Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

How do you keep paint on trim tabs?
I have had a set of Lencos on my boat for 5 years and every year the paint is gone and they are full of barnacles. I have tried expensive primers with no luck. Sanding with 80 grit, sand blasting and paint over bare metal, also no luck. With a new bottom painting season upon us who has the magic formula? The bottom is barier coated and I use micron extra ablative paint. Unfortunately I put the barrier coat on the year before the tabs so they are still bare metal. Any suggestions?

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

My tabs look like crap but the paint did not peel off, I roughed them up with 80 grit and painted with non-ablative Interlux Ultra. Both have sacrificial anodes.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Jason,

Am I correct that you drilled though both tab plates?

If so what kind of drill bit did you use?

Peter

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

I have got the anodes also, standard bit went through them. Maybe the non ablative paint will work better.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Speaking of anodes. I put one on each of my Bennett trim tabs and the anodes were completely eaten in 5 months. I will use larger ones this season. So, a word to the wise - they are a must for boats left in the water!

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Peter- As Bryan stated a standard bit worked, I used a punch to make a guide and then started with a small pilot bit and worked up.

Blizzard- You are not kidding I went though 2 sets of anodes last summer

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

PeterB, Stainless can be drilled with a sharp metal bit! The trick is Slow drill between 400 and 600 rpm and don't use any oil or lube, you will be supprised at how easy stainless will cut. Also if ya'll are using up anodes that quickly there must be an auful lot of electricity leaking into the water from somewhere (your boat or a neighboring boat).

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

If you want to drill faster just use a Cobalt or Titanium tipped bit, I use them at work all the time and they drill thru SS like butter.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

I keep my boat on a river with the closest boat about 300yds away and I go through a set of anodes each year easily. Probably could do two sets if I replaced them. Boat is in from end of April to December sometime.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

I used zinc chromate primer on my tabs and then Interlux ablative anti fouling, it worked well.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Bryan A,
Do you have a battery charger on you boat and do you keep it plugged in to shore? It sounds like you might be "leaking electricity" from your boat.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Bay Runner

same with my boat, it sits on a mooring, no other boats around, not pugged in, all power off except the direct wiring to the bilge pump(s) yet I go through two sets a year.


but....the anodes on the outboards stay fine, even the two that stay submerged on the lower half of the engine mount. and there is no deterioration of any of the thu-hulls or other submerged metals.

Do you think it is still stray current or just the fact the reaction of the SS from the tabs with zinc is greater as opposed to the zinc against the aluminum on the outboard?

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

For corrosion to occur, four elements must be in place. These are:

Two dissimilar metals.

A connection between the two metals.

An electrolyte, such as water.

A potential difference between the two metals.

Therefore you have S.S. tabs with S.S. mounting screws,no dissimilar metals,little or no corrosion, and you are adding a zinc making the difference and the zinc being the most active it is eaten away. Save your money buying zincs and leave the tabs alone. Do not paint them or put zincs on them and they will give you many years of service.

Using the boat occasionally will cut down on the barnacle growth. The boat has to be stationary for some time to allow growth to begin. Frequent use will also contribute to the economy due to incresed fuel usage which will allow the oil companies to make more profits which will equate to stockholder earnings which will allow stockholders to buy more stuff which will allow mfg.s to hire more workers to build the stuff! Trickle down economics! So don't use those zincs!
:D

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

thanks Don I will follow your advise and I think the above section of your post is one of the best reads I have had in a while

tx
:cool: :cool:

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Hermco, are you saying we don't need zincs or paint on our trim tabs even if the boat is stays in all season. No corrosion, no growth. Please explain?-PF

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

I am saying that galvanic corrosion is a well understood reaction between two dissimilar metals immersed in an electrolyte.

http://www.engineersedge.com/corrosi..._corrosion.htm

And that a moving boat does not grow barnacles. (Sorry no documentation to prove this but I believe it to be true)
:D

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Barnacle Reproduction

Surprisingly, the sexes of barnacles are separate, males having proportionately probably the largest penis in the animal kingdom. It reaches out of the shell and transfers its sperm to a female neighbour. After fertilisation the female barnacle broods its eggs until they hatch as a minute cypris larva which swims until it is ready to settle head-down on a suitable surface.

:eek:

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Interesting. :D

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

But wouldn't this put the outdrive/ouboard at greater risk since its aluminum becomes the least noble disimilar metal in the equation?

Why not just include the tabs in the boat's bonding system?

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Hermco,
Thanks for more scientific reasoning. The dissimilar metal issue had not waived a flag but you are correct.
Thanks again,

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

That is what I was thinking Roger. Unfortunatly I can't acess the back of the tabs for a grounding strap to include the outboard. I would have to do something external. That is why I put the anodes on. Do you think that would help with the paint problem??

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Bennett says to install a zinc. The plot thickens! :D

http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/online.html

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

I don't have zincs and don't have an electrolisis problem The zincs on my motor show some corrosion but last for several years. I paint my tabs to keep moss from growing more than to prevent barnacles. I average 3 -4 days a week on the water but the top surface of the tabs don't get any water flow while under way.

Re: Trim tabs + paint ????????
 

Bryan
I don't know about the paint. In your case, you should probably follow Hermco's suggestion. BTW, I was not disagreeing with his advice, just providing another POV based on the same science.

If your motor tilts all the way out of the water you should be fine. If not, just keep an eye on the motor zinc.