motorboat trim

How to Trim a Boat: Trimming Your Boat in 5 Simple Steps

Many new boaters ask, “what does ‘trim’ mean?” Knowing what it means to trim a boat and how to trim it properly will improve its performance and fuel economy . Trim is simply the running angle of the boat as it makes way in the water; when we adjust the trim, we raise or lower the bow (the front of the boat). This post will explain how to trim a boat in five simple steps.

5 Basic Steps to Trim a Boat

• Trim is controlled with a toggle button on the control lever or the dash.
• The trim system uses hydraulic rams to change the angle of the outboard motor or sterndrive gearcase and the propeller shaft angle relative to the boat transom through a range of about 20 degrees.
• When the boat is on plane, and the prop shaft is parallel to the water surface, the trim is said to be neutral or zero. In this state, all of the propeller force pushes the boat forward.
• When the trim button is pressed down, the gearcase moves closer to the transom until it bottoms out at about negative 6 degrees from zero trim. Now the prop shaft is aimed at 6 degrees, and some force is lifting the stern of the boat. When the stern is lifted, the bow is pushed down—just like a teeter-totter on a playground.
• When the trim button is pressed up, the gearcase rotates away from the transom, and once it’s past the neutral point, the propeller shaft is pointed downward. Now some of the prop thrust is pushing the stern down and thus lifting the bow.

Just remember that the boat’s bow will move in the same direction you press the trim button—button up is bow up, button down is bow down.

Learn More: How to Drive Boat

How to Adjust Your Boat's Trim

Negative trim—when the trim is all the way down—is used to help get the boat on plane as it accelerates away from dead in the water. The angle of the propeller thrust will help lift the stern and push the bow down so that the boat rolls smartly up onto the water.

Try to power on plane with the drive trimmed out, and the prop will dig a hole behind the boat, and the bow will point skyward, probably blocking your view forward, as the boat struggles to plane. You may get on plane eventually, but you are wasting fuel and putting undue stress on the engine.

Once on plane, it’s time to trim up to raise the bow so that the boat is skimming along over the water rather than pushing through it.

• Bump the trim button up, and you’ll notice the bow rise, the steering will feel lighter, and the boat speed will increase.
• Notice that the spot where spray breaks off the hull moves aft as you trim up.
• Drag is significantly reduced, and efficiency is enhanced.

Eventually, you may over-trim and raise the drive or outboard so far that the prop begins aerating and losing bite on the water—boat speed will decrease even as engine RPM increases. Bump the trim button down a little, and the prop will hook back up with the water.

Porpoising, or the bow bobbing up and down, is caused by over-trimming at cruising speed; there’s no longer enough hull in the water to support the boat’s weight. Either trim down a little until the porpoising stops or increase the boat speed slightly to create more lifting force under the hull. In rough water, especially with a head sea, trimming down will allow for a more comfortable ride and enable the sharper deadrise of the forward bow to slice through the chop.

An experienced captain gets in the habit of trimming the drive or outboard down every time the boat comes off plane, so it’s in position when it’s time to power back on plane. Automatic trim systems, a feature of many newer boats that can also often be added as an accessory, effectively manage the trim based on boat speed and throttle setting.

How to Operate Manual Trim

Boats powered by smaller outboards may not have a power trim system, but the trim can still be adjusted manually by moving a pin in the motor bracket.

• There will be a series of four or five holes in the bracket for this pin, which determines the running angle of the outboard (see your owner’s manual for adjustment details).
• You need to move the pin while the outboard is not running and the boat is stationary.
• The best trim setting will be a bit of a compromise; if you set the trim too low, the boat may plane easily, but the bow will plow when the boat is on plane, and if the trim is too high, the boat may struggle to get on plane.
• Try moving the pin up or down one hole at a time until the boat planes efficiently, the bow lifts a bit at speed, and the boat handles well.
• You may want to adjust the trim for boat weight, adding trim for a heavy load of passengers, for example, or trimming up one hole for a light load.

Read Next: Understanding a Boat's Propeller Pitch

Editor’s Note:  This article was updated in November 2022.

Join Our Newsletter!

Get community news, buying bargains, and how-to guides at your fingertips.

WaterCraft 101

Your guide to fun on the water!

How to Trim a Boat Like a Pro (Beginners Guide)

Properly trimming a power boat can help you adjust the stern and bow in such a way as to significantly affect the boat’s speed, fuel economy, and overall performance. It’s all about physics, as a properly trimmed boat can help you glide on the water more efficiently. However, a lot of beginning boaters want to know how do you trim a boat?

Trim refers to the running angle of any boat in the water. The process of adjusting the trim to achieve a perfect angle for the output is called “boat trimming.” Trimming a boat requires adjustments that affect how high or low the bow of the boat is riding in the water.

This article is a beginner-friendly guide to trimming a powerboat. Make sure to read this article until the end to learn about each of the eight steps you need to know to properly trim a boat.

How to Trim a Power Boat In 8 Easy Steps

In this section, we will discuss the trimming process and teach you how to get started. The process can be a bit complex for newbies, so don’t rush, and feel free to read through this article a few times if need be (if necessary you can even bookmark this page to read again later).

1. Boat Trim: Learning The Basics

For the sake of understanding, we’ll just go ahead and assume you know nothing about trimming a boat, so we’ll cover the basics first. What exactly happens when you trim the boat? What’s the control that achieves it? How does the boat function when you trim the boat?

When the boater trims the boat, the engine’s leg (angle of the motor) moves inwards or outwards from the boat’s stern. It causes the stern to sink or lift, causing the boat’s bow to sink or lift simultaneously. When the stern sinks, the bow will lift a little and vice versa (similar to a seesaw). 

2. Types Of Trimming (Positive & Negative Trim)

The next step is to learn the types of trimming. It’s essential to learn the technical terms to understand this article better. Trimming can be of two types: i) negative trim, ii) positive trim.

a. Positive Trim 

When you raise the bow by trimming the motor’s prop outwards (away from the boat’s transom or rearmost vertical structure), it causes the transom to sink a little into the water.

b. Negative Trim

When you trim the engine’s leg inwards (prop moves towards the transom), the stern lifts a little, causing the bow to sink in relation.

There’s an easy trick to remember all this. When the bow lifts, it’s positive trim, while the negative trim is when the bow sinks. 

3. Controlling/Applying The Trim on a Boat

Now that you understand how the basics of how trim works and the two different types, it’s time to learn how to apply and control the trim.

Usually, outboard engines come pre-installed with the adjustable trim feature right out of the box. To apply positive or negative trim, all you have to do is press the controller’s toggle button on the dash or throttle. That is, assuming it’s in the standard place. (Pull the boat owner’s manual and look it up to be certain where the trim controls are for your boat.) 

Trim adjustment is achieved using a hydraulic adjustment on the engine, which makes the outboard motor’s leg tilt and move as desired. The trimming causes lifting of the boat’s stern to sink the bow and vice versa.

Note : Some small boats or boats with weaker engines (below 30 HP output) don’t have a pre-installed adjustable trim feature. Luckily, there are trim tabs available on the market, which can get the job done. Trim tabs, however, tend to be more expensive and difficult to deal with than having the trim feature built into your boat.

To further understand the trimming process through a visual representation, check out the video below.

4. Learn Power Trimming

Most outboard engines (30 HP and above) come with the power trim and tilt feature right out of the box. The power trim feature is used while the boat is in motion. The basics of power trim are relatively easy to understand. 

Before accelerating, tuck the engine’s leg in so that the bow is down. It is also called negative trim since the bow is down. Once you’ve gained some speed, add a little positive trim and the bow will rise a little. The amount of positive and negative trim required is something that you’ll learn with time and practice.

5. Mastering The Trim For a Smoother & Efficient Ride

A. mastering the trim for normal weather.

A wrong amount of trim can cause unexpected results; here’s how! If the bow is too low, it can catch the waves (crash into the waves), potentially causing a massive misbalance. When you feel the bow is too low down and the front end of the boat is smacking into the swell or waves (also called porpoising), never hesitate to apply some positive trim to be able to raise the bow out of the water a bit.

As the boat’s speed increases, you can increase the amount of positive trim. 

This way, less of the boat’s surface will be in contact with the water, resulting in less friction. Less friction will let you gain speed without putting as much load on the engine(s), which means improved fuel efficiency.

b. Mastering The Trim For Rough Weather

During the rough weather, you must do the opposite. It would be best if you kept your bow down (negative trim) in such a manner that the hull’s V (vee) can slice through the water better. If you still decide to keep the bow up, here’s what can happen! Only the hull’s flat surface will be in contact with water (since the vee part will be up in the air). 

As a result, the flat part will be vulnerable to accidents, and you can quickly lose balance. Hence, it’s strongly advised to keep the cutting edge of the V in contact with the water to cut the water (negative trim).

While in the case of rough weather, negative trim will reduce bow-steer and increase fuel consumption, it will also make for a smoother ride than if your bow was up in the air.

Again, you’ll learn this with time, practice and patience!

6. Understanding The Importance Of Trim

You must be thinking about why positive trim is so important? Here’s why!

Lifting the bow (by trimming the engine’s leg(s) outwards) when the boat has gained some speed allows the boaters to achieve a smoother and more fuel-efficient ride. This is called getting “on plane”. The boat tends to glide comfortably on the water surface, offering smoother riding comfort to the passenger(s).

Furthermore, with the more effortless glide on the water, the boat can efficiently attain speed, helping to achieve better fuel economy. But the most important thing to obtaining such results is applying the right amount of trim at the right time.

