How To Trim Your Boat (Boat Trim Basics)
Do you wonder how your boat engine trim works and how to use it properly. We get asked this all the time when we are giving boating lessons. We also see lots of boaters who are not using thier boat power trim incorrectly. In this video we will cover:
0:00 Intro
1:22 Boat design and trim
1:40 How to get a boat on plane
2:09 How a boat hull works on the water
2:50 Best trim settings for boating
_________________________________________________
For more info check out these resources:
Subscribe to our channel! / lenscove
*How to dock your boat properly:
• How to Safely Dock a Boat
*One on one boat chat to ask me questions:
app.hubspot.com/meetings/sean715
*Len's Cove Learning Center:
www.lenscove.com/learning-cen...
________________________
Connect with us!
▶lenscove.com
▶ / lenscove
▶ / lenscovem
▶ / lenscovem
Does your boat behave differently when trimmed vs. not? Tell our follower's about it here.
yes it dise bow up ehrn rogh watrr slow laning big wav bow diw çalm ester baxoum topsoied
@@sharonbraselton4302wtf?!
My grandfather taught me to trim by watching your wake. No just behind but along the boat. As you adjust trim you'll notice the beginning of your wake moves up and down between the bow n stern . The less wake the better the trim, less boat in the water , less friction, more efficient, more speed.
Simple but that's an excellent idea. Will give that a try. Thanks!
Very cool! Your grandfather definitely had it figured out!!
You will also hear it, the water shifting to the back, or stern…lol
I mean, you’re correct, but it depends on tge type of boat. What you’re saying doesn’t hold for stuff like my tournament bass boat, which has barely any part of the boat even touching the water when on plane. The only wake is almost completely behind me. My Regulator 33 center console saltwater sport fishing boat performs exactly as you said. You can always tell by the steering anyway. And that’s all only for calm water. Get out in the salt, or even big water like the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain, etc, you have to trim it for the waves, not just performance.
Good video. I figured out best trim on flat water by very closely watching the speedometer and trimming for best speed. I had that marked on my trim gauge. Then trim down slightly from that for more choppy water.
Wonderful video. Used to sail for some years and now for the first time started riding fast power boats. The concept of trimming the angle of attack of the prop is totally new to me and this video was extremely helpful. Super well explained and easy to follow, especially the details around over trimming and how to not rely on trim gauges
I'm quite new to boats and learnt quite a bit from this video, thankyou... More so the part about the trim being all the way down (angled back) I genuinely didn't know it was there for function..
In calm water, after it gets on plane you can trim the motor watching the gauges where your getting the highest speed for the RPMs and you will notice you will also be getting the best MPG for your boat.
This makes much more sense. I didn't thoroughly understand this, the negative trim angle is thier for a reason to help push the bow into plane. Thanks!
Your videos are so great! I am learning so much before I purchase my first pontoon boat. Thank you so much.
One of the best videos I've seen on trim topic. thank you
Very informative, and very well explained. Thank you for posting!
Excellent video. This is the 5th video I've seen on planing and this o's the best one so far
The Mercury user manual says that in order to trim the engine correctly, perpendicular to the surface of the water, the steering wheel should not feel a tendency to overturn either to the left or to the right... but at the same time, when you want Go fast, turn the engine up a bit. Very good video, greetings from Argentina.
Thanks for sharing this content on trimming the motor. Can you discuss using trim tabs in conjunction with trimming the motor?
Well done . Clear and comprehensive
Great info! I'd also add that on my sterndrive, in addition to the 'feel' of the boat, I can also tell by engine sound when I've hit the right amount of trim once I'm up on plane.
yes it dose
Excellent description, thank you!
Very good info, a professional.
Great segment, thank you.
I always forget to trim up my stern drive when I put it on the trailer but I’ve just been lucky not to hit the ground before I notice and trim it up (just as it emerges from the water. ). I need a huge red laminated card or some reminder to do that ! 😂. And since we’re sharing I need a reminder to put it down when I launch. Some other trim goodies I picked up this year as a new stern drive owner: the manual says to store it in the down position, even if it’s sitting for “a short storage duration “ so the bellows don’t “take a set” and stay bent in a tight angle. I see lots of boats sit for months with them fully tilted up for trailering. Also a friend of mine who worked hydraulics in the Air Force said hydraulics 101 is to store them with the ram retracted is best (so again trimmed down ). Try not to run a stern drive boat motor (I believe even in neutral ?) with the stern drive trimmed way up because it can be hard on the u-joint in there was another tid bit worth passing on I guess.
