Bennett 912ED Edge Mount BOLT Electric Trim Tab Kit 12V

The Bennett 912ED is the BOLT Electric edge-mount trim tab kit for boats with non-standard transom geometry where vertical mounting space is limited - the variant of the standard BOLT Electric line that fits transoms with less than 6.5 inches of available vertical space (where the standard BOLT Electric tab kits would not fit). Bennett invented the marine electric trim tab in 1960 and the BOLT Electric is the company's modern electric trim tab platform - solving the water-intrusion and reliability issues that plagued older electric trim tab designs.

What edge mount means and why it matters. The Edge Mount (ED) variant uses an adjustable upper hinge that lets the tab installation accommodate transom geometry where the typical fixed-hinge tab won't fit. Common scenarios where edge mount is required: transoms with sharp curves where the typical 6+ inch vertical mounting area isn't available, transoms with engine bracket cutouts that limit the available mounting real estate, transoms with through-bolted accessories that block the standard mounting position. The adjustable upper hinge angles the tab assembly to fit where standard tabs won't.

For boats 17 to 28 feet length-overall. The 912ED is sized for boats in the 17-28 foot length range with limited transom mounting space. Smaller boats (under 17 feet) typically don't need trim tabs - the boat's small size means trim adjustments via the existing weight distribution and outboard / sterndrive trim are sufficient. Larger boats (over 28 feet) need bigger tabs (the Bennett hydraulic trim tab line is the right call for larger boats - Bennett strongly recommends hydraulic trim tabs over electric for most applications, with electric being appropriate for the 17-28 foot trailerable-boat segment).

BOLT Electric platform - what's different versus older electric trim tabs. The BOLT Electric platform is Bennett's modern electric trim tab redesign that solves the chronic problems of older electric trim tab systems. Three meaningful improvements. One: water-tight nylon actuator. The actuator housing is heavy-duty black nylon with sealed construction - water doesn't intrude into the motor or the gear train. Older designs used brass or aluminum actuator housings that corroded over time and eventually flooded internally. Two: high-mounted main seal. The actuator's main shaft seal is positioned at the high end of the actuator (versus the low position in older designs), keeping it above the typical marine growth zone and reducing seal failures from barnacle / mussel attachment. Three: routed wiring. Wires run through the upper hinge inside the assembly - no exposed wires routing across the transom that would corrode and fail. The combination is meaningfully more reliable than older electric trim tab systems.

Quieter operation. The BOLT Electric actuator is quieter than older electric trim tab systems - meaningful for boats that adjust trim during slow trolling fishing applications where loud actuator noise spooks fish. The quieter operation also means less crew annoyance from the typical electric-trim-tab whine that was a feature of older systems.

9-inch x 12-inch stainless steel tabs. The tab dimensions are 9 inches wide by 12 inches deep - sized for typical 17-28 foot recreational boats with limited transom space. The reduced 9-inch width versus the 12-inch standard width fits the available transom area without overhanging the boat's beam. The 12-inch depth (front-to-back at the back of the transom) provides the typical lift area needed for the boat-size class. Stainless steel construction handles saltwater service for the typical 10+ year service life of the trim tab system.

Adjustable upper hinge. The upper hinge is adjustable (versus fixed in standard tab variants), allowing the installer to angle the tab assembly to match the specific transom geometry. The hinge accommodates a meaningful range of transom angles without requiring custom mounting brackets. The piano-hinged backing plates (the upper plates that bolt through the transom and provide the structural anchor for the tab assembly) distribute loads across the transom rather than concentrating loads at single mounting points - meaningful for cored fiberglass transoms where concentrated loads can crush the core material.

Tabs turn up for strength. The 912ED tab design has the leading edge of the tab turned up - meaningfully stronger than tabs with flat leading edges. The turned-up edge resists the bending forces that would deform a flat-edged tab under heavy water loading. For boats running in chop or pulling water-skiers / wakeboarders (where the trim tabs see significant dynamic loading), the strength matters meaningfully versus weaker tab designs.

Single-actuator-only limitation. The BOLT Electric system is rated for single-actuator-per-tab installations only - meaning you can't synchronize two electric actuators on the same tab the way some hydraulic systems do for redundancy or higher load capacity. This is a meaningful limitation: if your boat needs the multi-actuator capability for very large trim tabs or for redundancy, the hydraulic Bennett trim tab line is the right call. For typical 17-28 foot trailerable boats with single-actuator-per-tab geometry (one actuator drives one tab), the BOLT Electric is appropriate.

What's in the box. Two BEA3000 12-volt electric actuators with 6-foot wire harnesses and waterproof connectors, two stainless steel trim planes and mounting plates, two 20-foot wire harnesses (BAW2020) with waterproof connectors, mounting hardware, and the install manual. Required separately: the trim tab control (the helm-mounted switch that drives the actuators - sold separately as part of Bennett's BOLT control accessory line), and any backing hardware specific to your transom construction.

Installation. Bolt the upper hinge backing plates to the transom from inside the boat (drilling through the transom for the mounting bolts). Attach the trim tabs and mounting plates to the upper hinges, set the hinge angle for your specific transom geometry. Mount the actuators between the upper hinge brackets and the trim tabs. Route the actuator wires through the upper hinge into the boat's interior. Connect the actuator harnesses to the 20-foot extension harnesses, run the extensions to the helm location. Wire the helm-side connectors to the trim tab control switch (sold separately). Connect the control switch to the boat's 12V accessory bus through a small inline fuse. Total install time is typically 4-8 hours for a competent boat owner.

Trailered boat application. The BOLT Electric platform is specifically engineered for trailered boats - meaningful because trailered boats spend significant time out of the water (in the trailer between trips), where the trim tab system is exposed to dust, sun, and dry conditions that some hydraulic systems don't tolerate well. The electric BOLT system handles the trailered-boat life cycle better than hydraulic alternatives. For permanently-moored boats or boats stored in the water year-round, hydraulic trim tabs are still the Bennett recommendation.

Bennett Marine warranty applies. Standard Bennett warranty terms apply - check the specific warranty document for coverage details. Bennett has been the world leader in trim tab technology since 1960 and the company's reputation for quality is meaningful versus newer entrants to the trim tab market.