7. The Risks of Over Adjusting Trim on a Boat

Applying too much positive trim can result in very little hull contact with the water surface. Running the boat in such a manner is no more than a stunt. The boat will be difficult to control and you’ll be vulnerable to accidents since the boat can quickly lose balance.

Even a slight wind or wave can result in your boat ending up out of control, or perhaps accidentally hitting something on the water surface.

In addition, boat engines have a ventilation system from where it sucks air from near the water’s surface. Too much positive trim can cause this air intake to become submerged and flood your engine.

On the other end of the boat trimming spectrum, it’s also possible to negatively trim your boat too much. If you trim the boat to a point where the bow is too low in the water a wave can come over the bow and swamp the boat.

When it comes to trimming a boat it’s better to make small incremental changes to the trim to adjust for changing conditions rather than going to either extreme.

8. Learning To Trim When Turning At Speed

When turning at speed, trimming becomes trickier. It’s common practice when turning at higher speeds to apply some negative trim. A larger hull area touching the water will increase stability, which is needed when taking a turn. It’s similar to an automobile, where a vehicle with a broader wheelbase will offer increased stability when turning. 

To apply negative trim in such a situation, follow these steps:

• Tuck the engine’s leg inwards before initiating the turn. This way, you ensure that the propeller and the hull are correctly in contact with the water surface.
• Once the turn is complete, apply some positive trim as you accelerate and straighten out.

It’s important to remember that applying too much negative trim at this stage can be risky as you won’t want to dig the bow into the water too much. Also, turning at high speed is not recommended. Furthermore, you should reduce the speed when applying negative trim to ensure safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to trim a boat like a pro.

Some boaters fail to ever truly master trim, whereas the majority of boaters will understand and feel comfortable with the concept of trim after a few outings on a boat. Ideally, it requires some patience, practice, knowledge, and skills, to become proficient when adjusting a boat’s trim.

There’s no such specified time limit or period for mastering boat trimming. It can take weeks, months, years, or perhaps your entire life trying to learn and master the skill.

Why is boat trimming considered so difficult?

Trimming complexity depends on several changing variables including the weather, body of water, and the boat you’ll be trimming. All boats react differently to varying trim levels and weather conditions (including the water surface’s current state).

Many people find it challenging to find that sweet spot, a perfect trim level, and speed balance. Once the said sweet spot is found and mastered, you’ll feel like your boat is balanced better than ever.

How do you trim small boats?

Small boats, which don’t have outboard engines with the trim feature can be trimmed with trim tabs which are adjustable panels added to the transom of the boat rather than the engine itself. The process of installing, learning, and mastering to use the trim tabs is different from the trimming discussed in this article.

It’s much more difficult!

Is it feasible to install trim tabs on small boats?

When considering boat engine cost and achievable output, trim tabs aren’t very economical. The installation cost can be relatively high, while you’ll get minimal benefits, hence it’s not considered a good return on investment.

Furthermore, taking the depreciation and wear and tear into account, trim tabs further become less preferred by most boaters.

Final Thoughts On Trimming A Boat

Hopefully, by the end of this article, you have a better understanding of how to trim a boat. All the steps are crucial, so ensure that you’ve read through them thoroughly.

Also, keep in mind that trimming is a hard nut to crack even for a pro, so don’t get down on yourself if seems to be taking a long time to master the technique.

Furthermore, practice this skill in a safe environment, and avoid trying it in open water or areas with a lot of boating traffic. And remember what they say, “practice makes perfect.”

Happy Boating!

• https://www.huntsmarine.com.au/blogs/latest-boating-news/a-guide-to-outboard-trimming#:~:text=What%20is%20trimming%20and%20why,the%20power%20from%20the%20engine
• https://clemonsboats.com/how-to-properly-use-trim-tabs/

Bryan is a Las Vegas resident who loves spending his free time out on the water. Boating on Lake Mohave or Lake Havasu is his favorite way to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. More about Bryan.

Similar Posts

Why Are Bayliner Boats So Cheap? (Not What You Might Think)

Bayliner has been in the boat manufacturing business for decades, and is currently the world’s largest manufacturer. They are known as a generally reliable, but inexpensive watercraft. You can find a brand new Bayliner boat starting as low as $13,999. Even better, you can find a used Bayliner for as little as $4,000. But when…

Does a Boat Motor Charge the Battery? (Explained)

If you own a car, you probably know that a car engine charges the car battery when it runs. But does your boat motor work the same way? A boat motor charges the battery when it runs by using an alternator to replenish the battery. However, the battery loses energy every time the boat starts,…

Why Does My Boat Battery Keep Dying? (Boating Batteries Explained)

Experiencing a dying boat battery can be both frustrating and perplexing, especially when it happens repeatedly. There are various reasons why your boat battery might keep dying, and understanding these causes is the first step in solving the issue and ensuring smooth sailing. The most common reason a boat battery keeps dying is due to…

Why Boat Propellers Are Made Out of Brass (Revealed)

Boat propellers were invented in the early 19th century and changed the way boats were constructed and functioned. Before this, boats moved mainly via sails or rowing and wheel mechanisms. Boat propellers revolutionized the industry as they could allow ships to move faster and gave captains more control.   Boat propellers are made from brass because…

How To Tell Which OMC Outdrive You Have (Explained)

If you have an OMC boat and are looking to identify the outdrive on your vessel, you’ve come to the right place. The OMC outdrive is a necessary component to help run your vessel, and there might come a time when you will need to replace it. So, here’s how to tell what OMC outdrive…

Should Boat Prop Spin Freely? To Spin or Not to Spin…

Navigating the world of boating can sometimes leave you with questions, particularly surrounding the maintenance and functionality of your vessel. One common question among boat owners is whether or not the boat prop should spin freely. Understanding how your boat propeller operates is crucial for safety and your vessel’s overall performance. Typically, when your boat…

• Build A Boat
• Find A Dealer

• How to Use Your Boat’s Trim to Your Advantage

Boats handle best when they run parallel with their at-rest waterline — you’ll notice a more comfortable ride, increased speed and more efficient gas mileage. The bow of your boat meets the water at a specific angle — and that angle has a direct correlation to how efficiently you operate your vessel.

Trim isn’t something you can set and forget because load and water conditions change regularly, so having the ability to adjust it on the fly is essential. It’s equally as important to know how to fix it properly — failure to adjust it incorrectly could cause the boat to swamp. If you tilt the angle of the engine too far in or down, known as negative trim, the bow of your boat will drop. If you tilt the angle of the engine too far out or up, known as positive trim, the bow of your boat will rise.

To give boaters the ability to adjust and maintain the proper angle, outboard and sterndrives feature a power trim adjustment that gives you the ability to tilt the drives’ angle out or in. However, this means the propeller handles the power trim, which was designed to force the boat in a forward motion. When the prop is used for trim, the prop is pushing the boat forward in addition to raising and lowering the stern — this increases the prop slip, killing your boat’s performance. The power trim adjustment is also ineffective at slower speeds and is unable to correct listing.

In addition to increasing prop slip, the power trim adjustment is solely for adjustments on the axis that runs closer to the bow — or front of the boat — and aft — closer to the stern, or back of the boat. In other words, power trim adjustment only helps you make adjustments to the angle of your boat tilting more forward or backward. What happens when you need to correct a leaning problem, known as a list? The simplest answer is to redistribute the weight of passengers and cargo to compensate for the sideways list, but conditions are always changing, and redistributing weight at higher speeds can have a magnified effect on the shift of the boat.

To maximize the control of your trim and address both of these issues — avoiding prop slip and making lateral adjustments — adding trim tabs to the transom is ideal.

Why a Boat Needs Trim Tabs

Trim tabs are two independently adjustable metal plates controlled by a panel at the helm. These tabs can help compensate for engine torque or unequal weight distribution. What do trim tabs do on a boat? They give you the ability to trim the hull and the prop independently and to make lateral adjustments to avoid sideways list. Since the trim tabs can take over trimming the hull, the power trim can focus solely on adjusting the prop. By having the power trim and trim tabs work together, your boat achieves optimum performance and efficiency you can’t get with the power trim alone.

Now you understand what trim tabs do on a boat — but how do they do it? These tabs are mounted on either side of the transom of the boat. They are completely independent and unconnected to each other. When you’re focused on adjusting the power trim of the boat, you now have two additional metal plates you can use to do the heavy lifting when it comes to tilting the engine in or out. In this case, you’d have both metal plates tilted about the same angle in or out, to match the power trim of the engine. This alleviates some of the work on the prop and helps you maximize performance.

But what happens when you start to notice the boat leaning? Without trim tabs, there isn’t much you can do besides moving passengers and cargo or adjusting your speed and route. Fortunately, you can adjust each of the trim tabs independently and can easily compensate for a shift in sea conditions, weather, etc., without having to make adjustments in weight distribution or changing your route.

Now you know what trim tabs do on a boat and how they do it, you may be wondering what trim tabs you need. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for trim tabs. The size of the tab you need depends on several factors, including the engine, weight of the boat, length of the boat, weight distribution and type of boat, among other things.

