r27OB - trim tab screws missing or rusted

[Jcat2010]

Boat is a 2020, 6 mo in water each year. about three per tab broken, rest are rusted and about to fail. How common is this ? Or did this boat just get a bad batch of fasteners ?

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Question.
Do the trim tabs have anodes on them? If not I would say that is the problem. The trim tabs are not bonded to the rest of the system. The trim tabs should have a anode like a R-3. Pancake

 

[Jcat2010]

No Anodes. I was a little surprised, because I've seen them both ways. I guess they ship without anodes ? and the owner never added them. I will.

 

[KennyMarrs]

Hello,

From the factory we do not install trim tab zincs because we don't bottom paint boats that ship to dealers. If a boat gets bottom paint once at a dealer or later on in life, zincs should be added at that time.

 

[Jcat2010]

Thank you Kenny. I understand the reasoning behind such a practice. But, if as in this case, the dealer does an incomplete job and does not install anodes when they bottom paint a boat, who is responsible for making it right?

Meanwhile, I now bear the cost of removing failed and corroded fasteners, and rebedding the tabs.

 

[BB marine]

Bottom painting is not the reason for installing protective anodes. As per Bennett's and Lenco recommendation

Bennett (SALTWATER ONLY) To deter electrolysis, a zinc anode should be attached to the top of each trim tab. Zinc must make direct contact with stainless steel. Do not paint zinc. Do not ground trim tabs to other underwater appendages.

Lenco, SACRIFICIAL ANODES FOR YOUR LENCO STAINLESS STEEL TRIM TABS
Be aware that stray currents in your marina or in a visiting marina can cause damage to your trim tab blades if not protected by sacrificial anodes.
• The addition of anodes on each tab will deter electrolysis.
• Do not paint under the anode or the anode itself.
• Check Anode condition frequently. Clean and replace as needed.

If a boat is intended to be used in saltwater or fresh water for extended periods of time protective anodes should be installed on the trim tabs. Given the fact that Rangers and Cutwaters are used in Salt water areas and fresh water for extended cruising. Me thinking "outside the box" I would expect that there would be ample anode protection on all underwater metal components and 316 SS fasteners used including trim tabs.

The trim tabs are 304 SS. This is reason enough to have them protected with an anode. Using 304 SS fasteners to mount a 304 unprotected metal component is a combination of disaster. On top of that all 304 fasteners are not created equal. 316SS is by far the better choice to be used on a quality built boat. The cost may be higher but overall not that much when in bulk purchasing. When you purchase a quality boat like a Ranger and Cutwater you assume they are using the best of the best.


To answer your question below. I don't know the answer. I do know that there has been some discussion on TugNuts about fasteners and Corrosion.
Is it uncommon to see SS fasteners underwater corroded and defective on a Ranger or Cutwater?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=21886&start=0&hilit=fasteners
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