Grounding trim tabs

[Clam Power]

I recently had diner with a boat mechanic - I mentioned how much fouling I had on my trip tabs and how the zincs (on my tabs) were basically gone by the end of the season while the zincs on the motor were not so bad (boat is in a slip from April-Nov).

He suggested that the trim tabs need to be grounded and that would help. Sounds reasonable, but has anyone heard this before, and has anyone done it? - seen results?

Im guessing I would run a wire from one of the tab screws to the motor - but not sure?

He also mentioned a special paint and primer to help with fouling on the tabs - of course I didnt write it down - any thought on that also?

Any help would be apreciated. Hope you all are having a nice winter - My 2120 is under some snow right now but as football comes to a close - its time to think spring...

 

[Brent]

One thought is stray current in the slip
see http://www.boatzincs.com/corrosion-refe ... specs.html

 

[miky2884]

I had the same problem and thought it was a problem with my boat, i mentioned something to the owner of my marina and he had said other guys where complaining of the same thing, he ended up finding someones boat had a problem that was causing all the boats around him to have a problem with there zincs, so like brent said it might be someone within your marina and might not be you

 

[Tabman]

I'm a bit late in chiming in on this post, I've been traveling.

I would strongly not recommend "grounding" your Trim Tabs to any other metal on the boat. Brent and Miky2884 are on target regarding the possibility of stray current, and if this is the case connecting the Trim Tabs electrically to your engine or other metal may very well damage whatever you connect them to. Properly installed and maintained zincs are really the best way to protect Trim Tabs on boats like a Parker. Some builders of larger boats do bond the Trim Tabs in to the boat's grounding system, however the mass of the Trim Tabs and all of the other protected metals are calculated into the system and protected by an appropriately sized anode. This type of protection is best designed by a trained professional.

If the boat is kept in saltwater anti fouling paint can be applied to the Trim Tabs. The secret to getting anti-fouling paint to adhere to your trim tabs is proper priming, and the best people to tell you what to do are the experts at the company that makes your anti-fouling paint. Contact the paint manufacturer and tell them you are painting "304 stainless steel" trim tabs, then follow their recommendations to the letter! Remember, don't paint under the zincs.


Tom McGow
Bennett Marine

 

[ReelyNauti]

humm!!!! im gonna agree with stray current.....

If you like i will post picks but my 9 x 24 tabs are perfect.....the reason ......47% copper paint !!! i am on the third season and use my boat alot ..over 150 hrs a season .....pulled it two years in a row and no growth and minimal wear.....