Tips for Using Your Boat’s Trim

Whether you’re just getting started with learning power trim adjustments, or wondering how to use trim tabs in rough water, we’ve gathered some valuable tips for using your boat’s trim. We’re sure these will come in handy as you begin searching for your boat’s perfect trim — regardless of whether you’re boating in a lake or on the ocean. It’s important to remember each boat’s trim is different, so for every boat, factors such as the balance of trim, weight of the boat, sea conditions, speed, etc., are a little different. While these are general tips, it’s important to always operate your boat with caution as you begin discovering your boat’s ideal trim:

• Distribute weight evenly:  Before you leave the dock, check to make sure the weight of the boat is distributed evenly, so it sits evenly in the water. Even though you can use power trim and trim tabs to compensate for uneven weight, it’s ideal to begin with distributing weight as evenly as possible.
• Use your power trim and trim tabs as a team:  We’ve shared why a boat needs trim tabs — it’s so important, it’s also on our list of tips. Remember to use the power trim to adjust the prop path parallel to the water flow. Use trim tabs to trim the hull of the boat — both up and down and from side to side. When you use the two of them together, each controlling their part of the trimming process, you maximize your boat’s performance.
• Start with trim down:  When you’re taking off from displacement speeds, most boats work best with the engine and bow trimmed down — this helps the boat rise quickly onto the plane. However, once your boat is on plane, it’s important to adjust the trim based on the sea conditions.
• Monitor speed, RPMs and propeller as you trim:  As you begin to trim up, pay attention to your speed, RPMs and propeller ventilation, as these three are key to knowing when your boat is properly trimmed and running at maximum efficiency. Trimming up will eventually trigger a slight drop in speed, a sharp rise in RPMs and/or propeller ventilation — at this point, you’ve trimmed up too far. Begin trimming down in small increments to reach your maximum speed, consistent RPMs or lack of propeller ventilation, and you’ll strike a balance for proper trim.
• Bow spray, stern wake and rooster tail can help you trim:  If you’re steering your boat from a bridge or tower, you have the opportunity to observe some additional characteristics related to spray and wake that can help you find your boat’s ideal trim. If you see more spray toward the stern of the boat and a larger wake, the boat’s trim can be better — unless, of course, you’ve got a boat full of waterskiers and wakeboarders. When your boat is reaching its proper trim, you’ll notice the bow spray is farther forward, the wake is smaller and the rooster tail is also smaller and farther behind your boat.
• Keep trim adjustments small:  To find that sweet spot for your boat’s trim, it’s important to make sure you adjust your trim tabs using short, half-second bursts — followed by a pause to let the boat react — before moving on to make another adjustment. How long it takes each boat to respond is different, as the size of your trim tabs and your boat’s speed affect the timing. Be patient.
• Do not over-trim:  Make sure you do not over-trim — that is, deflect the trim tabs too far — especially at high speeds. Extreme changes to the angle of the bow on the move, combined with sea conditions, can cause the boat to veer. If you have trim tabs, remember that even though the trim tabs are independently adjustable, you should not move one trim tab significantly further down than the other one, as it may cause the boat to lean suddenly to one side.
• Be aware of trim’s effect on your wake:  Trim settings will change the size of your wake. You want to trim down to minimize your wake in a slow or no-wake zone. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a better wake for waterskiing or wakeboarding, trim up while adding speed, and you might see a rooster tail.
• Use your trim as a turning tool:  When you enter a turn, begin trimming down — at this point, the more down trim, the more you can accelerate through a turn. When you’re in the sharpest part of the turn, you should have the maximum amount of down trim, based on the turn speed and the turn radius. As the boat slows, add throttle. As you begin straightening the wheel to come out of the turn, begin to trim up.
• Occasionally check your trim tabs:  As with any part of a boat, trim tabs can have loose or corroded wires over time. Since they can have such an impact on the trim of your boat, it’s important to inspect them visually to ensure they aren’t in need of repair. Malfunction or failure of trim tabs can be dangerous.

Boat Trim Terminology

If you’re new to trimming the boat engine, it’s helpful to learn the terminology so you can use your boat’s trim to your advantage. This boat trimming lingo includes:

• Trimming up:  Tilting the engine forward to move the propellor up, tilting the bow upwards.
• Trimming down:  Tilting the engine backward to be even with the transom, a position. Shifting to this position, also known as “zero trim,” brings the propellor closer to the boat and tilts the bow downwards.
• Porpoising:  The bow of the boat moving up and down due to over-trimming at a cruising speed.
• Positive trim:  The boat trim is fully up and out of the water. This position allows too much air under the hull.
• Negative trim:  The boat trim is fully down. As the bow dips toward the water, the boat is in danger of taking nosedives.
• Neutral trim:  The engine is parallel to the boat’s transom. Also known as “zero trim,” this position puts the propellor even to the water.

Changing a Boat’s Attitude to Match Sea Conditions

If you’ve been wondering how to use trim tabs in rough water, you’re not alone — in fact, regardless of whether you have trim tabs, you must consider sea conditions, since they directly impact how you find your boat’s perfect attitude. Therefore, your boat’s attitude should change depending on what type of sea you encounter. Be mindful, small adjustments can have a big impact — in both power trim and trim tab adjustments, but also adjustments in weight shifting on the boat. Just because you’ve changed your boat’s attitude to match sea conditions doesn’t mean you can set it and forget it on the water. Passengers moving on the boat and changing sea conditions are two reasons finding your boat’s perfect attitude can be a permanent work in progress.

Here are some adjustments you should consider making to improve your boat’s attitude in each of the following sea conditions.

Choppy head sea  — If you find yourself running into a head sea, you should trim your boat down so the sharp forward sections of the boat are cutting into the waves. Bringing the “V” of the hull in contact with the waves will help alleviate the waves pounding the hull, and any passengers you have on the boat.

Following sea — Your trim tabs should be fully retracted in a following sea or when running an inlet. Keeping the tabs up will ensure the current won’t push the stern from side to side — ultimately giving you maximum steering control and the best maneuverability

Beam sea  — When waves are approaching from the side of the boat, passengers often notice a spray of water from the windward side. By adjusting the trim tabs to raise the windward side of the boat, you can block the spray the wind brings over the boat, keeping your passengers dry.

Correcting porpoising  — If you have a performance boat, chances are you’re familiar with the condition known as porpoising — as you increase speed, the bow of the boat rises out of the water and then bounces back down when gravity overcomes it. To help alleviate this, press “bow down” in half-second bursts and the trim tabs will deflect. As they deflect, the porpoising will subside — the only effect you’ll see on your speed is a potential increase. It shouldn’t take much, so make sure you don’t overdo it.

Backing down  — When you’re operating the boat in reverse, make sure you have both trim tabs fully raised. If you leave them down, they produce drag, which puts a strain on the tabs, but also has a negative effect on the boat’s handling — and that’s just if you leave them both down at the same level. If one tab is deflected more than the other, the boat will likely pivot in that direction. The easiest way to avoid any trouble with trim tabs in reverse is just to make sure they are fully retracted — in that case, they’ll have no impact on backing down.

Mastering Your Boat’s Trim

Mastering your boat’s trim so you can use it to your advantage isn’t easy — it takes the right set of tools, knowledge and patience.

At Formula Boats, we’ve been a boat manufacturer and dealer for more than 60 years, so we understand how boats, engines and trim tabs can work together to maximize your performance to give you increased speed, a smoother ride and improved fuel efficiency.

If you have questions about perfecting your boat’s trim — or aren’t sure where to start — please don’t hesitate to  contact us .

Contact Dealer

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply

Boating Basics Online is reader-supported. When you buy via our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more

How to Trim Your Boat Using 6 Simple and Easy Steps

Written by J. Harvey / Fact checked by S. Numbers

As boaters, we face varying water conditions out at sea. When the waters get rough, you’ll have to be ready to make the necessary adjustments.

The same goes for the way our vessels undergo porpoising, regardless of whether the seas are calm or turbulent. These elements are the culprits for rough sailing, which isn’t really something anyone would want.

Once you learn how to trim your boat properly, you’ll be able to deal with them automatically and keep the ride butter-smooth. Correct boat tilt and trim also boost mileage and speed, so read on!

Table of Contents

Terms You Should Know Before We Begin

Step 1: know when to trim your boat up or down, step 2: trim the motor down, step 3: trim the motor up to get up on plane, step 4: watch out for porpoising, step 5: refer to your boat’s rpm gauge, step 6: familiarize yourself with the signs that you’ve optimally trimmed your boat, how to manually trim your boat.

While you don’t really need anything else other than your boat to do these procedures, you must be aware of a few jargon terms so it won’t be hard for you to follow the steps I’ve outlined.

• Trimming Up or Out – means moving the propellers away from the transom so the motor pushes the stern down and raises the bow.
• Trimming Down or In – means moving the propellers toward the transom so the motor raises the stern and holds the bow down.
• Porpoising – the up and down movement of the boat’s bow caused by factors like uneven weight distribution and the position of the motor.
• Plane – when a boat is planing, coming up on plane, or is on plane, it means the boat has climbed over its bow wave, has minimal drag, and is smoothly skimming across the surface of the water.

6 Steps to Trim Your Boat with Power Trim

Is boat trim explained simply and completely? It’s possible as evidenced by the guide I’ve prepared here.

To properly use trim on a boat, you need to be aware of when you should trim up or down.

• The best time to trim the boat up is when you’ve come up on plane. Keep in mind: most boats run optimally at a slightly raised bow angle because it reduces drag and improves overall efficiency.
• It’s recommended to trim the boat down if you’re currently in rough water and if the weather’s choppy in general. With the bow down, it will be able to part the waves more effectively.

Obviously, we’re starting out stationary. We’ll need to trim our motor all the way down or in because you’ll normally need to keep the bow down in order to climb out of the bow wave.

To do this, you simply need to push the trim button or throttle down.

• Remember: In almost any power trim on a boat, the ‘Up’ button means bow down and the ‘Down’ button means bow up.

Once you get going, you should feel your boat beginning to climb out of the waves. Once you feel it’s starting to do so, you can trim the motor up.

