IBEX 365 News
Lenco Pro’s Smart Trim Provides Fast & Effective Control
2024 IBEX Innovation Award Interview with Navico Group
While some segments of the industry have been slow to invest in conventional trim tabs—choosing instead to look toward the “wow” factor of advanced technology, Navico Group’s Ryan Taffet argues that trim tabs have worked for decades — they just needed to work smarter.
“We feel strongly that the simplest solution is also the smartest and hits a big space in the market that does not need nor want the complexity and added cost of interceptors or other similar devices to achieve the same performance benefits,” said Taffet, the product manager for performance components within the Navico Group. With Lenco Pro Control Auto, he said, boaters get a high-quality product designed to solve the problem of making modern auto-leveling simple enough for every type of OEM, installer, and DIY boater. The strongest feedback they’ve received, he said, regards how fluid the system reacts and responds to dynamic changes in pitch and roll.
“Each challenge during the development process became an opportunity to create a product that works flawlessly. We benefited from a global team within Brunswick that thoroughly understood current and future demands on trim tabs, then modeled and tested these conditions, and designed for success.”
What problem was the Lenco Pro Control designed to solve?
Lenco Pro Control Auto was designed to solve the problem of making modern auto-leveling simple enough to be attainable, accessible, installable, and usable for every type of OEM, end user, installer, and DIY boater.
Who is the target market for the Lenco Pro Control?
Lenco Pro Control Auto is targeted at nearly every novice or professional boater, with boats between 15 feet to 100 feet in length, depending on the tab loading.
Who is currently using the Lenco Pro Control?
At the present time, there are several OEMs using Lenco Pro Control Auto, with many geared to make public announcements as we come closer to the spring and model year 2026.
What feedback have you received?
Our strongest feedback is regarding how fluid our system reacts and responds to dynamic changes in pitch and roll. Not only is the system fast and effective, but it’s also comfortable feels natural in its corrections, and does not give heavy steering feedback like some of our competitors do.
What kind of boats is the Lenco Pro Control being used on?
Lenco’s core marketplace has always been sport boats, runabouts, and center consoles from 20 to 35 feet, and that continues to be the trend with Pro Control. However, we do have some boats over 40 feet coming to market soon that will be equipped with our system, as well as inboard diesel sportfishing boats.
How has it changed the boatbuilding process?
One of the best things about Pro Control is that with the simplicity of the installation, the only changes it has made to the boatbuilding process are some extra network cables, an IMU installation, and a quick 5-minute sea trial calibration (not including run time to and from open water).
Which builders/installers are using the Lenco Pro Control?
At the present time, there are several OEMs using Lenco Pro Control Auto, with many geared to make public announcements as we come closer to the spring and model year 2026.
What feedback have you received?
The best feedback we’ve received from an OEM is that our system, “levels the boat better than the operator can with manual tabs.” We’re enhancing great boat hulls by helping them perform at the peak of their abilities and their design parameters.
Why do you think no one has designed a successful product like the Lenco Pro Control before?
At the present moment, the rest of the industry has been hesitant to invest in conventional trim tabs, favoring the “wow” factor of new technology and in search of a different way to impact pitch and roll onboard. We feel strongly that the simplest solution is also the smartest and hits a big space in the market that does not need, nor want, the complexity and added cost of interceptors or other similar devices to achieve the same performance benefits. Trim tabs have worked for decades— they just needed to work smarter. Now they can with the advent of Pro Control Auto.
What obstacles arose during the R&D process?
Our challenges were primarily self-imposed as we aimed to deliver a leading product. We subjected our mechanical design to extreme durability tests, pushing beyond the limits of modern trim tabs. Our automatic tab control algorithm was rigorously tested on various types and sizes of boats. From the start, we regularly encountered obstacles in developing our system. However, each challenge became an opportunity to create a product that works flawlessly, backed by a best-in-class, 5-year warranty. We benefited from a global team within Brunswick that thoroughly understood current and future demands on trim tabs, then modeled and tested these conditions, and designed them for success.
What plans are in place for the future of the Lenco Pro Control?
One great thing about Lenco Pro Control is its ability to integrate further into various propulsion and electronic systems on boats, including systems outside of our Brunswick family of products. Additionally, the platform has the ability to accept future software updates, should the need arise.
What impact do you see Lenco Pro Control having on the boating industry?
Pro Control Auto has already started to make great-performing auto leveling accessible, affordable, and attainable for many different boaters and OEMs. It will help cement auto leveling systems as more of a standard feature and less of an “option,” in the market.
What plans do you have for the future of this design?
While our future plans remain confidential, we have a healthy pipeline of projects in our trim and surf tab segments to bring more specialized and purpose-built products to market in those spaces.
Theresa Nicholson is an award-winning journalist who’s covered the marine industry for 25 years. She is the former senior editor of Cruising World, a judge for Newport for New Products, and a judge for the IBEX 2024 Innovation Awards program. She’s covered past IBEX shows for Soundings Trade Only, Practical Sailor, and Cruising World. Nicholson lived aboard her 31-foot ketch for 11 years and sailed from Miami to Malaysia. Her work currently focuses on weather, marine safety, risk analysis, and high latitude sailing.
