Why Trim Control Matters (Comfort, Safety, Efficiency)
A boat at rest in water can sit silently still or bounce around as if in a washing machine. Most of us have seen both scenarios. I’m sure we’ve also experienced both when the boat is in motion and, as we know, being bounced around is not fun—it’s hard on the boat, hard on our bodies, and can lead to an uncomfortable, unsafe, and unpleasant ride.
Key Facts
- Function: Dynamic trim control for pitch, roll, yaw/heel in turns
- PRO speed: 0→100% extension in ~0.3 s (five-times faster than original)
- Series E blade rate/stroke: 1.75 in/s rate; 2.36 in stroke
- Coverage: Boats up to 100 ft (Series S: up to 50 ft; Series E: up to 100 ft)
- Lift method: Vertical interceptors (less drag, faster response than horizontal tabs)
- Controls: Auto mode with high-freq GPS, 3D gyros, motion controller; manual twin control wheels
- Interfaces: MFD integrator module, Zipwake app (wireless), mini remote
- Power: 12–32 V brushless, submersible DC servo motor; concealed or above-waterline cable options
- Extras: Wake-shaping for surf tuning; can assist get-home steering in a pinch (low speed)
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Pitch, roll, and yaw are the three primary rotations that affect comfort on board, and Zipwake’s Dynamic Trim Control System, mounted off the transom, successfully adjusts the boat’s trim to maintain the pitch angle and the roll regardless of head seas, following seas, beam seas, or changes in weight distribution, and adjusts the heeling angle for a balanced turn. I was able to see it on a Targa 44 decked with the new PRO Series E. Conditions were variable over the two days of testing, and by using a “wave” box to judge the boat’s angle on a turn, the difference was extraordinary.
“The real takeaways here are that Zipwake has increased the blades’ traditional speed of the original system five times and added active pitch as well,” says Jamie Simmons, product manager at IMTRA, the U.S. distributor for Zipwake. “So not only have they increased the speed substantially [from zero to one hundred percent in point three seconds], where you’re seeing improvements in that roll control, but (they are) able to respond faster, keeping that boat much tighter, especially in seas like we’re in today.”
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Interceptors vs. Trim Tabs: What’s the Difference
Different from the typical trim tabs, which are horizontal plates, interceptors are vertical blades that extend directly downward from the transom to create more efficient lift with less surface area, have a faster response, and more precise control. The new Zipwake Series E has a blade rate (the speed at with it extends and retracts) of 1.75 inches per second and a blade stroke (the distance it extends downward from the transom) of 2.36 inches. This is an advantage over traditional trim tabs that take six to eight seconds to fully retract or deploy, and because of the trim tab’s size and angle of attack, there is more drag. The new PRO interceptors have another advantage. The system’s wake-shaping feature provides easy control for fine-tuning wakes to create ideal wake-surfing conditions.
Hardware & Install: Motors, Power, Hull Types
Zipwake’s interceptors are engineered for boats up to 100 feet in length, and their modular design makes them adaptable to various hull shapes, whether planing, semi-planing, monohull, or catamaran and from a tunnel to a V, up to the chine, and everything in between. Blade actuation is powered by a calibration-free submersible electric brushless DC servo motor in the interceptor unit that runs on 12-32 volts and has the option of a concealed or above-waterline thru-hull cable fitting.
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At the helm, Zipwake’s control panel includes two control wheels to provide quick and intuitive manual control; however, the system is primarily used in automatic mode. A built-in, high-frequency GPS, 3D gyro sensors, and a motion controller automatically regulate pitch and roll by providing continuous monitoring of the boat’s speed, its angle, and the interceptors’ position. An integrator module enables the Zipwake system to connect to most multifunction displays (MFD), and its wireless interface allows it to connect to smart devices via the Zipwake app, a nice option when room is limited on the helm dash. A mini controller acts as a remote control for the system so users can adjust trim without interacting with the MFD.
On-Water Results (Test Notes & Quotes)
“The Zipwake system, for me, is a game changer for comfort, fuel economy, and ease of driving the boat,” says Jonas Göthberg, commercial director of Nimbus Boats, as we tested Zipwake on the 30-foot Nimbus W9. “It also keeps the boat steadier and smoother through the turn.” That prompted us to test Zipwake’s ability to steer the boat. It can get you back home—not at speed— if you lost the steering system.
“I have driven this boat more than four thousand hours and now have changed to the Zipwake PRO 600 E,” says Nicholas Sandberg, captain of the Targa 44. “It saves fuel, the comfort is on another level, and I can use a range of speeds that I was not able to before.”
The Zipwake PRO is available in the Series S for boats up to 50 feet and the Series E for boat up to 100 feet. With 24 shapes and models and more than 45,000 systems delivered around the globe, its boat tests proved the Zipwake system does what it’s meant to do: stay trim. zipwake.com
People Also Ask - FAQ
What do Zipwake interceptors do?
They automatically adjust pitch and roll (and heel in turns) to keep the boat flatter, drier, and more efficient in head, following, or beam seas.
How are interceptors different from trim tabs?
Interceptors are vertical blades that extend downward, producing lift with less drag and much faster response than horizontal tabs.
What’s new about the Zipwake PRO series?
A ~5× speed increase over the original system (about 0.3 s to full), active pitch control, and wake-shaping for surf tuning.
Will it fit my boat?
Zipwake offers Series S (to ~50 ft) and Series E (to ~100 ft), with modular shapes for planing, semi-planing, mono or cats, tunnels, V to the chine, etc.
Do I have to run it manually?
No. Most owners use Auto. The helm module uses GPS + 3D gyros to trim continuously; you can still tweak with the wheels, MFD, app, or mini remote.
By Steve Davis
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