Trim setting

[cfelton]

Hey Ambush, nice rig ya got there! I've got bout the same setup as you. Where I launch my V, its a canal about 2-3ft deep so I keep it trimmed up some till I get out into the Chowan River. When I get to 5 ft. of water under the boat I trim it almost all the way down and come up on plane. Most times I gun it almost WOT and start trimming it up till it starts to porpoise a little and then I trim it back down just a bump. It gets the best fuel economy and runs fastest when trimmed out correctly. When you get up on plane and to the desired speed just bump the trim button up and down and listen to the motor and you'll hear it change from a lugging sound to an easier , smoother running sound. Hope this helps.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Try throwing a jack plate into the mix, and it gets REAL confusing getting the 3 of em set right for every condition. When I had my flats boat I would run teh jack plate up til it would lose water pressure, then drop it down an inch, trim it out till the engine would be just above level, and then stop the bounce with the tabs. O nan I/O though, be careful not to trim it to high if your trim limit switch isn't working. Alot of people bypass them because they fail often, but without them you can overtrim the drive and bind the u-joints.

[Blue_Runner]

You will also notice when the motor is trimmed just right the boat will steer left and right much, much easier. I don't like to run with the motor trimmed all the way down (except out of the hole) unless I absolutely have to because of the tension it puts on the steering system.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by Blue_Runner

You will also notice when the motor is trimmed just right the boat will steer left and right much, much easier. I don't like to run with the motor trimmed all the way down (except out of the hole) unless I absolutely have to because of the tension it puts on the steering system.

I agree...it's gotta add a lotta strain to your cable & helm workings w/motor down considering how much easier the steering becomes when she's trimmed out correctly...

[phatdaddy]

it's also kind amazing at how much less drag you get with the motor trimmed up. when you take off in all down mode and get on plane watch how the spray from the side moves toward the stern as you trim up. all down the spray is coming off about the windshield(like reels sig pic) and with it trimmed right it moves back to about where the rear bimini strap is.

[bgreene]

1. Bring boat up on plane with engine trimmed down.

2. Start trimming up engine.....can trim up till the prop starts loosing its bite and
( sounds funny from exhaust), then trim down just a little till sounds " normal".

3. Can also trim up till boat starts to " porpoise" meaning the bow rides up and down.
Then trim back down a little till the boat's riding flat again - not up and down.

This assumes it's calm enough and you're not pounding the hull on waves.
You'll want to keep the engine trimmed down to force the bow down when it's rough or else you'll pound heavily.

Trim tabs increases this range of trim - and allows you to work it in concert with the engine trim.

[Ambush]

Thank you everyone for all the great info...

[Stillrunning]

Its something you need to play with until you find your boats sweet spot.