To paint or not to paint trim tabs....

[smittyasc3]

Just wondering what you guys think about painting the trim tabs or not...They are stainless steel...The previous owner had painted them but i am wondering if i should just take them down to the bear metal and wax them or clear coat them.

On another note should i clear coat my props or just wax them up to help prevent barnacles.

 

[390x]

If the boat stays in the water, no clearcoat or wax will hold up, so it's not worth it. On my freshwater river, they stay clean enough as long as you use the boat, so no one here paints.

 

[Nehalennia]

I don't, but I also trailer all the time so they're never in the water longer than a week.

 

[edsmax]

I spray paint my tabs every spring with drive paint. My boat is kept in salt water 6 months of the year. Also, I hear waxing your props is a waste...

Ed

 

[dimnddavid]

I'm with Ed. I'm assuming you're in salt water since you're on Long Island. You're going to get alot of growth on there if you keep your boat in the water.

Ed, nice to see a fellow Rhode Islander on here!

 

[Henry Boyd]

Painting the tabs does two things; a) as mentioned, prevents growth, b) reduces galvanic corrosion to your aluminum drive by insulating the stainless.

Henry

 

[smittyasc3]

Guess I'll paint them. I didnt realize the stainless would affect the aluminum on the drive. Thanks Guys.

 

[edsmax]

Agreed! Nice to see a fellow RI'er!