You should feel the boat accelerating the second you start doing this. Essentially, you’re already up on plane at this point. A good sign of this is if the propeller shaft is parallel to the surface of the water.

Inevitably, the boat will encounter some porpoising as it’s cruising, especially if you’ve trimmed the boat up too much. Once your boat’s bow starts performing that rhythmic bobbing up and down motion, you’ll need to adjust the motor’s position again.

Since it’s raised too much, you need to trim it down gradually. Push the ‘Down’ button until the motion settles out.

Once it does, chances are, you’ve achieved your ideal running angle. This shouldn’t be hard to do with power trim on a boat.

If the waves get too high, you may have to trim the motor down as low as possible. It may result in a dip in speed, but it will keep your ride smooth. Again, learn to adjust accordingly.

Look at your boat’s RPM gauge to know if you’ve achieved the ideal cruising speed. You should know that it’s running optimally if the RPM is at least 3,000 to 4,000 or 5,000 up to 5,800.

There’s a noticeable difference in best cruising speed because not all boats are the same. However, it’s safe to say that many sailors consider those numbers their sweet spot, and once you become more experienced, you’ll be able to know that’s the case by feeling alone.

Take Note: Usually, achieving the most suitable trim is based on feel, sight, or sound. Every motor sounds different.

• In my case, I immediately know whether my Mercury motor is trimmed up or down based on the subtle changes in pitch it makes. If it’s down, the whining sound it makes becomes deeper, for example. Feel free to adopt this practice if you happen to have the same motor or if these sound cues can be applied to your motor.
• Another good way to know that your boat is adequately trimmed or on plane is if the waves on the port and starboard sides start to move further back. The changes in the shape of the waves are good references as well.

This is why the best tip I can give you when trimming an outboard motor is to familiarize yourself with your vessel.

Although there are rarely any modern boats without power trim nowadays, I’m not completely ruling out the possibility. If that’s the case, you’ll have to learn how to trim the outboard motor manually.

Moreover, I understand that some outboards are small enough not to include power trim, but may still need to be trimmed manually depending on the situation.

Besides, it’s worth learning this if your power trim happens to malfunction all of a sudden and you need to trim it.

Manual boat trim explained:

• Look for the pin on the motor bracket with a set number of holes. The best way to find out where it is is to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for the motor.
• The hole you put the pin in will determine the angle of the bow. Since you are without a throttle system, you will only be able to perform this adjustment while the boat is idle.
• Decide the best hole to place the pin based on factors like added weight due to the passengers you’re carrying or the time it takes for you to plane.

What did you think of my boat engine trim tutorial? While I admit that every boat is different, the guide I presented here is universal since it considers all the fundamental factors involved.

Wind and water conditions may change, but now that you know how to trim your boat, you should be able to make adjustments easily. The important thing is to keep your ride free from those nausea-inducing oscillations as much as possible.

“My intention from the first day establishing Boating Basics Online is to provide as much help as possible for boaters who want to experience a first safe and convenient trip. So feel free to join us and share your beautiful journeys to the sea!”

• 2024 BOAT BUYERS GUIDE
• Email Newsletters
• Boat of the Year
• 2024 Freshwater Boat and Gear Buyers Guide
• 2024 Boat Buyers Guide
• 2024 Water Sports Boat Buyers Guide
• 2024 Pontoon Boat Buyers Guide
• Cruising Boats
• Pontoon Boats
• Fishing Boats
• Personal Watercraft
• Water Sports
• Boat Walkthroughs
• What To Look For
• Watersports Favorites Spring 2022
• Boating Lab
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

Tips for Using Your Boat’s Trim

• By Lenny Rudow
• Updated: July 27, 2012

How-to Tips for Using Trim

You want to handle your boat like a pro? Then merely setting the trim and swinging the wheel doesn’t cut it. Learn how to use the trim on your outboard or sterndrive as a turning tool, and you’ll enhance your boat’s maneuverability and safety. Here’s how.

Trimming while turning can have catastrophic results if you trim the bow down too much, causing it to catch and the boat to swap ends or throw your crew across the deck. Make adjustments incrementally until you’re comfortable. It’s best not to adjust drive trim while turning most stepped-hull boats — the trim is built in.

1. Begin trimming down as you enter the turn. The more down trim, the more the chine is kept in water, and the more you can accelerate through the turn. To a point. Develop your skill over time.

2. Maximum down trim — not absolute maximum but the max appropriate to the turn’s speed and radius — should occur at the apex of the turn. You can add throttle as you feel the boat slowing. Practice will teach you what your boat is capable of in varying conditions.

3. Begin trimming up as you leave the apex and start straightening the wheel.

Quick Tip: On a powercat, trim down the outboard or drive on the inside of the turn and trim up on the outer side to alleviate “flat” turns.

• More: Engines , How-To , Seamanship

More How To

Grady-White Pulls off Its Largest Raft-up Ever in Vieques, Puerto Rico

Installing Retractable Transom Straps

How to Choose a Trailer Winch

Best Non Skid Boat Deck Paint

Boat Test: 2024 Jeanneau NC 895 Sport Series 2

Hydrogen Power for Boats

Choosing the Right Tools for Boat Repairs

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Boating may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2024 Boating Firecrown . All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Trimming a Boat in 3 Simple Steps

Table of Contents

Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Boatsetter Team

No matter what kind of boat you rent on Boatsetter , the vessel’s ride, performance, and fuel efficiency are all important considerations while you’re out enjoying a day on the water.

Most vessels with planing hulls include systems that allow the captain to adjust the boat’s ride and performance by changing the angle of the hull in relation to the water.

This is known as trimming a boat, and in this post, we’ll go over the three simple steps to trimming a boat .

• Attitude adjustments
• Trimming it up a bit
• Rock & roll

Rent a boat. Own the moment.

1. Attitude adjustments

Trimming a boat can change how the vessel rides and can also center the vessel from port to starboard if more passengers sit on one side or the other.

The idea of trimming a boat is often mysterious to new captains. Even boaters with more experience can sometimes struggle with learning to use trim adjustments properly.

The two most common systems used to adjust a boat’s trim settings are trim tabs and drive trim. Some boats have both available to help the boat perform at its best, while others only have one.

Trim tabs are flat metal plates found at the aft port and starboard corners of the vessel and are extended by hydraulic cylinders. Trim tabs can be moved individually or together to change the vessel’s angle in relation to the water forward and aft or side to side.

Drive trim is the angle of the sterndrive or outboard engine in relation to the transom . Trimming the sterndrive or engine “up” moves the propeller out and away from the transom on an angle until the prop pushes slightly downward as the boat moves forward. This lifts the boat’s bow up until less of the hull makes contact with the water.

Trim tabs and drive trim can also be adjusted in small increments to match the boat’s unbalanced load or water conditions or improve the boat’s performance. Both systems are fairly simple once you understand them, but there are important steps to trim your boat properly.

2. Trimming it up a bit

With the ability to only move up or down, drive trim is the easiest of the two to properly adjust. The drive trim is controlled by a button or toggle that is usually found on the shift and throttle control arm or on the dash.

Here is how to adjust drive trim:

• It’s important to start with the sterndrive or outboard engine all the way down.
• Increase the boat’s speed until it’s up on plane.
• Once on the plane, lift the drive or outboard slightly by tapping the “Trim Up” button.
• When you pull the throttle back to idle, trim the drive or engine back to the Down position.

As the drive or outboard engine lifts up, the bow will also lift until the boat picks up a little speed and the ride smooths out. This will improve the ride and also increase fuel efficiency.

3. Rock & roll

Trim tabs can be a little more challenging to learn, and new captains often struggle with their proper use. The trim tab rocker switches can usually be found side by side on the dash and are labeled Up and Down.

There are two ways to adjust trim tabs. If the boat lists (or leans) to one side, you can use the tabs to level it out. Here’s how:

• Bring the boat up to cruising speed.
• Use small adjustments to change the boat’s angle with 1-second “taps”.
• If the boat is leaning to starboard, tap the port side button Down.
• If the boat is leaning to port, tap the starboard tab button Down.

Once you stop the boat, the tabs should be put back in the up position. If you are running with a heavier load, here’s how to use trim tabs to help get the boat up on plane:

• Before throttling up, push both Down buttons for 10 seconds to extend the tabs.
• Throttle up to get the boat on plane.
• Use small adjustments to bring the tabs Up again until the boat’s ride smooths out.

Properly trimming a boat can improve the ride in rough water, decrease the time it takes to get on plane, increase the boat’s speed, and improve fuel efficiency.

These are all important reasons to learn how to properly trim a boat before you leave the dock on your next Boatsetter boat rental and head out for a great day on the water.

Want to get behind the helm?

If you’re getting behind the helm , make sure to read up on boating guides in preparation for your upcoming trip . Here are a few posts we recommend for you:

• 7 Common Boating Fails, and How to Avoid Them
• Boat Fuel Consumption: 5 Tips for Measurement, Efficiency, and Savings
• Boat Hulls 101: Complete Guide to Boat Hull Types, Shapes, and Designs

Like what you read? Find more content like this at Boating Basics .

Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone— whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat , book a boat , or make money as a captain .

Rent, Charter, Share— Only at Boatsetter

Chuck Warren fell in love with boats at 9 years old while helping to restore his grandfather’s 1939 44-foot Elco cruiser. A lifelong boater, Chuck has experience operating large and small vessels on the waters of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and the Great Lakes.

During his 35-year marine industry career, Chuck has been the driver for several offshore powerboat racing teams, the chief engineer aboard a Caribbean research and salvage vessel, captain of a Florida Keys sunset cruise, and more.

