Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

[Big-E]

Hey guys 1st off i just splashed my 16.5 foot bowrider with 89 3.0 L Mercruiser with alpha 1 drive. Just rebuilt the motor and put hours on her in the lake this past weekend. <br /><br />My question is this is my 1st i/o boat and how are you supposed to trim the boat? What i was doing is put the throttle down ( not all the way due to brand new motor and want to make sure it gets broken in right) and wait for bow to come down. This takes about 10 seconds then i start hitting trim switch up until it feels like its trimed right. The boat seemed to be very happy at this trim level and we were doing 30/32 mph at 3 grand. <br /><br />Now for my trim tab question. When i got the boat it had a stingray hydrafoil on it. I dont like those things cause they tend to cause the stern to lift to high. I didnt have it on my boat on her shakedown cruise but would trim tabs keep her noise from pointing toward the sky? I'm sure once i get more hours on the motor (only has about 4 right now) i can goose it good and she will drop down quick. But at the end of the day yesterday i had a total of 4 adults on the boat and a small child and she wasn't happy to plane out. I had to have 1 person go to the bow to get the nose to drop down. ( I had 2 ppl sitting in rear near motor and the other person in passenger seat.) Again she was getting a little over 1/2 thottle to jump on plane. My only concern is just keeping the nose down. <br /><br />Thanks for your replys. <br /><br />Big-E

 

[stevens]

Re: Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

Hi Big-E,<br /><br />your use of engine trim seems just right, although I wouldn't be afraid to trim all the way down until getting on plane.<br /><br />10 seconds is a long time to plane, though. Must be annoying to wait that long (and a bit dangerous?). I think they say it usually takes 4-5 seconds to plane, on your average planing hull with a sufficiently large engine.<br /><br />You seem like the ideal candidate for Smart Tabs!<br /><br />They'll help you plane much faster, ride smoother, and keep the bow down so that the propeller can be optimially trimmed for forward thrust, thus giving a better trim angle and a slightly higher top speed as well.<br /><br />Just make sure you order the right size and adjust the pressure to the right level for your boat. This is done at the time of installation, and from then on, you don't have to pay them another thought.<br /><br />Yes, I sound like a zealous convert, and I probably am. I have only had the Smart Tabs on for a few days and I am still just so pleased they worked out so well. It's one of those things that seem too simple to actually work, and yet, they really do.

 

[Big-E]

Re: Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

Thanks for the reply stevens, Yea i think it will plane much quicker once i have motor broken in and am able to floor it off the line. I was looking at trim tabs and they seem like they will do the trick. I'll prolly pick some up later in the summer when my wire allows me tos pend more money on the boat . LOL. <br /><br />thanks again , <br /><br />Big-E

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

Big-E, now you know why the boat had a stingray hydrofoil on it in the first place. The bow takes a long time to come down when planing. The previous owner "solved" that problem with the hydrofoil. You may choose to "solve" it with actual trim tabs. Trim tabs will make a bigger difference that a hydrofoil, in my opinion. Good luck

 

[Big-E]

Re: Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

Thanks TilliamWe. Ive had a hydrofoil on a older outboard before and didnt like how it stuffed the bow into wakes. Yea i think tabs will be what she gets since she's soo stern heavy.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Outdrive Trimming/and Trim tab ?

The tabs will probly help you out alot, but having all the weight in the back of the boat isn't helping much either. Like the other guy said don't be afraid to trim all the way down when taking off, and then adjust accordingly.