Question: My trim tab anode suffered some, I would say, minor damage when it went across some hard bottom unexpectedly. It has some small chunks taken out of it. Is it vital to have this replaced immediately before taking it back out?
My understanding is that as long as the anode is there, its doing its job. Doesn’t matter if its beat up a little or not.
Redfish Baron Extraordinaire
I’d be more concerned with what the bottom of the boat looks like. Those anodes are mainly for boats left in the water. No hurry to change. West marine has them in stock.
Scout 185
I’d be more concerned with what the bottom of the boat looks like. Those anodes are mainly for boats left in the water. No hurry to change. West marine has them in stock.
Scout 185
if you store the boat in the water I would change it as soon as possible
if its a trailer boat, I wouldn’t worry about it until you have the boat serviced next
Thanks for the replies, guys. It’s on a trailer and here in the upstate. Mostly running on the lake. The underneath of the boat is fine. I beached it once and all I can figure is that in the hard grounding, ( accidently), the the anode must have been scraped and gouged by something buried in the sand. I can’t really figure it out. Anyway, nothing else damaged, fortunately. Just a bit of paint off of the lower unit. Will replace after the next trip, I guess. Thanks again.
Did you notice any steering imbalance after it broke? It’s primary purpose is a steering trim tab to offset the prop torque, secondary purpose is corrosion protection.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
OKAY LARRY ONE OF US IS READING THE ORIGINAL QUESTION WRONG
HE SAID TRIM TAB ANODE
I READ THAT AS THE ANODE BOLTED TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS TRIM TAB
YOU ARE READING IT AS HIS TAB ON THE LOWER UNIT.
HOW WOULD YOU DAMAGE THAT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE PROP OR THE LOWER UNIT?
quote:
OKAY LARRY ONE OF US IS READING THE ORIGINAL QUESTION WRONG HE SAID TRIM TAB ANODE I READ THAT AS THE ANODE BOLTED TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS TRIM TAB YOU ARE READING IT AS HIS TAB ON THE LOWER UNIT.HOW WOULD YOU DAMAGE THAT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE PROP OR THE LOWER UNIT?
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>It’s entirely possible that I misunderstood the question. But why are you shouting at me? I think he’s talking about the tab on the engine, just above and behind the prop.
All engines have trim tab anodes on the lower unit, every one I know of anyway, and yes they can get damaged or broken easily by grounding. I’ve busted many of them. The zinc is much weaker than the skeg or prop. I assumed that’s what he was talking about. I could be wrong
Some boats have external trim tabs on the hull, and some of those tabs have anodes attached to them. I don’t see any way possible to break those anodes by grounding. Tell me how you could break these trim tab anodes without destroying the tabs or the hull?
Have also used the pancake style bolted to the bottom of the tabs, but they would also be difficult to damage without doing other damage. Although I have sheared a couple of those off clean by hitting something. Don’t know what. Wasn’t sand. Thunk, gone. Now I tuck them in
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
sorry
wasn’t yelling
our management software program uses all caps for most of the data entry, and I went from one to the other without thinking
after reading what you wrote I sort of assumed I misinterpreted what he was talking about, and I was thinking of the pancake style when he said something gouged it.
I’m guessing I’m calling it the right name, but it’s the anode on the lower unit just above the prop. I was trying to figure out how this thing got gouged. Weird. We did have a hard landing on some very shallow shoals one day. Didn’t have any other damage other than the removal of some paint on the lower unit. Didn’t notice any steering problems. Thanks, fellas.
C.Larry you have a PM or 2…
No problem, Chris, I’m just not used to seeing all caps 
You sounded angry!
Blueline, PMs replied too.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper