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The Problem: Your boat's trim tabs refuse to retract and there are some barnacles on the rams.
The Cause: Failure to retract the tabs to the full up position allows the barnacles to gain a foothold.
The Fix: You can't paint the rams with antifouling paint because it will tear the hydraulic seals to shreds-then again, so will the barnacles. The only solution is to remove the barnacles and the hard little pads they leave behind. If you can't, it means buying new rams. After that, leave the tabs in the up position every time you leave the boat.
The Problem: At haul out you discover the shaft zincs are resting against the struts.
The Cause: Improper installation.
The Fix: Start your zinc installation by cleaning the shaft's contact area thoroughly with emery paper. Once you've tightened the screws, give the zinc a good, sound smack with a hammer right between the screws. Then give the screws a final tightening.
The Problem: You keep your boat at a marina with nonfloating docks. No matter what you try, the fenders pop out, and your boat gets scratched.
The Cause: Nonfloating docks are a challenge.
The Fix: What you need is a set of fenderboards. These can be as simple as a 3'-long piece of 2'-by-6' with holes drilled in each end. They're hung horizontally from a pair of lines, outboard of a pair of closely spaced fenders.