Today, Chuck is a boating industry writer, copywriter, and captain who lives on his 40-foot boat in the summer when he isn’t delivering vessels around the Great Lakes or teaching new boaters to drive. Winters are split between the West Michigan lakeshore and wherever his travels take him.

Browse by experience

Explore articles

Boat Trailer Maintenance Checklist

Get the All Inclusive Boatsetter Experience in Turks and Caicos

Tying a Boat to a Cleat Using a Cleat Hitch Knot

Lake Havasu Boating Guide: Everything You Need to Know

• Pontoon Boats
• Personal Watercraft
• nauticalknowhow
• Nautical Knots
• Tools and Calculators

Tilt and Trim: What’s the difference?

If you’re new to boating you may have heard the terms trim and tilt in relation to how your boat’s motor operates. Oftentimes tilt and trim are referred to in odd ways. It might make you think they are actual components on your outboard motor that need to be maintained. That means things like switches or buttons you can press but that’s not exactly the case. To fully understand what tilt and trim me, you need to understand the basics of how a boat operates.

Generally speaking, your boat should be parallel to the waterline . When your boat is even it runs more smoothly. No doubt you have seen some boats cutting through the water on an angle. The engine down and the bow up in the air. This might look flashy and fast. However, that’s not entirely true. You can get much better speed and efficiency with a boat on an even keel. Managing the tilt system properly will allow this to happen. It improves fuel economy and overall performance.

Trim refers to the angle that your propeller shaft is at relative to the boat. You can adjust the trim so that the angle of your engine is down. This is known as negative trim. Doing this causes the bow of your boat to drop. On the other hand you can chill the angle of your engine up or else. This is what’s known as positive trim. When you do this the bow of your boats will rise in response.

The effect of the angle of trim has more to it than simply raising and lowering the value of your boat. Let’s take a look at the three positions of trim and how they affect your boat.

Trimming In

Neutral trimming, trimming out, things to remember.

Regardless of how you trim and tilt the boat there are a few things you need to keep in mind. If you want to maintain proper control, you need to know when to trim the motor in. Also when to trim the motor out, and how it’s going to affect your control. Understanding trim and tilt means having a better time boating.

Understanding how to trim with your engine involves figuring out the directions. Until you’re used to it you might not remember which way to tilt the prop to get your desired reaction. Fortunately there’s a pretty handy way to remember things. Prop down equals bow down. Prop up equals bow up.

Remember that when you’re driving a car you’re on a two-dimensional plane. You don’t have to worry about any up or down motion. Because your prop is underwater and the trim moves up and down in the water you have that added dimension. That’s how come when you trim up the boat may start pulling to the left. And when you trim down the boat will pull to the right. This is one of the more important things to understand about tilt and trim.

Manual versus Power

Smaller boats with outboard motors will have a manual trim control. Larger boats will likely have a power tilt option. This will be a toggle switch or rocker switch on the control panel. You can either toggle up, down, or remain neutral. All work essentially the same way. However, when you are able to manually control the tilt you have more control over all. Some boaters will be dead set against power tilt and trim.

Trim tabs are stainless steel panes mounted on your boat’s transom . They are hydraulically powered and adjustable. When you use the control switch to activate them they will move up and down. Like the flaps on a plane, they alter the boat’s lift. This is done to compensate for changes in speed and water conditions.

When you’re new to voting it can be difficult to understand the purpose of adjusting the trim on your boat. You might think that Simply Having the chills on an even playing is good enough. After all, when your prop is levelled all of the energy and expense is used to push your boat forward. However, water can be a tricky substance to navigate. You need to worry about choppy water, for instance.

Mastering the tilt of your engine improves overall performance. This will allow you to have a greater efficiency in terms of fuel and speed. If you’re running into choppy water, you need to be able to raise the bow. When the bough is up, there is less hell in the water to produce drag. That means you can go up to a higher speed. However, this does come with risks.

You can’t allow the bow to get too high out of the water. This will actually have the reverse effect to what you want. You’ll start doing what some people refer to as porpoising. This is that bounce that is like a dolphin, or porpoise, jumping out of the water. The bow can get so high it can block your view of the water ahead of you.

If you tilt the prop too high you may start sucking in air. If it goes too low, you can actually flood the engine. You need to make sure you’re balancing between the two. That will stop your bow from ever being too high or too low for too long.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

Categories : Boats

Karl on July 4, 2021

I have a large grandson that sits in the front. I have a pin I have to move after stopping and raising the motor to adjust the tilt-trim..it has three holes for this adjustment.. where should it be?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More in Boats

What Is A Gunwale?

131 of the Best Hawaiian Boat Names

167 Patriotic Boat Names

The 138 Best Boat Names for Dog Lovers

The People’s Poncho Review and Ratings 

Oru Lake Kayak Review

About Boatsafe

Established in 1998, BoatSafe is your independent guide into the world of boating, fishing, and watersports. We provide expert insights and detailed guides to help you find products tailored to your needs and budget.

Contact Boatsafe

• Address: 4021 West Walnut Street. Rogers, AR 72756
• Phone:  (479)339-4795
• Email: [email protected]

Site Navigation

• How We Test
• Corrections Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Editorial Policy
• Affiliate Disclosure

Our Reviews

All content is © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

«  View All Posts

By: Ashley Lizzi on April 21st, 2021

Print/Save as PDF

How to Trim Your Pontoon Boat: A Step by Step Guide

Picture this, you’ve taken delivery of your new pontoon boat.  This is your first boat, and you’ve not been this excited for summer since you were a kid.  Your dealer walks you through the boat and takes you on a test run.

The keys are yours, and it’s time to take your crew out for the maiden voyage.  You’ve got all the  boat gear  ready and loaded.   You also took the time to  learn about boater’s safety  well before this moment.  

You jump on board, flip on the battery switch, attach the emergency stop lanyard, and everyone gets seated.  What’s your next move?  Turning the boat on?  Checking the engine?  Opening the bimini?

If you’ve come to this moment, there’s something I want you to consider, and that’s the trim level of the motor.  The next move I make on my own pontoon boat is to make sure the engine is trimmed in the down position.

Not sure what trim means or how it affects your boat’s performance?  That’s ok, I'm going to explain everything you need to know about the trim function on your pontoon boat.  This feature affects performance and safety, so it’s important to know how to use it. 

How to Trim Your Boat

Ryan with barletta boats explains how to properly trim your pontoon boat.

What Is Trim and Where is it Located?

To trim the motor means to move it up and down.   When you trim an  outboard motor  up, it moves the lower unit (bottom of the engine including the propeller) away from the boat.  When you trim down, it brings the lower unit back towards the boat.

You can perform this function using a button located on the throttle of your pontoon boat.   This button usually has an up and down arrow on it and is located in a place where your right thumb can easily reach it while your hand is on the throttle.

There will be at least one gauge on your helm that lets you know where your trim sits.  It will fluctuate as you move the motor up and down.   Once you get familiar with this function, you will also be able to feel, hear, and see the motor being trimmed.  

When trimming the engine, you will hear a whining noise.  Once it's all the way down, the pitch will change as a signal that it cannot go down any further, and you may take your thumb off the button.

Just the same, if you trim the engine all the way up while it’s running, it will become substantially louder.  You don’t want the engine all the way out of the water while it’s running, so if you hear the engine exiting the water, make sure to trim back down immediately.  

There are two main reasons you will trim the engine.  When in shallow water at low speeds, you will trim the motor up to protect the lower unit from hitting the ground.  

You will also utilize this function so that the boat and motor operate at peak performance.  Once you get experienced using the trim function, you can manipulate the engine to get more speed, a smoother ride, and on plane quickly.  

Adjusting Trim in Shallow Water

The more obvious use for the trim function is to protect the lower unit and propeller from hitting bottom in shallow water.    You would do this by trimming up in shallow spots while traveling at slow speeds.

This comes in handy when entering shallow channels, parking in a shallow area, or beaching the boat.  There are many other instances you might encounter where the body of water you’re on becomes shallow, so make sure you are aware of these areas before you start cruising. 

An example of using trim in this way is when I dock my pontoon boat.  The area surrounding my pier is about three feet deep.  I approach the dock slowly with the trim lifted up just enough to not graze the bottom.  

Once I’ve tied up the boat and have turned it off, I trim the motor all the way out of the water and store it that way until I take the boat out again.  Doing so will  extend the life of your lower unit and propeller .

It’s important to protect the propeller from hitting inanimate objects because a damaged prop can hinder the performance of your boat.   This is why knowing how to trim the engine is such an important function to be educated on.  

If you plan to park your boat with the engine trimmed all the way up as I do, make sure to trim it back down before you start the boat for your next ride.     You don’t want to let the engine run with the lower unit out of the water for long periods of time.  

If the engine is running and not getting water circulated through it because the lower unit is up out of the water, you do run the risk of overheating.  If you notice the engine is out of the water while running, trim it down quickly, and you should be just fine.

Using Trim for Peak Performance 

Another use for the trim function is to reach peak performance while underway.    The position of the engine will affect things like speed and the quality of the ride.   Learning how to manipulate the trim is a great way to get an even better ride out of your pontoon boat.

Let’s break down the factors behind using the trim function to reach peak performance.    First, it’s important to know that every boat and situation is different when it comes to trimming for performance.

The size of the boat, weight on board, horsepower, and water conditions will affect how the boat performs.  Meaning, you could trim the engine at a certain speed, and the ride could feel different if any of these factors are different from the last time you trimmed in this manner.

You can use the trim function to achieve higher speeds; you can also get a smoother ride, and even conserve fuel.    Before I explain how this happens, I want you to know what the term  on plane  means.

