Anyone on here have real world experience running one of these systems. Not the gyro system, the interceptor blade types.
I don't have real world experience with either of the systems, but understand how they work and what they do.
Nowadays are several systems on the market, ZipWake and Humphree as the first ones, SK Ride came later and is the most expensive one and some new systems from Europe doing the same and maybe beeing cheaper than the others.
Trim Tabs and Interceptors are very different in actuator speed and the Bennet AutoTab Control (now AutoTrim Pro) is a basic version keeping a boat on a previously set trim and list level. Interceptor based systems can act much more faster and that allows them to keep a boat on a desired level even under very choppy conditions due the fast reaction time of Interceptor style trim control.
If you want your boat glide like a magic carpet over 80% of the sea states you encounter then one of the interceptor based systems is for you, do you boat with low wave action or enjoy manual control then you are wasting money.
Yes, hulls who have trim tab pockets need to have them glassed flush to be able to install the interceptors correctly.
Should i have to replace my trim tabs i probably would go with Interceptors instead of normal trim tabs, but not with any automatic trim control system for two reasons
a) i don't need nor want a magic carpet
b) i don't trust automatic trim control, if the interceptor goes nuts at 40mph then potentially dangerous situation may happen
Interceptors are claimed as more fuel efficient than same lift providing trim tabs but biggest advantage is that the blade retracts inside the interceptors housing if system is off and there the blade is protected from fouling.
Whoever is interested in one of those system should do a sea trial to see if he likes what those systems do and if it's for him worth to fork out a substantial amount of $$$.
Chris