To trim your engine properly, tilt up until you maximize your speed which means your wetted surface area is minimized or until your propeller starts aerating, whichever comes first. If your propeller starts aerating, then tilt down a bit.
That's what I've been doing for years. Listening to rpms with the ears
Extremely helpful, thank you 👍
Thank you! I was just looking for that kind of info!
Our pleasure!
Good clear explanation, thank you
Excellent video ! 👍
Every boat is different. My chaparral, bravo three would get its best performance (top speed )when I trimmed it up to 2. The trim range was between zero and four. On the gauge anyway. My tritune on the other hand gets its best top speed when trimmed to 1.2. But it gets its best miles per gallon at 23 miles an hour trimmed at 1.4. In the end, just spend a little bit of time figuring all of this out. Every boat is different.
when mooring trim down to better manage marine growth causing problems. Thanks for the Vid, very well done.
Great explanation
Thank you for this great tutorial! This is a clear explanation complete with visuals and thorough explanations that, for me, was a perfect blend of technical details without either getting so cerebral as to be on the level of the engineers designing these devices or dumbed down to the point where there is virtually no explanation of the physics or reasons for the particular recommendations. Well done!
Ugh, I have a 19 ft four winns and end up trimmed down most of the time. With 3-4 kids and tubing it just makes it easier. But even cruising even a little trim up has me porpoising. And remember to trim up before you pull the boat. :-)
Helpful, thanks.
Used your video to explain to a friend that his Nitro Z7 has a hooked hull and he will never be on pad because his bow is being pushed down just like he had the trim fully Dow. Thank you
Exactly what I needed to know. 👍🙂 Excellent video, excellent explanation very easy to understand
We appreciate the feedback! Any other topics you would like to see covered?
Good info!
Just bought a boat...thankyou!
Hi there ! Thanks for your technical guidance and savoir-affaire in boating issues. I have an Angler 22 with 2 x 250 HP VX series YAMAHA outbards. Quick question : Why is it so, that when I run the boat at mid power and press the trim button down, it clearly accelarates better...? I assume an electrical issue has to do, and if where shall I look to, in order to guarantee unstable electrical power to the spark plugs I pressume...?¡¡?
Thanks!! 😂 I was riding all bad😅
Great video
Prospective new boater here, this info was gold! Thanks
Interesting. Always had inboards. Debating building an outboard boat for screwing around with. Seems like this requires more thought.
I agree with all your comments.
Haven't seen any video's on how to raise the strern or skag without power! I have an older omc stern drive that i cant raise the outdrive on to move it to the shop! (Wiring issues) Any tips or tricks would be helpful!
Trim is all about sound and feel!
Great info!👍👍
Thank you!😊
I have a Honda and trim so the top of the motor is flat with the water, then fine trim from there it's a bit faster and seems pretty close
Can you do a video on trimming your outboard without a power trim very new to boating and just restored a 1972 glastron with 80 mercury and manual trim , love the videos. Thanks Jerry
Get some tabs!
buy jet oytbard eltric ytrim caroliñsa skiff ¹7 80 hp jet oytt biard
In my old 16.6’ aluminum with a 50 Yamaha the revs won’t get all the way up unless trim high enough. Theres a bunch of batteries and gas near the stern so the weight isn’t balanced. Because of this once you trim too high it’ll porpoise so you probably won’t over rev it. Great boat to learn on since there is no tachometer, no trim gauge, no anything. It’s all feel
This guy is great
What about tiller controlled outboards where you can’t make on the fly trim adjustments? Do you just leave the trim vertical or down and deal with it?
So what’s the rules/tips for pontoons?
Great channel
Thank you! 😊
Great video,.... question. Does this also apply to a 30 foot 11,000 lb Bayliner Flybridge with a 7.4 sterndrive? I always use my trimtabs but this may be a new tweek. Not sure if the size and weight make a difference. You mention a 25 ft or greater pontoon boat will be different so thats why I was wondering about comparing to my boat. I can get on plane around 26/27 MPH. At about 1.25 MPG I am always looking at saving gas.
