Bennett Joystick Helm Control for Electric Trim Tabs

The Bennett JOY1000 Joystick Helm Control (Electric Only) is the joystick-style trim tab control that Bennett Marine designed for owners who want the most intuitive and direct trim tab operation possible. Tilt the joystick the way you want the bow to go and the tabs respond exactly that way. No buttons to learn, no rocker switches to fumble in chop, no left-tab-down-then-right-tab-down sequences to remember. The control just feels right from the first time you touch it. Plug-and-play connection directly to Bennett electric trim tab actuators, automatic tab retraction when the ignition is switched off, and the same Bennett build quality that has defined the trim tab category for decades.

What this control replaces. Most boats with electric trim tabs come with a basic two-rocker switch panel: one rocker for the port tab, one for the starboard tab, each with up and down positions. The rockers work fine but they require you to think about which rocker controls which tab and to coordinate up and down sequences manually. In rough conditions or when you're trying to make small adjustments quickly, the rockers slow you down. The JOY1000 joystick gives you single-hand single-action control: tilt the stick toward where you want to go, and both tabs automatically coordinate to make the boat respond.

The aircraft-aileron-inspired interface is the design language Charles Bennett used when he invented the adjustable trim tab in the 1950s. Aircraft pilots had been using stick controls to coordinate ailerons and elevators for decades by then. Bennett applied the same direct-mapping principle to boat trim tabs. Stick forward (away from you) drops the bow and raises the stern. Stick back drops the stern and lifts the bow. Stick left drops the port side. Stick right drops the starboard side. Diagonal positions combine motions naturally. Once you've used a joystick, going back to dual rockers feels primitive.

Reducing bow rise is the most common reason boaters buy trim tabs and the most common reason they upgrade to a joystick control. When the boat tries to plane, the bow rises and visibility drops, performance drops, and fuel economy drops. Push the joystick forward and both tabs deploy down together to push the stern up and the bow down to clean planing attitude. With dual-rocker controls you'd push both rockers down simultaneously and hope you were balanced. With the joystick it's one motion in one direction.

Correcting list (the boat sitting low to one side) is the second use case. If passengers are sitting on one side, or the wind is pushing the boat over to one side, or weight distribution is uneven, push the joystick to the high side and the tab on that side deploys to push the high side down and the low side up. Single motion, immediate effect. With dual rockers you'd be tapping the rocker on the high side and watching to see when the boat levels. With the joystick the response is direct and intuitive.

Planing faster is the third benefit. When you accelerate from displacement to plane, push the joystick forward to deploy both tabs simultaneously. The tabs lift the stern, the bow drops, the boat planes earlier and at lower throttle. Once on plane, ease the joystick back to neutral as the hull takes over. Fuel savings on every plane-up, which adds up over a season of running.

Plug-and-play connectors are the install story. The JOY1000 connects directly to Bennett electric trim tab actuators with the same connectors Bennett uses across the electric tab line. No cutting wires, no soldering, no adapter cables. Pull off the existing rocker switch panel, plug the joystick in its place, and you're trimming. Most installs take under an hour. The JOY1000 is electric-tab compatible only. Bennett also makes joystick controls for hydraulic tabs (different part numbers, different connectors). Confirm your tabs are electric before ordering.

Automatic tab retraction when the ignition is switched off is the small feature that prevents the most common trim tab embarrassment. Most boats arrive at the dock with the tabs still partially deployed from the run home, and many owners don't think to retract the tabs before tying up. Tabs left deployed at the dock are the leading cause of trim tab damage from impact with the dock, the trailer, and other boats. The auto-retract feature on the JOY1000 retracts both tabs to the fully-up position when you turn the ignition off, every time, without you having to think about it.

The build is what you'd expect from Bennett. The joystick mechanism is sealed against marine-environment moisture and salt spray. The body is corrosion-rated for above-deck console mount. The internal electronics are conformal-coated for humidity protection. The connectors are sealed marine-grade. With normal use and standard rinse-down maintenance, the unit lasts the lifetime of the boat.

Mount style is standard helm panel mount. The unit fits a small panel cutout (consult the install template in the manual for the exact dimensions). Mount on the dash, on the console panel, or wherever you've got space at the helm where the joystick falls naturally to hand from the steering position. Most installers replace the existing trim tab rocker panel with the joystick, since the panel cutout sizes are similar.

What this isn't. It is not a hydraulic trim tab joystick (Bennett makes a separate joystick for hydraulic systems). It is not a complete trim tab system (you need the trim tab actuators and tabs separately if you're doing a fresh install). It is not compatible with non-Bennett electric trim tabs without potentially adapting the connector wiring. For Bennett electric tab owners who want a better helm control, the JOY1000 is exactly the right upgrade.

Note: this product may not be returned to the original point of purchase per Bennett's policy. Contact Bennett Marine directly with any warranty or service issues. Bennett warranty terms apply. Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock units.