Getting the boat on plane or planed out simply means getting the right part of the boat on the surface of the water while running.    The boat performs optimally when it’s on plane and trim plays a big role here.

As you trim the motor up it causes the prop to move away from the boat and in turn, the bow angle upwards.  When you’re sitting flat in the water, start with the trim all the way down.  Once you accelerate, the bow creates a wall of water, if you trim up, the boat lifts up and out of the wall of water and gets on plane for a smooth ride.

Once the bow is up above that wall of water and you continue to accelerate with the trim up, you will encounter less friction.  Less friction equals better performance such as speed, fuel economy, and a smoother ride because your boat is working less hard to get through the water.  

Getting on plane is the goal, once you’re there and are cruising comfortably, you can stop trimming the engine.   Remember, if you trim up and the prop comes out of the water, don’t be alarmed, just start trimming back down immediately.  This is called blow out and it won’t hurt the engine for a short amount of time.  

As you slow down, you would trim the motor back down accordingly.  Remember, you want to take off with the engine trimmed at zero, then work your way up as you accelerate.  

The goal for trimming the motor while underway is to find the optimal running angle at every speed.   That said, every speed has a prime trim setting and knowing this will come with practice because as I mentioned, every boat is different.  

Practicing How to Trim Will Make Perfect

Now that I’ve explained the two main functions of the trim button on your pontoon boat, it’s time to practice.  I highly recommend going out in the middle of your body of water on a calm day with little boat traffic and practicing how to trim the engine.

Once you begin, you will learn how to trim using feel, sight, and sound.  You will feel the boat plane out and the ride become smoother.  You will also feel the engine become faster with the proper trim angle.

Start with the trim all the way down and as you accelerate trim up, you will feel a difference.   At first, you will feel the boat plowing the water and as you trim up, you will feel the boat lift up and plane out.  Play with this at every speed.  

Listen to the trim whine, the pitch will change once it’s all the way at zero.  Just the same, you will hear the motor roar if you blow it out.  If this happens, don’t panic, just trim it back down immediately.

You will see the motor move up and down and you will see less splash on each side of the boat once you hit an optimal trim level.  You might even notice that the bow is elevated which helps the engine perform well especially when you have a bow full of people.

Practice will make perfect and by doing this, you will realize that your pontoon boat offers even more of a smooth ride than you could have imagined.  Make sure to watch our video at the top for a step by step tutorial on how to trim your pontoon boat.

About Ashley Lizzi

Barletta Content Manager, 9+ years Manufacturer Marketing, Brand Management, Customer Experience, and life-long boater.

Born Again Boating

What Is Tilt Trim On A Boat? What’s The Difference?

Power tilt and trim, are you using the trim when you run your boat? Are you trimming up, do you tilt your engine up out of the water, do you tilt it when you trailer it? Have you wondered what’s the difference?

What is Tilt Trim On A Boat? The difference between tilt and trim on a boat is referencing the location of the outboard or the drive of the inboard. Trimming is used when underway and goes about 20 degrees of the way up and tilting is coming all the way up for storage.

Did you know there are ways to use your trim to improve your fuel economy? Here is how and everything that you need to know about tilt and trim on a boat!

The Difference Between Tilt & Trim

Yes, tilt and trim are both in the same component on the engine, but they have different functions. The tilting portion of the operation has to do more with trailering or getting the outboard out of the water.

(Especially for long term storage while the boat is in the water. Here is some more in-depth information on long term engine storage. )

While trimming on the other hand. It only has to do with only a short distance of movement and while the boat is underway.

On most manufacturers, the trim system has two separate stages. One for trimming and one for tilting. The trimming stage will be working until the engine reaches about 20 degrees of the way up.

Then after that, it uses the tilting portion until the engine is tilted all the way.

When trimming the engine while underway, this will improve the fuel economy of the engine and lighten the load.

That is because when the engine is tilted all the way down. The angle and force coming off of the propeller will push the bow of the boat down into the water.

With a little bit of trim, the engine will come up and the force and angle of the propeller will be pushing down into the water. Which pushes the bow of the boat up out of the water.

When there is less of the boat in the water and the bow is pointing slightly upward. It takes away a lot of the drag between the boat and the water.

Allowing the engine to work less, thus burning less fuel and saving you at the pump and getting more time on the water!

Tilt & Trim On Outboards & Inboards

Not all boats have the same types of engines, and not all engines have the ability to tilt or trim on them.

We wrote a great article that explains all about the many differences between the types. So if you want to know more about the different types, you can read this article about the differences between inboards and outboards.

On outboards, the tilt and the trim feature is used on almost all of the engines. Some smaller engines will not have power tilt and trim, but will have the ability to tilt them up out of the water. The trim feature might not be available though.

Then on inboard engines, this mainly deals with sterndrives and I/O’s. Where the outdrive of the engine can trim up a little bit, but there isn’t really a tilting feature for them.

This is understandable because as we talked about. The trim is only for the first 20 degrees and then tilting is everything above that. Where on a sterndrive, there are only about 20 degrees of overall motion. So there isn’t any tilting that would be needed.

The Efficiency In Trimming Up While Driving The Boat

There is a lot of efficiencies to running trim in your engine while you are underway. Probably the most important and the one that we all care about. Is fuel efficiency and how better our fuel economy is when we add a little trim in the engine.

There are some parameters that we want to run in though. You won’t get anything from trimming the engine up if the boat is not on a plane. This basically means whenever the boat is running at cruising speed and is “on top” of the water.

You can tell if the boat is on a plane by looking back at the wake coming from under the boat. Usually, after around 3,000 RPM’s, most boats will be on a plane. You can run your boat at normal cruising speed and then slowly bring the throttle back.

Whenever you lose sight of the smooth water coming off the bottom of the boat behind it. And you feel the back of the boat sink down into the water and the bow goes up. That is your hulls planing speed. Or the RPM’s that it falls off the plane.

So, while on a plane, if you trim the engine up, and all boats will have different trim angles depending on the power and the hull. You will feel the boat come up more out of the water.

That is because the propeller does not have an upward angle to it. When the engine is trimmed all the way down. The propeller will be at an angle that will be pointing slightly upward, towards the surface of the water.

This angle will push the bow of the boat down into the water and create more drag on the boat. Making the engine consume more fuel,

costing you more money!

So if we trim the engine up, it will change the angle of the propeller to be facing more downward, into the water. This will push the bow of the boat up out of the water, removing drag and getting more of the boat out of the water.

With less drag, the engine will not need to consume as much fuel and you will also gain speed!

There is a thing as too much trim though. If you trim the engine up too much, it will begin to throw a huge rooster tail and that will actually take away your speed, for most recreational applications.

That is because you will be running the prop out of the water and piercing the surface of the water, sucking in air. That is called ventilation and you are aerating the prop, making for prop slip. This is where the propeller loses it’s grip on the water, because it is cutting through the air, and not the water.

The Effects Of Not Tilting Up

Since we’ve talked a lot about the trim, and not so much about the tilt. It’s important to know why tilt is so important.

Not only is it incredibly important to tilt the engine up when trailering it. It is also necessary to tilt the engine up out of the water when the boat is left in the water for long periods of time.

I’m sure for most of you, this is a pretty obvious topic. But not everyone has as much experience with boats, so it’s important to touch on it.

If an engine is left down in the water for too long. It will develop a lot of growth on the engine, which is damaging to the engine and will also slow down the performance of the boat.

So, if you are going to leave the boat in the water for an extended period of time, you want to make sure that it is tilted up out of the water to prevent this growth.

We have two articles that have some really detailed information that will be a great read for you on this subject.

Should I leave my outboard engine up or down? Plus Boat Storage Tips.

Moving a boat from freshwater to saltwater? 10 Tips to Know!

Trim Limiters

Over the years, the marine industry has made incredible advancements and there are all kinds of new features coming on newer engines.

Lots of engines built in the last 20 years or so have the ability to have trim limiters on them. What these do, are they limit the ability to trim the engine.

This is usually used on certain boats that have jack plates, engines mounted high, or engines that will hit the transom when they are tilted up out of the water.

What these do are just to stop the engine from tilting up past a set point that is configured by a technician or the boat builder.

This is just important to know about and can be useful if you have a problem with hitting the transom or your poling platform when you are poling the flats or trailering the boat!

Servicing The Tilt & Trim Unit & Tilt Trim Fluid

The trim and tilt unit is also something that gets forgotten about. Whenever you perform your normal services. It is something that should be looked at. It’s a great idea to have your boat on a service schedule or have yourself on a service routine to take care of your engine.

You can add a lot of life to your engine if it is properly maintained! We’ve also got some more extremely helpful information in this article here on How You Can Add More Hours To Your Boat’s Engine!

Checking the fluid level and then checking the seals. We want to make sure that they are not leaking, rusting, or beginning to leak. Will help you to prevent them from failing and then allowing water to get inside of the trim and tilt unit. Causing failure down the road!

Trim and tilt units can be filled up with the same fluid on each unit. All manufacturers make a certain fluid that you can purchase. Or you can fill the unit with automatic transmission fluid Dexron 3, or what is known as ATF.

ATF is a universal fluid that can be used on your power trim and tilt system.

We have a great video on servicing a trim and tilt system seals here on our Youtube Channel :

Tilt & Trim Vs. Trim Tabs

Sometimes tilt and trim can get confused with trim tabs. Trim tabs are completely different from the engine’s trim and tilt system though. Trim tabs are used to straighten out the boat or compensate for heavy loads on one side or the other of the boat.

We know that the trim is used to get more of the boat out of the water when running, and for storing the engine.