Thanks Thomas. Yes it applies to every boat in general, although the amount of improvement will vary. Your tabs help bring the bow down (getting on plane easier) and the drive trim lifts the bow once you are already on plane. Typically you would reduce your tab setting to (or close to ) zero before adjusting the drive trim up
yes ñew 30 foot bayliñer fly brudg has 2 64 kw batery oaçk
Really appreciate the info. thank you for sharing… how about mercury active trim is this something that is trustworthy? Again thank you for the info
Does this apply to my 14 ft flat bottom john boat wth a 9.9 evinrude?
So this is a dumb question. I just bought my first outboard, a 88 ranger bass boat v393. When I trim down all the way and I can plane at approx 12-15 mph. Now when I am going slow like 4-8 or so mph the nose is up , seems to be normal, makes it a little more difficult to see while sitting driving but heck, for all I know it's normal.
The last thing you mentioned was to trim your motor all the way down to be ready for next time, but I've been always told to raise the lower unit out of the water each time you're done boating. Which is it?
if you leave it in the water it is fine to leave it down but if youre taking it out out of the water with a trailer you always need to trim it all the way up
also depends on water. I wouldn't leave anything down in salt water
On a small, 16 ‘ fairly flat bottomed flats boat when should I use the trim tabs as opposed to the trim on the engine?
wróñg oñly big baits oñly
i always used sound. up on plane lift the engine. when it gets loud put it back down till noise goes away, found that gets the fastest speed. now you can leave it there, but if you slow down then want to go again, just going to take slighter longer to plane.
All of those things are true :)
I find it interesting how this is somehow different from what I learned about our ships in the Navy.
What were the lessons from the Navy?
Two different propulsion systems, and design of ship, boat, etc...
@@ron8528 yes
You can tell that he actually wears that coast guard approved life jacket every time he goes out.
How do trim tabs affect the use of the trim?
Not much really. You still trim the exact same way. In most properly powered planing hulls, you'll want to trim till you porpoise, then add in tab to stop it. Exceptions to this are sea conditions, loading and balance, and speed. For example: if you are unbalanced, or listing, the tabs will be used to level first, then achieve proper trim, then tab down to eliminate porpoise. Another exception is in rough water, which is where tabs are most often under utilized. You still want to trim for max efficiency, then use the tabs to get a level ride, to prevent porpoise and pounding. Finally, tabs are most often severely undersized on boats, which make them far less effective at doing their job properly. High Performance boats will need a much longer chord than a cruiser or fishing boat of less performance, due to the fact that the plane (tab) needs more leverage and less drag to keep from hindering performance. The best way to understand proper use of tabs is to find a person who has a high performance boat and let them show you how they are supposed to be used. You'll find that nearly all people who use tabs on boats do it wrong.
i love how he talks abt trim while showing footage of a v drive in operation
Will a long shaft motor get you on the plane quicker than I short shaft motor in a 15 foot boat
buy jet iutbarx
The other thing that happens too when you trim up too high you start to lose your steering that higher speeds
😂 "all rise" ok, let's watch the rest of the video 😅
Good info but would have benefited from visual show
I agree. Let's see some live action on the water.
....and for GOD'S SAKE....TRIM the motor fully up BEFORE taking the boat out of the water at the ramp! A skeg strike can be very costly!
A boat has "broken surface tension" 2:05 as long as it's in the water, even sitting still.
Trim according to the best speed vs RPM ratio
Are you asking a question or making a statement?
Yes to your comment speed vs rpm is the best way
Wonder how many times he's been to court for dodgy boat repairs! 😂
I thought you trim up to get on up on plan easier
Nice tutorial! Please though stop mixing up cavitation with ventilation, we need to stop this confusion at every opportunity before it spreads even more and ruin discussions all over the world 😊
Never put the boat in geat with the engine in the trailer position.
When’s the last time that guy got a little trim??
Do I need a new barber?💈 🤣
This guy doesn't even discuss about hydrofoils ,wholeshot or pushing weight .while pushing weight the trim may have to lifted a bit for compensation or the boat will plow and twist once the bow touches a swell this action actually causes the boat to twist and tends to roll
After on a plane, I use my GPS speed and engine RPM. With the throttle at a fixed point, say 4200 RPM, I bump the trim to see the RPM come up slightly and the speed increase without a change in throttle position. I also watch the "wash" You want it to be just on the edge of cavitation, then trim it down a touch.