wooden trim tabs

[sdowney717]

I currently have a set of SS trim tabs that have some crevice corrosion. While I can continue to use these, I was thinking I could create new tabs out of 3/4 plywood and a piano hinge.
The current tabs are 36 inch long. If I eventually did this, I would use FG and epoxy on the wood.
Has anyone out there done this before?

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Don't think they'll be strong enough, particularly where the hydraulic arm meets them.

[Gary E]

Arnt you the fellow with the 37 Egg ?
If so I would not have trim tabs on any boat that ventures very far offshore, they are dangerous in a following sea. If you need lift a few cedar shingles nailed on will do the job.

But if you are a play around inshore in fair weather and barely a wave type then maybe keep them.

[sdowney717]

Yes, I dont go out of the bay.
This boat weighs 19 tons and has a very high transom.
Anyway I have almost completely sanded off the old bottom paint. I have 10 more feet on the starboard side left. I cant stand more than about 4 hours of steady sanding. I figure I have 2 or 3 days left sanding and then I get to work on the screws. The bottom looks really fair. I was admiring the bottom seems to have a 15% deadrise and nice forward entry. I was thinking if you had about 1000 HP this hull could really fly thru the waves. But I can barely afford to gas it up now.

[ohiomike]

hi downey polish them up they look great hanging off a varnished transom.

gary what water do you run your boat in ?

trim tabs will make your boating safer in high seas.

maybe you should try lake erie in 6 to 8 fts with out trim tabs..

from my first 22ftor my 30ft fiberglass and now my 33ft chriscraft they help the boat..

keep your tabs downey doubt gary been in much ruff water mike

[Gary E]

The Atlantic off of New Jersey and Md where 8 ft waves are every day...try some 20's some time.
Do what you want, but several others and I will never have tabs that extend past the transom, the ones built into new glass hulls are a diferent story.

[sdowney717]

I was caught out in a thunderstorm near the eastern shore in the chesapeake a few years ago. Decided to come back in, had to tack thru the waves. Some big enough to smash into the upper cabin windows with considerable volume. I really thought the windows would break. I kept imagining we would roll over or broach the storm was very bad. Thankfully, Jesus got us home.. It was actually very exciting.

[Victor]

How can they be dangerous Gary? Are you saying to just have them nailed to the transom like to the side of a house?

How bout mahogany tabs downey? That would look cool, at least til they broke off the hinges. ;)