What trim tabs do is create a drag on one side of the boat, or they push the bow down into the water. This is extremely useful in certain offshore currents or river currents as well. You can put one trim tab down and that will make the boat list in one direction.

We want to put the list into the current, to compensate for the current pushing the boat in a certain direction. You can also do this a little bit with the engine trim and keeping one engine down. But this requires twin engines to do.

It can be done by leaving one engine down and then trimming the other engine up!

Check Us Out!

Now you know all about your engine’s trim and tilt system and what it is used for! For even more information and helpful videos. Check us out on Youtube! We create all kinds of how-to and DIY videos to help you learn more and more about your boat and how it works!

If you’ve got any questions or comments, let us know by subscribing to our YouTube Channel!

And if you would like to support us to continue bringing you great content, please click the link below to Amazon where we get a commission from anything you are already going to buy!

Click Here To Amazon!

And you can also donate by clicking the donate button here or on the right hand of the screen!

It really helps us out and we thank you so much for your support!

Thanks for reading and we look forward to reading your responses and comments.

• Spirit 1.0 Plus
• Spirit 1.0 Evo
• Pod Drive Evo
• E-Series Battery
• G102-100 Battery
• Find a Dealer
• Have a Dealer Contact Me
• Product Registration

• Support Center: FAQ & Guide
• Video Tutorial
• Download Center
• Performance Bulletins

Outboard Motor Trim Position – Manual Trimming

Every boating veteran seems to be talking about how trimming the outboard motor helps improve the motor performance on the water.

Outboard motor trim positions can indeed make a big difference in your boating experience, and learning how to trim your motor properly is crucial before you get out on the water fishing.

New to boating and struggling with trimming the motor at a certain depth of water?

This post will introduce everything about trimming your outboard motors, including the basics, its benefits, and most importantly, the detailed steps to do it (with a video tutorial).

If you don’t want to waste power with the wrong outboard motor trim position, continue reading for more insights and pro tips about the outboard trimming – You will not miss anything to become an expert on this technic!

Table of Content:

• What Is Outboard Motor Trimming

Why Trimming Is Important

• Outboard Motor Trim and Tilt Comparison
• Best Outboard Motor Trim Position
• How to Manually Trim Outboard Motor

Trimming Outboard Motor 101

Before diving into the depth of the benefits, best practices and steps, let’s clarify what outboard motor trimming is.

In simple words, trim is the angle of the propeller shaft in comparison to the boat. According to the outboard motor trim positions, there are three situations you may have heard from the boating community:

• Neutral trim: Standard position where the prop shaft is parallel with the water surface. The outboard motor is parallel to the boat’s transom in a neutral trimming position.
• Positive trim: The angle of the motor is up, and the bow of your boat will rise.
• Negative trim: The angle of the motor is down, and the bow of the boat will drop.

Here is a figure that shows you the different motor trim positions to help you have a better understanding of the trimming position:

To adjust the outboard motor trim position, you will need either to trim up or trim down:

• Trimming up/Trimming out: Tilt the motor upward where the angle of the propeller is facing more downward into the water.
• Trimming down/Trimming in: Tilt the motor backward, making the propeller closer to the boat and face more upward to the water surface.

Trim and Tilt Comparison

Besides the above terms, you may also have heard about the outboard motor tilt and trim. Wondering if tilt and trim the same thing?

They are basically two different stages of the system.

Trimming usually goes about 20 degrees while underway. It’s used to adjust the hull’s attitude to reach the best boating performance. In contrast, tilt raises and lowers the lower unit out of the water for transport or shallow water operation.

For example, the ePropulsion electric outboard motor offers 4 level trimming options (21°, 14°, 7°, and 0°) to help improve its in-water performance, and a tilt angle of 85° to help the outboard stay out of the water or detach it from the boat.

*Some quality electric outboard motors, including the ePropulsion motors, feature an anti-grounding mode which enables the lower unit to be flexible in the trimming or tilting direction.

The flexible trimming will effectively protect the outboard motor from damage when the outboard hits the reefs or rocks underwater.

Trimming is one of the most effective ways to improve the overall experience of your boat.

The logic behind it is simple: The outboard motor trim position affects the boat’s performance by factoring in the boatload.

If you trim up (or trim out) the outboard, the propeller pushes down into the water. Therefore, it pushes the bow of the boat out of the water (as shown in the image below), leaving an angle between the boat and the motor. In this way, it lightens the boatload since there will be less of the lower unit on the water which produces drags.

In this case, trimming on the outboard motor enhances the energy efficiency and speed.

By contrast, if you trim down, the outboard motor propeller will push the bow of your boat into the water (as shown in the image below) and the motor will get close and attach to the boat, increasing the drag between the boat and the water.

In this case, the trimming reduces energy efficiency and speed and increases your cost in the long run. However, this operation can be beneficial when running in choppy water conditions.

Best Outboard Trimming Position

Having some knowledge about the uses of outboard motor trimming, your next question would probably be something like “How much should I trim my outboard motor”.

It’s a tricky question because the best outboard motor trim position always depends on the type of your boat, the running speed, and varies based on your boating conditions.

Keep in mind that the correct outboard trim position is what suits at the time, sometimes it might be all the way down, sometimes in the middle, sometimes none of those positions.

There is really no fixed answer – That’s why you need trimming to adjust according to your specific situations.

If your boat is on plane, here are some typical situations just for your reference:

• Trim down in rough water and drive the bow deep into the water
• Trim up a little and let the motor level with the bottom of the hull is the most energy effective outboard motor trim position
• Trim and tilt up if you are passing through shallow waters (or simply adjust to the Anti-grounding mode or shallow water mode if it is available)

If you’re idling and your boat is not on the plane, a rule of thumb is that a boat handles best when it’s running parallel with its at-rest waterline.

Whether over trim or under trim, the outboard motor is not in its optimum thurst and some power is wasted. Here is a figure that helps you understand this.

Tips : Carefully plan the passenger distribution on the deck if you have more than one person on the boat since it will affect the outboard motor propeller positioning underwater.

The best way to get your best outboard trim position is to play and learn. Finally, you will “feel” the hull ride its best at the proper trim.

How to Manually Trim Outboard Motors

So how do you adjust the trim tab on an outboard motor? How do you trim the top speed of a boat?

Trimming the outboard motor is easy, and the steps are usually available on the outboard motor user manual. If you have trouble finding the user manual, you may seek help from the local dealers or download the online resources .

Here we take the popular ePropulsion Spirit 1.0 Evo as an example. There are four simple steps to trim the outboard motor manually:

Step 1. Pull the trim release lever up and tilt up the outboard to the 85° position.

Step 2. Remove the pull ring on the trim pin and then pull the trim pin out.

Step 3. Select a desired trim angle and insert the trim pin into the corresponding position, attach the pull ring to fix the trim pin.

Step 4. Pull the trim release lever again to lay down the outboard motor, and the outboard motor will stay at the desired trim angle.

Notice : Make sure the outboard motor is stopped before trimming your outboard motor.

Here is also a video tutorial to show you the steps for manually trimming your outboard motor:

Note: The above steps specifically discuss the smaller electric outboard motors that mostly require manual trimming. Those larger boats featuring higher-powered combustion outboards may have power trim available and this tutorial will not apply in this case.

Recent Posts

Outboard Motor Battery: What Size Do I Need & What’s Best for My Boat?

ePropulsion Partners with 37th America’s Cup to Supply Sustainable Electric Power for Autonomous Race Marks

Why Do Boats Porpoise & How To Stop Your Boat From Porpoising

I am investigating using the Spirit 1.0 plus on Sea Eagle’s new inflatable, 4-passenger, catamaran-hulled pontoon boat called the FastCat 14.4 (see its specs at seaeagle.com). I’m not sure if it will plane the hull but if it could move four of us and picnic supplies along at hullspeed (6mph?), at least, that would be great. Has anyone used the Spirit or the 6hp Navy 3 for this application? Gas outboards of 9.9hp can plane it to 15hp and a 20hp can get it up to over 20mph, but I’m concerned about battery weight cutting into payload at those higher horsepowers. Please comment.

Hi John, under your situation the motor should be able to run at about 6mph, you can make a reference on our website to see different boats’s performances: https://www.epropulsion.com/performance-bulletins/ , thanks!

Join the discussion! Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment.

This site uses cookies to personalize your experience and analyze site traffic. By clicking accept or continuing browsing the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. See our Privacy Policy here .

View the Serial Number

• EXPLORE Random Article
• Happiness Hub

How to Adjust a Trim Tab on an Outboard Motor

Last Updated: June 16, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure . Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 16,238 times.

In boating, trim is the general term for the angle of the boat as it sits in the water when you accelerate. If the front of the boat, called the bow, is too high, you won’t be able to control the boat in the water. If the bow is too low, your gas mileage suffers and you won’t be able to accelerate very well. This is where trim tabs come in. Trim tabs are optional fins that rest on the back of boats with outboard motors to adjust the angle of the bow while you accelerate. Keep in mind, if you do not have power trim tabs, you can still manipulate the angle of the bow the same way by adjusting the motor and stabilizing trim.

Changing Power Trim Settings

• On some boats, there are 2 levers that go up or down instead of 4 buttons.
• Power trim tabs are often found on newer and higher-end boats, but you can have them installed on any boat.

• A boat is plane when the bow (front) of the boat rests at an angle where it glides over the water. Unless you’re dealing with extremely choppy or calm waters, the main goal with the trim tabs is to make the boat plane.
• Trim tabs don’t do anything when you’re in idle or resting in the water. You need to get up to speed to see how the boat handles before making trim tab adjustments.
• Once you understand the trim tab controls, you can adjust them every time you hit the water to customize the way your boat handles based on the conditions.

