Mastering the correct use of your vessels trim tabs can thwart even the most experienced boat owner.  How frustrating is it to watch someone drive your boat and struggle to correctly adjust the trim tabs and leg trim controls to give passengers a comfortable ride.  The Attitude Correction System (ACS) is an innovative product that removes the need for manual trim tab and leg adjustment.  When the wind shifts or passengers move about your boat, the ACS constantly monitors and corrects the vessel’s attitude back to perfect adjustment.

The ACS can be fitted to all planing boats and is suitable for use with both hydraulic and electromechanical trim tabs as well as boats with legs.

The ACS:

• Controls roll and pitch
• Adapts to varying sea conditions
• Blocked when below planing threshold
• Automatic retraction of trim tabs
• Sets and resumes optimal attitude
• Always take off with trim tabs and legs in the correct position

One of the clever things about ACS is that during turns, a heading sensor freezes the lateral trim tab control, allowing the boat to heel naturally inwards while still holding the correct fore and aft trim.

At the heart of the ACS are three MEM (Micro Electro Mechanical) sensors.  Two of them, for roll and pitch, are inclinometers; the third is a yaw-sensing gyro and it’s this that disengages the roll channel during turns.  These very small gyros were originally developed for use in guided missiles and other aerospace applications and were, until quite recently, hideously expensive.  But increasing use by the automotive industry  by luxury car makers (Mercedes and BMW) for computerized handling aids has made them more affordable.

All three gyros and the necessary mini-computer are housed in a black box about 10cms square and 5cms deep.  The box is fully sealed for the marine environment (Rating: IP66) and has no moving parts.  The compact control panel is surface mounted and has four membrane switches arranged around a central on / off switch.  Two vertical rows, each of six LEDs, indicate tab position and a further three show leg trim.  These flash when the tabs or leg are actually moving.

Automatic trim tabs

Automatic power trim
(if required)

Attitude Correction System

ACS is great for flybridge cruisers by connecting two control panels in parallel or alternatively you can just use the one control panel.

ACS can be manually over-riden or switched off at any time.

Smartcraft staff are happy to arrange a test drive for anyone interested in experiencing the benefits of the Attitude Correction System.  Over 600 units in the European and UK market with tremendous success and have received great feedback from purchasers.  Overseas reviews of the product have been impressive.

If fiddling with tab and leg trim controls is simply one of those things you’d rather not have to bother with, ACS is indeed the answer to your prayers.