www.iFourWinns.com

Headed off to Block Island Saturday and was having trouble trimming Port to Starboard. Before I left the dock in Mystic I visually check to see if the tabs raised and lowered as well as the lower unit; no problems discovered. Once we arrived I was assigned a slip and was having a heck of a time backing up straight without applying more throttle then should be required. No strong current or wind was present. After we tied up I noticed that the starboard trim tab was hanging by the actuator; not the first thing I wanted to see.

I spoke to my dealer and they called Fourwinns; surprise they are aware of this issue. Apparently not all of the boats had the trim tabs bonded eclectically. But don’t worry it’s a warranty item they just don’t reimburse for hauling. Let’s see how fast I get the repair; July 4th weekend and I’m stuck at the dock with a detached tab.

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“Growing Older, But Not Up”
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2008 Four Winns V248
2004 Stingray 220CS

There are worse places to be stuck than in Mystic. Thats why we moved there. If you cant get out, at least we are where people come to visit

In most setups tabs never are bonded.. If you have stray electrical current issues at your marina then you can add anodes to the tabs.

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Brett DiMichele

Brett's correct. Our 348 tabs are not bonded. They aren't part of an electrical circuit on the boat.

I'll offer a plug for the folks at http://www.boatzincs.com/ I got a full set of zincs from them for our 348 and it was well below any prices elsewhere.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

The tabs on my boat are not bonded, I added anodes before the boat was first used in the sea. They seem to have protected the tabs from galvanic corrosion well , but it's impossible to tell whether crevice corrosion within the hinge is an issue.

What actually failed; the screws, the hinge pin or the plate metalwork of tab itself ?

Graham

I have not seen any trim tabs bonded either this side of the pond or in the US, certinaly my 358 are not they have there own, i beleive this is the case due to the fact that the trim tabs can be one of the largest exposed area of stainless steel underwater, with my boat in UK which is a semi displacement it has very large trim tabs and has two annodes per tab.

Cheers

Sean
2008 358 "Credit Crunch" Staurt Fl

Plz explain "bonded electrically."

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2006 348 Vista
"some days you're the bug and some days you're the windshield"

It usually means there's a ground wire running from a bolt on the inside to a ground block in the boat. This to make sure that any electrically-induced corrosion finds a better path to ground via anodes, instead of the equipment. Sorta like a lightning rod on a house, it's designed to offer the lightning a controlled path to ground. The idea on a boat is to get the corrosion to eat through the anodes first.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

From what my dealers service department has explained Fourwinns has bonded the trim tabs but are not constitant in this practice; they can not explain why. The dealer was under the impression that they where bonded as well; here are the latest:

The boat was pulled today and the marina discovered that the SS bolts on the starboard side have completely dissolved and the port side is well on its way too.

The dealer called Fourwinns to have a new set of tabs sent; but here is the problem: they are Bennett and are specially made for Fourwinns and not off-the-shelf parts.

Fourwinns though supporting parts and warranty work is in a shut down and it could be 6 to 8 weeks for them to place an order and then send them here.

The dealer called Bennett and they have a sole source agreement with Fourwinns and don’t supply direct to dealers. However, they are aware of Fourwinns problems and have offered to send my dealer a set directly.

There are two different tabs designed for the V248 one with anodes and one without; they have the ones without in stock. The parts representative for Bennett was not sure if they are the same with the exception of the anode mounting holes and they have requested an answer from Bennett’s engineering department. If they are the same they will add the holes and send them out, if not it will be at least two weeks for the new tabs to arrive. Not great but better than 6-8 weeks.

So the boat is out of the water and summer has finally arrived.

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“Growing Older, But Not Up”
[

2008 Four Winns V248
2004 Stingray 220CS

Not meaning to be flippant, but what a load of "smoke and mirrors" from the dealer/ manufacturer.

My tabs are screwed onto the transom, not through bolted; I can't see the sense of externally bonding them to the aluminium outdrive ; I'd prefer the tabs to dissolve than the outdrive !

The tabs on my 245 Sundowner are Bennett. The hinges and tab are modified to fit in with the transom shape, I don't know if Bennett do it or FW, but it's metal removed, not metal added. "Non anode" tabs just need a hole drilling and a suitable stainless bolt and nut fitted; this is what I did 4 years ago and I have had no visible corrosion issues after four 6 month seasons in salt water..

Graham

Tabs aren't terribly unique. Yes, it's likely they've made some special for Four Winns. But in a pinch you could certainly use a larger size and trim them to fit. But it sounds like Bennett will work out the means to supply what's needed. Bennett has a pretty good reputation for support, let's hope that happens here.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Do yourself a favor.. Go over to http://www.thehulltruth.com go into Tabman's corner and talk to Tabman at Bennett, I bet you he can get you the parts you need, without smoke or mirrors...


*Edit* it's been a while since I looked "further down" the page on THT, looks like Bennett left the site (big shock since Internet Brands is running the place into the ground). You need to find where Tabman is hanging out these days and get in contact with him. He is the guy at Bennett that bends over backwards for us!

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Brett DiMichele

Got that right. Damned shame.

Wiley's started up a new site: http://reelboating.com

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

http://www.thehulltruth.com/members/tabman.html

That'll take you directly to TabMan's profile. You can PM him from there...

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Brett DiMichele

OK I have to vent, I am really getting tired of FW having special parts made by large manufactures. I am currently sitting here with my fore deck hatch duct taped shut because the hinge broke. This is of course made just for four winns and is no longer made and there are no parts available, this is just BS. I love my boat but god damn it things break and we need to be able to to get stinking parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
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