drive trim, alpha 1's

[Turtlesboat]

The more I use my boat, the more I find my guages are about as accurate as a blind archer. I like to set my drive trim about a 1/4 up when on plane. but 1/4 up on both guages makes my boat list to starboard a little. How does one figure out when both drives are trimmed the same amount while under way? do you look at the list, the wake, the rpms?

mike

 

[77 240 SRV]

I have found that using the starboard trim tab helps my listing problem. Just bump it till you get the results you desire. Just my 2cents.

 

[comsnark]

TurtleTone: Why are you trimming your drives? Is the bow up in the air a bit? I generally trim my boat to keep the deck more or less level. Hmmm. Need to think about this next time I am out.

 

[Sea Ray 300]

The more I use my boat, the more I find my gauges are about as accurate as a blind archer. I like to set my drive trim about a 1/4 up when on plane. but 1/4 up on both gauges makes my boat list to starboard a little. How does one figure out when both drives are trimmed the same amount while under way? do you look at the list, the wake, the rpms?mike

The gauges are only a general proximity. In using your boat, you'll find that you don't even need the trim gauges, as your "feel" will tell you allot more. Proper trim will result in best "attitude", best planing, and best speed at rpm. Once you find the "sweet spot", you needn't adjust further, except to experiment.
Not to be confused with tabs, as they're best for levelling, depending on occupancy, or maybe a "boost" to get on plane.

 

[Presentation]

If I understand your question, you are asking how to trim-up both of your outrives the same.

In other words, since the gauges are bunk, how do you keep the trim on the starboard engine the same as the port engine?

The question has nothing to do with trim-tabs off the transom.

OK, I don’t know the answer, but I think we now have the question.

With my single drive, I plane out, and then trim up until that rumbling feeling from the bow being driven into the water goes away. This is the sweet spot.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Yes thanks, my question is how you know both are trimmed the same amount. I can pop up on plane easy and boat is level. I trim the drives out about 1/4 and the boat lists slightly to the right. I know both are trimming but i'm not confident that both are trimming the same amount according to the guages. I've been looking at the prop tail from both engines and it looks like the starboard is throwing slightly higher than the port which might explain the list to starboard? or maybe I'm just now feeling the effects of something I smoked 25 years ago. :huh:

Just trying to figure out the best way to tell when both the drives are trimmed the same amount.

 

[Presentation]

Just an idea, I have no experience, just throwing it out there.

Put both drives all the way down. Take a measurement from the top edge of the drive to a point directly above each drive on the swim platform. Mark this spot as your reference spot.

Next, get up to plane and trim out as you normally would. Now throttle back and stop. Do not touch the trim buttons at all. Go back and re-measure and see if the difference is the same or more on the starboard engine.

 

[RiverRat]

There is a trim sending unit on each drive. It can be adjusted to set the guages on the dash to an equal starting point but that doesn't mean the guages will be acurate through the full trim cycle. It takes to people to do this and if your boats not on a lift someones getting wet and the other needs to be watching the guages.