Volvo Trim Tabs

[thehermit]

Hey Josh....where did you end up buying the QL tabs from? Got a good source?

Thanks

[joshmon71]

think i got them from foreandaftmarine.com out of SoFl I think, maybe 600. but do check prices locally of course, and other places, not sure this is the best price.

i wrestled my install, note there are 6 or 8 screws per each tab, i opted to thru bolt thru my transom as not sure I liked screws partial into transom, and read my note about having to drill out more for correct angle making the screw approach more problamtic . so got real long bolts (5" ss!) and then cut them back and washered them and double bolted on inside, liberal with 5200, and some dielectric as well on wires on inside. as far outboard as possible, but my scupper got in the way a little.

The real issue I had on install-they require a very flat surface with less than a few MM diff off on both vertical and horizontal, or those screws/bolts will cause the tabs to bend and you bind the tab operation. In my case, I grabbed a (1/4"? thick) piece of starboard to size, and sanded away, and sanded away, and test fit, and sanded. Think the Kernel(Dan) had a piece of glass fabricated to serve the same purpose, or you could put the boot to the transom with a sander. Highly unlikley your transom is flush enough but trust me when say they are sensitive to binding! I prob have extra starboard lying around if ya need a couple pieces instead of buying a sheet of the thinnest stuff.

Next I found the holes I drilled for the screws were not quite at the needed angle so that when you tightented down i again had tab binding issues due to torquing the tab so I just drilled out a little bigger was all at a more downward angle. Leading to the bolt versus screw solution.

Net is install tab,test that work, then unscrew the shebang, and then 5200 . or better have that orange solvent and a heat gun handy. been there done that.

As always, if you are overly cautious, drill out, then expoy, then drill again. Problem for me was I had to drill out these 6-8 holes to get the right angle for long bolts being tightened. so forgo the epoxy part since was a lot of testing and fitting and time already and figured I'd end back up with drilling out wider, and would have gone beyond the tab outline at that point with the epoxy to accomodate a 2"inch thick transom and angle needed.Last note, I never hooked these into my start key circuit, i put them on my house battery panel, did not like the idea of splicing my starter key circuit.



Don't be afraid though, i <font color="orange"> those tabs now!

PM me be glad to chat or show you my hard lessons learned , you are down in Chatham?

[thehermit]

Nice...thanks for the notes I am just going to grab a set over the winter for a spring install....yup boat and I are in Chatham...the boat is all wrapped up for a winter nap.