View Full Version : Power trim use.
Poseidon
08-06-2006, 08:35 AM
Having never owned an outboard with power trim before, and soon to be the owner of one, I would like a few tips on the use of the trim to get on the plane then trim out for efficiency or fuel economy.
I am assuming that the motor is trimmed into the transom to get the boat onto the plane quickly then trimmed away from the transom to get the ride you desire.
How do you know the best trim position when on the plane, do you use the tacho and speedo during the decision or do you just go by gut feel ?
To date my experience has always been with smaller motors with a set trim position.
Any tips would be welcomed.
Regards Cameron
toymod
08-06-2006, 10:31 AM
trim it in when u go and runing into big swell waves, trim it out when running you will hear the motor and feel the best position
I remember it this way
Bow down to the head. ( Heading into a swell)
Trim out and follow ( following sea bow up) that what trimming out does to your boat
Have a play with the trim .
Definately start with it tucked right under.
Then when under way,trim it out slowly, and you will hear the motor rev slightly higher.
If you go too far, you will hear the motor cavitate, or you can also get some porpoising. The bow goes up and down.If this happens just trim down a little till it settles.
Dont try any fast turns, in full trim, the motor wont like that.
Also remember to trim in,after you stop, say to fish..Its embarrasing,when you try to take off in an outward trim position.
Use the trim to get you closer to the ramp.I wash off any excess speed at the ramp by using reverse.
When trimmed out,and going slow,your steering will not be as effective, as when fully down.
Keep motor trimmed up when launching,and remember to tilt all the way up when loading onto trailer.
Let the motor down when storing, to allow water to drain.
Regards David
Ron173
08-06-2006, 12:27 PM
What good advice from DNEJ, not much more to add there
Poseidon
08-06-2006, 02:28 PM
Thanks for that info David, very informative and much appreciated.
Regards Cameron.
marlinqld
08-06-2006, 02:55 PM
My mariner 75 is fitted with a trim gauge.
I got told keep the needle in the midde and you'll be right every time.
Was i informed right or wrong?
I usually listen to the motor, you can generally tell by the noise if its running the right trim.
Alex9797
08-06-2006, 03:10 PM
Don't trust trim gauges. IMHO very few are accurate in terms of the trim gauge being centered and the engine being in neutral trim. you know wot I mean :)
Alex
griz066
08-06-2006, 10:12 PM
I agree with Alex my trim gauge is not accurate at all
mark221263
08-06-2006, 10:14 PM
Also, find the trim spot where the wheel is not loading things up to port or starbord. This is normally the most efficient and sweet spot
Cheers Mark
bidkev
08-06-2006, 10:28 PM
I've never seen a trim guage that is accurate but I may have just been unlucky.
I trim via "pitch".......... that is, the trim seems right when the engine sounds 'sweet'. Can't explain it any other way. ::)
krv
bidkev
08-06-2006, 10:38 PM
To add..as Mark says, the steering feels at it's best when the engine sounds 'sweet" (trim correct)
I do find though, that when it's at this point, this is ok for straight runs across the bay but say that I am running the "back way" from Jacob's to the pin, when I hit sharp bends like the X marker then I have to trim in as I bank and then trim out as I straighten up again. Quite often you can hear boats taking this sharp bend and there is no appreciable change in pitch of their engine. I can only assume from this that they are trimmed too far in to begin with. A prime trim would have you cavitating when you banked if you didn't trim in whilst banking but I am open to comments on this....it just seems to work for me.
kev
marlinqld
09-06-2006, 05:16 AM
I have to agree, I can feel the steering wheel is sweeter and the pitch of the motor noise is sweet, you can just "feel" it's trimmed right.
moondancer
09-06-2006, 10:15 AM
All the above posts are great info - follow them. The only thing I would add is that every vessel handles trim differently - I've had an old Savage Pacific (5m heavy glass) , a 1950l signature, and now a 570 sf haines - performance with trim is chalk and cheese - the only constants are these: 'listen' for the sweet spot in your revs, as previous posts say, and more particluarly, learn what the feel of your steering wheel is telling you - if you're fighting the wheel, trim out till it starts to feel more manaegeable, and even feather light, then tri down just a fraction to keep in check - thats always worked well for me, and helped my fuel economy - forget the guage - good decoration -
Lawry
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