Marine Engine Parts Professionals Make Trimming an Outdrive Look Easy

Your Marine Engine Parts Experts Help You Become a Master Problem Solver 

Stainless Marine your marine engine parts analysts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to properly trim your outdrive.

Your marine engine parts professionals know that when we get mail on boat-handling problems, the bulk of it sounds like this: âWhen I do this, my boat does that and I can't make it stop.â Here are some solutions you might find beneficial.

Problem: My boat pounds into the waves, often taking water over the bow.

Cause: Your inboard marine engine parts specialists suggest that you could just be going too fast in rough water, or the propeller might be trimmed too low, driving the stern up and the bow down.

Solution: It's possible your hull has developed a âhookâ or a concave bottom that causes the bow to ride low, but more than likely, your trim is out of adjustment. Start by pulling your trim tabs up fully (if you have tabs).

Problem: My boat leans to the left at planing speed but is level at rest.

Cause: Prop torque (the twisting force that the prop creates as it turns in the water) can cause your boat
to lean.

Solution: Your performance marine engine parts professionals know that adjusting your trim upward will often correct this issue. In the short term, adjusting your crew to counterbalance the force can be helpful. 

Problem: I trimmed my engine, but the boat still pounds the waves too much.

Cause: V-bottom boats usually have a very sharp stem – the point of the bow – to slice the waves. The bow might still be riding too high to cut the chop.

Solution: If you have adjusted your prop trim, chances are that your trim tabs (if you have them) are not properly adjusted. Or, you simply might be going too fast for the water conditions.

Most boats handle best when running parallel with their at-rest waterline. Accordingly, outboards and sterndrives feature a power trim adjustment that allows you to change the engine's angle of thrust by tilting it âoutâ or âinâ in relation to the transom in order to maintain the proper running angle.

Your Marine Engine Parts Specialists Discuss the Importance of Being Able to Adjust On the Fly

Your marine boat parts experts understand that adjust-on-the-fly capability is important because optimum trim position is determined by load and water conditions, and will change as passengers move or seas vary.

Here are the steps to properly trim a planing-hulled powerboat:

1. With the engine in neutral, use the trim switch to tilt the drive down as far as it will go. Monitor the engine trim gauge (if present) or note the change in sound from the tilt motor that signals that the engine is trimmed fully down.






2. Your performance marine experts know you need to put the engine into forward gear and throttle up steadily to cruising speed, noting the reading on your speedometer, GPS, or tachometer.






3. Using the trim switch, slowly tilt the engine up. You should feel the boat's attitude toward the water change, with a slight rise of the bow, a lift of the entire boat, and an increase in speed.






4. Continue to tilt the engine up until you note a slight drop in speed from the GPS or speedometer, a sharp rise in the engine's rpm, or until you hear your propeller begin to cavitate. 






5. Tilt the engine down in small increments until the maximum speed/consistent rpm is again reached, and/or no cavitation is noted. 

From there, you may want to make adjustments to the trim to offer a more comfortable ride. For example, trimming the bow down a bit in a chop may decrease pounding from waves – but may also increase the amount of spray.

So don't forget these helpful pointers in making sure you properly trim your outdrive. 1) With the engine in neutral, use the trim switch to tilt the drive down as far as it will go;  2) Monitor the engine trim gauge or note the change in sound from the tilt motor that signals that the engine is trimmed fully down;  and 3) put the engine into forward gear and throttle up steadily to cruising speed, noting the reading on your speedometer, GPS, or tachometer.

Stainless Marine has more information on marine engine parts, marine boat parts, group #24 battery box and on trimming an outdrive properly.

via Staying in Trim

via How to Properly Trim an Outdrive