• Press and release both buttons for the same period of time. You can cause problems for the angle of the boat if you only press one of the buttons while your boat is level.
• Pressing the “bow” down will cause the trim tabs to raise up and pull water up behind the back of the boat. This causes the boat to pitch forward.
• If the bow tilts too far up, you can’t see in front of you. It will also make it harder to handle the boat when the water is choppy or it’s windy out, since a higher percentage of the hull will be sticking out of the water.

• This lowers the trim tabs and decreases drag a little. This will cause the back of the boat to push forward and raise the angle as you accelerate.
• If the boat tilts too far forward, it will bounce up and down as the front of the hull keeps punching through the water.
• If the bow tilts too far down, a larger percentage of the hull touches the water. This will harm your gas mileage and make it hard to turn the boat when you’re accelerating.

• If you’re by yourself and the boat feels level, only press the buttons at the same time. Messing with the vertical angle of the boat triggers handling issues if the weight is already even.

Fixing a Listing Boat:

Move the port-side bow up if your boat is tilted forward to the left.

Move the port-side bow down if the boat is listing backwards the left.

Move the starboard-side bow up if the boat is tilted forward to the right.

Move the starboard-side bow down if the boat is listing back to the left.

Adjusting the Motor and Stabilizing Trim

• The motor trim isn’t technically a trim tab. However, your manual may refer to it as a trim tab since it performs the same basic function.

Tip: On older and lower-end boats, the trim is divided between two separate sets of controls. Power trim tabs typically rely on hydraulic fluid lines that are controlled from one location, but these old school boats use separate electrical lines to change the angle.

• This can be kind of confusing since the “up” button moves you down and the “down” button moves you up. You’ll get used to this over time.
• This is generally a good move if the water is choppy or you’re struggling to control the boat when you turn. By pushing the bow forward, you stabilize the boat against the surface of the water. This makes it much easier to steer and you’ll decrease any rocking you’re experiencing from choppy waves.

• When you move the bow forward, you reduce the percentage of the hull that is dragging in the water. This increases your speed, but you give up a little bit of control by doing this.

• A boat is plane when it feels like you’re gliding over the water. This only happens when the bottom of the boat rests evenly against the water at a slight upward angle. If the boat is listing, you can’t get plane.
• If there is a screw on top of this tab, turn it 1-2 times with a screwdriver to unlock the tab. Retighten the screw once you get the boat level.
• Like the motor trim, this is technically not a trim tab but it performs the same basic function.
• Some boats have power trim controls for the tabs on the side and one of these dials for the trims on the motor. If your boat has both, never use the dial to adjust the list of the boat. Only use the power trim tabs since they’re easier to adjust on the fly.

Expert Q&A

• If you know you have trim tabs but you don’t see controls, you have automatic trim tabs. These trim tabs are not adjustable, but they automatically move if the boat gets out of plane. [9] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Some boats don’t have trim tabs. They’re not mandatory since they don’t perform an essential purpose, but you can pay a boat mechanic to install them on your boat if you want better gas mileage and performance! Expect to spend $200-1,500 depending on the size of your boat and the type of trim tabs you get installed. [10] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Unfortunately, you cannot install trim tabs yourself unless you really know what you’re doing. Installing trim tabs involves running hydraulic lines through your boat, messing with your boat’s electrical components, and drilling into the hull. If you don’t get a professional to do it, it may cost thousands of dollars in damages and you may run into danger on the water. [11] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://youtu.be/oLPWdyByy9g?t=44
• ↑ https://youtu.be/oLPWdyByy9g?t=98
• ↑ https://youtu.be/oLPWdyByy9g?t=52
• ↑ https://youtu.be/oLPWdyByy9g?t=67
• ↑ https://youtu.be/oLPWdyByy9g?t=141
• ↑ https://youtu.be/FxSIhhXE1Aw?t=21
• ↑ https://youtu.be/FxSIhhXE1Aw?t=58
• ↑ https://youtu.be/FxSIhhXE1Aw?t=66
• ↑ https://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-and-Installing-Trim-Tabs
• ↑ https://www.boatingmag.com/installing-electric-trim-tabs-0/
• ↑ https://bennetttrimtabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/trimtab_es2000_installation.pdf

About this article

Did this article help you?

• About wikiHow
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

• my account Sign in Register

How to Correctly Trim an Outboard Engine

Posted by Art Vandelay on 8th Aug 2023

Okay, so I’ve nailed my ports and my starboards and I know my bow from my stern. But I have a problem. I’ve discovered that my true kryptonite is outboard engine trim. I don’t know how to trim an  outboard motor , I don’t know what the ideal outboard motor trim position should look like and, if I’m honest, I’m not even sure what outboard trim is. Well, this guide to outboard engine trim is designed to smooth out the bumps and teach you one of boating’s most valuable skills - one that, with a bit of practice, will help you operate your boat with far greater comfort and efficiency when you’re out on the water.

What is "trimming" your outboard motor?

The word ‘trimming’ is used to describe the action of adjusting the angle of the outboard motor on your transom.

When you trim your engine, you fine-tune the angle of the propeller in the water and, assuming you’re underway, that change in the direction of thrust will change the running attitude of your boat relative to the surface. When you start learning to trim the engine, it’s therefore important to understand the effect the angle of your propeller will have on your boat’s hull. We’ll discuss the physics of that in a moment but first, let’s examine the basics…

How do you "trim" an outboard motor?

On most outboard rigs, there are two places you can adjust the trim. Firstly, there’s a button located on the throttle lever, perfectly positioned so you can adjust the trim up and down with your thumb or index finger, depending on the orientation of the control box. 

This is the primary button and it’s specifically designed so you can operate it without having to change your grip on the throttle. The second rocker switch is located on the side of the engine itself. This obviously requires you to be at the back of the boat in order to operate it and it only tends to be used when the boat is stationary. The trim of the engine, or its position in the arc between fully down and fully up, is usually measured and displayed by means of a dial on the dash. This stops you from having to look over your shoulder to visually check the engine’s angle.

A  boat's hull will be affected by the angle of the propeller in the water.

What are the impacts of outboard motor trim position? 

When we trim up, we tilt the engine upwards, swinging the propeller away from the boat. As the propeller spins, it then creates a downward force on the rear end of the boat, thereby lifting the boat’s nose higher out of the water. When you trim down, the opposite occurs. The prop is buried deeper beneath the boat and the change in the angle of thrust pushes the stern up and forces the bow down. 

What are the benefits of the perfect outboard motor trim position?

01. It will improve your fuel economy. 

02. It will reduce the load on your engine. 

03. It will improve ride comfort. 

04. It will improve handling. 

05. It will preserve the health of your propeller. 

06. It will minimize the likelihood of accidents. 

07. It will enable you to explore the full potential of your boat’s performance.

What does this mean as we travel through the water? 

Imagine for a moment that our body of water is calm and we are traveling at a steady cruising speed. If you trim up, lift the engine and elevate the bow, there is less forward hull in the water. As you travel, the mid-section of the boat’s hull now becomes the first point of contact. Trimming up can help you run fast on the flat or, in the following sea, it can help you prevent the nose from ‘stuffing’ into a wave. But if you trim up too much, the boat can become unstable and uncomfortable as, rather than carve through the water, it skates around with reduced steering capacity and with a bow that lifts and drops in a phenomenon known as ‘porpoising’. Conversely, if you trim down, thereby lowering the bow, the front of the hull becomes the first point of contact with the water, providing greater control and directional stability. This can be useful in helping you run flat when a head sea is trying to lift your bow. But if you trim too low, you encounter what is known as ‘ploughing’ – digging the hull in deep, increasing resistance, causing drag, burning unnecessary fuel, reducing speed, compromising the ride quality and overworking your engine.

How do I find the outboard trim ‘sweet spot’? 

The more you get to know your own boat, the easier it will become to find the perfect sweet spot. But of course, this will tend to change according to your speed, the sea conditions, your weight distribution and your angle in relation to the prevailing swells. Because of these dynamic variables, you will generally have to make small adjustments throughout any journey to maintain your optimum running attitude. But what you generally want to see once you’re on the plane is the boat hull roughly level, the ride relatively stable and the wake emerging from a point on the side of the boat that is around about two thirds back from the bow. Once you’re in this position, try trimming down. You will feel increased resistance, as the revs drop, the speed decreases by a couple of knots and the wake moves forward. If it’s safe to do so, you can also try shifting the trim back up beyond the sweet spot. Feel how the bow lifts, the revs rise and the boat becomes less stable. Several things may happen here. 

While a spot of porpoising is a useful indicator that you’re overdoing it, you may also begin to experience ventilation. This is where the propeller comes too close to the surface, drawing air into the mix and causing your boat to over-rev, lose thrust and slow down. You may also encounter a ‘ chine walk ’. This is where lateral stability becomes compromised and the boat begins to rock from side to side. This can get worse and become dangerous if nothing is done to arrest it, so you need to regain control by easing back the throttle and trimming back down until the boat regains its composure and efficiency.

Where do I find parts for my tilt and trim?

As a boat owner, you know (or will come to know) that eventually you will need parts for your outboard tilt and trim. All major brands of outboards use their own design of tilt and trims.  Marine Parts Warehouse carries complete replacement tilt and trims and repair parts. 

• #bass boat trim
• #chine walk
• #marine parts warehouse
• #outboard maintenance
• #outboard tilt and trim

Receive Discounts. Join Our Newsletter.

Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales

© 2024 Marine Parts Warehouse Incorporated All rights reserved. | Sitemap