Dometic | Talking Trim Tabs
Boat performance is incredibly important, and this new offering from Dometic will prove popular with avid boaters
Earlier this month we spoke with Dometic Product Manager Shane DeWitt. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Shane was the lead Product Manager in the development of the Dometic Trim Tab system. Proudly innovated and manufactured in Canada and United States, this is a product line that offers unique features not seen before in the industry. The Dometic Trim Tab system is set to launch in the Australian market in April 2022.
As a boater myself, I found the traditional trim switch not intuitive at all when it comes to controlling the pitch and roll of your boat, so we needed to come up with an intuitive way to manage the planing of your boat. The engineering team worked together to innovate a Trim Tab system that exceeds customer expectations; this is where the unique, intuitive dial control and its ease of use came into play.
For those people reading this who may have never given much thought to trim tabs, can you explain their main benefits?
The main purpose of trim tabs is to quickly bring your bow down so you can see the horizon and what is in front of you. A Trim Tab system will help to level the boat in any situation, which will give you a more comfortable ride. In addition, you will gain better fuel mileage.
In your opinion, what is the most unique feature of the Dometic Trim Tab system?
Hands down it’s the intuitive dial controller. There is nothing like it available today and it removes the guess work from leveling your boat. The controller allows you to easily adjust the pitch and roll to get your boat on plane quickly and efficiently. A programmable favorites button makes for effortless operation. The favorites button on the controller makes it easy to get on plane with a touch of one button.
What influence did Dometic's electric steering technology have on the development of the system?
That is an excellent question. Again, being an avid boater myself I thought there had to be a way to automatically plane your boat as you give more throttle and eventually settle into cruise mode. We developed a CAN based trim tab system that could communicate with shift and throttle and steering All you need to do is activate the hole shot mode by pressing the favorite button and when you give it throttle the boat will quickly plane itself. Much like electric steering which makes boating more comfortable and provides sports car steering, the Trim Tabs make your entire boating experience more enjoyable. These two combined leads the electrification charge by eliminating all hydraulic fluids.
These trim tabs have been referred to as a “next-generation smart trim tab system”. Can you explain what makes them a next-generation smart system?
When it comes to the standard Trim Tab product offering, it’s the dial controller and the fact you can save a recallable favorite tab position for easy planing. Its intuitive and by a turn of the dial and a button push, you can adjust the pitch and roll of your boat.
The adaptive trim tabs system is groundbreaking as there are no other CAN based systems on the market that can communicate with other CAN based components. By communicating with shift and throttle we can do some real useful things. For example, we talked about hole shot mode. Another important function is when you place the shifter in reverse, it will automatically retract the tabs which helps a great deal when reversing. The intuitive dial controller used with the adaptive system makes it very easy to adjust the pitch and roll while keeping your eyes on the horizon.
Can you explain the decision for a full electric system over a traditional hydraulic system? And do you see this as the future?
Electrification is where everyone is going today, and we can leverage our know-how to design and manufacture durable and reliable trim tab actuators. Environmentally it is the right thing to do. Electric steering, Electric controls, electric trim tabs. Our customers expect Dometic to be a leader in innovation and the environment and that is what we must do.
There are three ranges of Dometic Trim Tabs, Standard, Adaptive, and Optimus Adaptive. Can you explain the differences and benefits of each system?
What makes it different are some harnesses in the kit that are used to connect to the Optimus steering and joystick system. They are both a smart CAN based systems that provide hole shot mode and automatic functions like auto retract when in reverse. This is the premium trim tab system.
The standard Trim Tab system would replace existing basic systems in the market. It would be the volume system in the marketplace. The standard system uses a dial controller and provides intuitive precise control to level your boat very quickly. In addition, it has auto-retract upon key off.
Where are Dometic marine products manufactured? Can you tell us a bit about the facilities and what makes them different?
Dometic Marine has many facilities, however the Trim Tab components are made in Vancouver, Canada, and Pompano, Florida, USA. The Vancouver facility consists of three buildings with more than 500 employees, totaling 19,000 square meters. This facility alone has over 100 patents which has led to award winning products. We have leading edge technology in the manufacturing facility as well as engineering, supply chain management, IT, quality, finance, basically all the departments needed to run a successful innovative business. The Pompano facility invested a significant amount of capital in a new laser machine and feeder for the trim tab manufacturing business. Pompano's main business is Marine AC, refrigeration, and ventilation. There are 235 employees and 9,600 square meters. Pompano also has very similar departments as Vancouver to support their business.
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