Trim Tabs, Clear coat or Powder coat?
 

Hello everyone,

I have the Dana HP-1000 tabs on my boat. They are polished and have a clear sealer from new.

I called Dana and they said that they polish them, then anodize them, and put a clear sealer coat on when they are new. Over time the clear wears off and they begin to tarnish. That is what has happened to mine, and I don't want to constantly have to polish them to keep them looking great.

I could send them back to Dana and have them re-do the process but the cost is way to high for my liking.

I am considering having a clear powder coat put on them or having them sprayed with an automotive clear coat.

I am sure several people on here have tried all sorts of finishes on trim tabs and am curious what works and doesn't.

I don't want to paint them black or just let them go natural ,as I like shiny things. :D

So looking for some advice.
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Powder coat is great until it starts to fail, and it will fail. It's like a plastic coating over the part, as soon as that coating is compromised water can get behind the powder coat and migrate. Then the only way to prep it for refinishing is chemically strip. Clear coating the polished aluminum would require a clear that is designed for that purpose, it is out there, but I have no first hand knowledge of it. I'm sure someone here will, it would be pretty common in the trucking industry.

Strip
the clear off
have them anodized agian
thewhattr that used on rv and otr trucks alum wheels is very robust
but. One Crack in the seal and water will get in and weaken the coating
bolts , attach points are the weak spot
If you want them shiny
have them chromed
Nothing is forever in the water

The least amount of effort is probably to refine your polish method, and just keep it up...

With others here. Polish a lot or:

• Anodize
• Paint.

Yes powdered coat is great except if water gets under it. I have powder coated drives on the boat I just got and water got under one spot. Lets just say prep work will be easy,,,,,

Had a bunch of stuff done with CERACOAT clear coat including the tabs and it held up under water , looked the same after a season. Easy to clean.


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Cerakote is the best of the best, absolutely agree. Even better if you send your stuff there and they give it the full treatment

You mostly ran in fresh water Dan? Great point on the Cerakote.

Yes, fresh water.
I have the tabs still left over actually

Thanks for all the responses.

I am going to have to get some quotes from some local shops and decide which direction to go.

The Cerakote does look real nice. Who did you have do it?