size, three times more reliable in the long term (no hydraulic fluid to leak, no hydraulic pump to fail, no spool valves to stick), and instant electrical response (no hydraulic spool-up time). The fast-response characteristic is meaningful in real fishing or cruising conditions - press the up or down button at the helm, the tabs move immediately. For boats that need responsive trim adjustment in changing chop conditions, the electric actuator beats the hydraulic alternative for usability.

Fully submersible actuators. The Lenco actuators are fully submersible - the actuator cylinder operates fully underwater on every trim tab deployment cycle and the seals handle this indefinitely without water intrusion into the motor or the ballscrew mechanism. Cheaper trim tab actuators with poor sealing eventually flood and fail, especially in saltwater service. The Lenco design is engineered for the marine environment.

Plug-and-play Deutsch waterproof connections. Every electrical connection in the kit uses the Deutsch DT-series waterproof connector standard - the actuators have Deutsch connectors on their leads, the switch has Deutsch connectors on its harness, the extension cables have Deutsch connectors at both ends. Snap the connectors together, lock the integrated tabs, and the connections are sealed against water intrusion. No bare-wire splicing, no crimping, no electrical tape required.

LED Indicator Integrated Tactile Switch (the 15170-001 keypad). The included switch is the modern Lenco all-in-one switch with LED position indicator, photo-eye auto-dimming, and integrated control box electronics (no separate control box required). Two LED indicators show exact tab position at all times, the photo-eye dims the LEDs at night and brightens them in daylight, and the keypad face is backlit for night-time button visibility. Plug-and-play install via the Deutsch connectors. The 36-inch power pigtail runs to the 12V accessory bus through a 5A inline fuse.

Mounting brackets included. The kit includes upper mounting brackets (the brackets that bolt the trim tab assembly to the underside of the transom) with mechanical cable gland seals (which keep water from migrating up the actuator cable into the boat through the transom penetration), and lower mounting brackets (the hinges that connect the trim tab blade to the upper bracket). Both bracket pairs are corrosion-resistant for saltwater service.

Actuator extension harnesses - 20 feet. The kit includes two 20-foot actuator extension harnesses for boats where the typical 6-foot actuator lead doesn't reach the helm. For very large boats (28-30 foot range with the helm meaningfully forward of the transom), the extensions cover the cable run. For shorter boats, the extensions may not be needed but are still included so you have flexibility for cable routing.

Boat length range 17-30 feet. The 12 x 12 inch tab kit is sized for boats in the 17-to-30-foot length-overall range. Smaller boats get less hydrodynamic benefit from this size tab (and the tabs may protrude below the keel line at full deployment, creating drag at non-deployed positions). Larger boats need more lift authority than the 12 x 12 inch tab provides and would benefit from the larger 12 x 24 inch or sport variants.

Install. Determine the trim tab mounting location on the transom (typically 2-4 inches from the chine for the typical hull profile). Bolt the upper mounting brackets to the transom using the supplied stainless hardware (drill mounting holes through the transom, use marine sealant in the holes). Attach the trim tab blades to the upper brackets via the lower bracket / hinge pin assembly. Mount the actuators to the upper brackets and connect the actuator rod end to the trim tab blade. Run the actuator extension harnesses from the actuators forward to the helm location. Mount the keypad in the helm cutout and connect the helm-side Deutsch connectors. Wire the power pigtail to the 12V accessory bus through a 5A fuse. Total install time is typically 6-10 hours for a competent boat owner with reasonable mechanical and electrical skills.

Three-year warranty. Lenco's standard warranty terms apply.