How to install a trim tab indicator on 1980s 3x07?

[Superg]

My 1985 Carver 3207 has original trim tab buttons. Is there a way to easily add an indicator for trim tab positions? Or do I have to buy a whole new system of sensors, actuators, etc.?

[waybomb]

Do you have Bennett?
They make a trimdicator kit. One cylinder on each side with a position indicator inside, some wiring, and the indicators. Not a hard job, but the boat has to be on land.

[Viper]

This is what Fred's talking about:
https://bennetttrimtabs.com/product/electronic-indicator-control-kit/

It's a little involved as you have to remove the top cap of the actuator to replace it with the new one. This involves removing the pipe going through the transom that threads into the cap for fluid transfer. The fluid goes through a very small hole in the cap which you can block off if you thread the pipe in too far, so be careful here. Some wiring is involved too as Fred mentioned.

[km1125]

The boat doesn't necessarily have to be out of the water if the top hinge is above the water line.

I had a very tiny leak in the top hinge of one of my tabs. I bought the replacement hinges that were for the set with the indicator. You have to drill an additional hole for the wire to go through the transom, but it's a pretty easy swap. You can even do it with very little fluid spillage if you do it right (raise tabs, loosen tubing, raise tabs some more, then manually extend tabs and insert clip, then remove the hose). Then you have to run the cables to the display/control box and replace the switches with a new switch that includes the display. There are kits on Ebay and Amazon to do this.