Buoyant trim tab assembly

Abstract

A method and apparatus for adding buoyancy to the transom of a boat by attaching buoyant material to the trim tabs, or to the planing surface of the trim tab, or constructing the trim tab itself of buoyant material. The buoyancy can be used to correct listing of a boat, or compensate for outboard engines that are unable to clear the water line when tilted up, or generally raise the stern of the boat while at rest. Buoyancy can be added to conventional trim tab plates or added to vertically extending interceptor blade type trim tabs. The invention also proposes a method by which trim tabs can be attached to the transom or the “step” or “pocket” above by a fixed or manually adjustable linkage, such as with a turnbuckle or jack screw or through-bolted perforated rods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buoyancy trim tab assembly for a motor boat transom, comprising:
 a first plate member having an upper surface, a lower planing surface, opposing side edges, a first end edge hingedly secured to a starboard side of the motor boat transom, and a first outboard edge extending outwardly therefrom;   a first buoyant material secured to the upper surface of the first plate member, said first buoyant material providing positive buoyancy to the starboard side transom area while the motor boat is motionless in water;   a second plate member having an upper surface, a lower planing surface, opposing side edges, a second end edge hingedly secured to a port side of the motor boat transom, and a second outboard edge extending outwardly therefrom; and   a second buoyant material secured to the upper surface of the second plate member, said second buoyant material providing positive buoyancy to the port side transom area while the motor boat is motionless in water.   
     
     
         2 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is attached to each plate member with adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is secured to each plate member with a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is formed from a material having a density less than that of water. 
     
     
         5 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the buoyant material is selected from the group consisting of: foam or equivalent, encapsulated foam, hollow structures, metal, plastic fiberglass, and composite materials. 
     
     
         6 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material is attached to an interceptor-type trim tab. 
     
     
         7 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first actuator operatively connected to the first plate member and configured to angularly adjust the first outboard edge relative to the starboard transom area while the boat is moving through water; and   a second actuator operatively connected to the second plate member and configured to angularly adjust the second outboard edge relative to the port transom area while the boat is moving through water.   
     
     
         8 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second actuators are electric. 
     
     
         9 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second actuators are hydraulic. 
     
     
         10 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second actuators are manually adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the buoyant material includes an internal storage area. 
     
     
         12 . The buoyancy trim tab assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each said plate member is constructed from a buoyant material. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing buoyancy to the transom of a motor boat, comprising the steps of:
 calculating the amount of buoyancy required at the transom of the boat;   selecting a buoyant material to meet the buoyancy requirement;   sizing the buoyant material to conform to trim tab dimensions;   securing the buoyant material to an upper surface of a starboard trim tab, such that the buoyant material provides positive buoyancy to the starboard transom area while the boat is motionless in the water; and   securing a second buoyant material to an upper surface of a port trim tab, such that the second buoyant material provides positive buoyancy to the port transom area while the boat is motionless in the water.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of securing includes applying adhesive between the trim tab and the buoyant material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising securing the buoyant material to the trim tab with a mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the buoyant material is selected from the group consisting of: foam, encapsulated foam, materials having a density less than water, and hollow structures made of plastic, metal, fiberglass, or composite.