knotthereelworld Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 '03 RF18.... Cruising around Cape Lookout, NC on Saturday and I hear a loud noise behind the boat. Look back and my transducer is flopping in the water and my trim tab is just hanging there by the piston. The welds between the tab and the bracket all broke. Looks like it was spot welded 8 times across. As far as I know they are original. The tab flipped up and knocked the transducer off and also caused some gel coat damage. We removed the tab via the three bolts and tied the piston to the poling platform for the ride home. I spent two hours yesterday repairing and clamped the tab back to the bracket edge with vice grips, then drilled 8 new holes and put the tab back on with #6 stainless steel screws and nylon lock nuts. Seemed to work fine on my short run yesterday. Will have my welder friend properly weld it back together this winter. Has anyone else had this happen??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoneyB Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 I have not had it happen but I have seen a a couple discussions on the failure over the years. As I recall people have made the same repair you made and put the tab back in service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tails Up Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 Had this occur on my HPXT five years ago. Pulled the tab and the bracket and had a local welder re do the weld. It’s stronger than the original since they welded across the length of the bracket vs just spot welds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 When I purchased my 18 bay fisher, I noticed a few of the welds had popped free. I ended up doing the same as you did. It’s lasted that way for years now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplec Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 Have heard of it happening as well. Mine is 96 and OEM and hasn't yet but you prompted me to keep an eye on it. Sounds like someone replaced your actuators already though if bolted and Lenco's. Good think too as they use a delrin pin as OEM back then I think that would make on water removal more troublesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernWake Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 Lenco? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim33042 Posted August 4, 2021 Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 Mine were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Troy Posted August 4, 2021 Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 You got lucky. My 99 21 master angler had it happen. Ripped the actuator out and took the entire assembly including the fiberglass cover for the recessed trim tabs. Luckily Skip was able to get me a replacement Trim Tab cover as that is a molded part. It also pulled the wire out and snatched all of the pump wires off the bait well and bilge pump. Lenco tabs with about 8 tiny spot weld is what let go at 55 MPH. All that was left was a bunch of holes. Felt almost like I hit something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotthereelworld Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 Thank you all. On 8/3/2021 at 12:38 PM, Tails Up said: Had this occur on my HPXT five years ago. Pulled the tab and the bracket and had a local welder re do the weld. It’s stronger than the original since they welded across the length of the bracket vs just spot welds. Thanks. I've got a good welder friend back in VA. Will probably have him do the welds on both of them this winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotthereelworld Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 22 hours ago, Capt. Troy said: You got lucky. My 99 21 master angler had it happen. Ripped the actuator out and took the entire assembly including the fiberglass cover for the recessed trim tabs. Luckily Skip was able to get me a replacement Trim Tab cover as that is a molded part. It also pulled the wire out and snatched all of the pump wires off the bait well and bilge pump. Lenco tabs with about 8 tiny spot weld is what let go at 55 MPH. All that was left was a bunch of holes. Felt almost like I hit something. It did feel like I hit something. Randomly I took the covers off earlier this summer to redo those screw holes and never put them back on. I am lucky it didn't cause more damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotthereelworld Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 On 8/3/2021 at 12:38 PM, jim33042 said: When I purchased my 18 bay fisher, I noticed a few of the welds had popped free. I ended up doing the same as you did. It’s lasted that way for years now. Thanks, good to know it will hold. Boat will be back on the trailer at the end of the week and I'll double check the bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotthereelworld Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 On 8/3/2021 at 3:52 PM, triplec said: Have heard of it happening as well. Mine is 96 and OEM and hasn't yet but you prompted me to keep an eye on it. Sounds like someone replaced your actuators already though if bolted and Lenco's. Good think too as they use a delrin pin as OEM back then I think that would make on water removal more troublesome. The guy I bought it from never said anything if they were replaced or not. He was the second owner and claims to know the original owner well. They are Lenco though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotthereelworld Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 On 8/3/2021 at 5:54 PM, SouthernWake said: Lenco? Yes they are Lenco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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