Re: Explain "tilt and trim" or tell me what I have please.
Depending on the boat, but most ski/pleasure boats I have driven tend to like this.
When on plane and cruising, look behind the boat at the start of the wake/Rooster Tail (The beginning of the "V" of the wake. When trimming up, you should see the propwash (The turbulant area of water directly behind the boat). As you trim the outboard/outdrive up, you will see this propwash begin to migrate forward twards that "V" of the wake. I have found that most boats (Pleasure and ski) handle best with the propwash at or just behind that "V" of the wake. Now, the power trim/tilt you have (Pre 1984) is the first generation with the pump mounted inside the boat and the pressure lines running to the external rams. That system didn't have a different speed for trim and tilt, and most didn't come with a gauge. That's why I always went on how the boat handles and then take a look at the propwash and wake.
I would suggest expirimenting with it. When the prop ventelates and starts to rev up without any speed increase, you have gone too far and need to bring it back down to get a bite on the water. Other than that, it's pretty much a boat hull design/load/water condition thing and will change almost every time you take the boat out.
Hope this helps.
Craig
