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When I changed out my prop I was bit surprised to note that there is no trim tab on my motor. There is a space, but none there, no bolt, nada.

Boat turns and tracks fine, so it kinda made me wonder, aside from being an anode for corrosion if I really needed it.

Anyone else have this situation?

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I am not sure it the SPL motors had one. I know the SPL series did not have power tilt/trim, sacrificial anodes, nor VRO. Also on OMC's I do not believe there were any motors that used the trim tab fin as an anode like most Mercurys.

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I have an '87 88spl that we bought new. It came with the tab but it's not an anode. I think most omcs came with a painted non anode tab. I would just put one of either type on and call it a day. Even though your boat tracks straight, the tab should help with the resistance felt when steering against the rotation of the prop.

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I looked at the BRP site and they do list a trim tab for the SPL series motor. Can't tell if it is an anode or not. If it is not the anode then where do they put it on that motor? I need some kind, since the boat is used in aslt a few times/year.

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I used to have a '87 48 spl, it had a trim tab on it and it walked out on me one day after a recent water pump change out, I was pretty sure I torqued it down, I did'nt even notice it was missing until I pulled the motor up and saw a chunk out of the prop. I replaced the prop and I too had no problems with tracking or pulling without the t/t. There was a sacrificial zinc anode block above the prop that was visable and easy to get to. it was held in by 1 bolt under where the t/t plate was (so you should be able to now see it). I really liked the "SPL" series, there was nothing on them to break down.

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Mr T,

Look at the BRP site again and look for the anode kit if they list one for that motor.

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No anode kit listed, there are two anodes listed as single parts though. One is connected to the bearing housing inside the lower end, the other is a block mounted above the prop. I'm not used to a trim tab that is not an anode. Oh well, I think maybe I shoud get the tab anyway.

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I think it would be a good idea to get the trim tab and the external anode above the prop if yours doesn't have that either.

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The trim tab is NOT an anode, on that engine. The anodes are above the cav. plate and below the engine mounting bracket.

The trim tab was standard equipment on SPL's, along with anodes, as mentioned above.

Do you need one? Not really. If you have no tracking or steering issues, don't bother.

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Got the block anode above the cav plate at west marine, will be putting it in today. Tomorrow gonna try for halibut in SF bay. It's early but ya never know if ya don't go, and water is a lot clearer than imagined after all the rain we got this last month....

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I found a shop here that did not have one in stock, but the guy said hold on, went out back and about 5 minutes later, came back with one off an old motor they had laying around; price, nada.

Very cool.

I dropped 75 bucks on other stuff while there, to make sure they understood I really appreciated it though.

So now I got new plugs, hose clamps, (since one broke last trip out,) trikm tab and an anode to boot. Did a seafoam decarb as well. Now I need to get some TIME to get out there and see what she'll do with a tuneup!