Trimming out a dual Stern Drive

[chollyjohn]

If you use yoru trim tabs, they can be helpful to get up on plane once you are exceeding 4knots and usually indicated at 15-1800 RPM. It will hep with visibility to keep the bow down....but one you get close to, or ARE up on plane, bring your trim tabs up all the way. If you need to adjust them...do so only for port or starboard listing. As far as the 5 degree...thats a good average however, most rear engine cruisers will perform best with the water breaking about mid-ship and not less than 1/3 hull in the water. You can purchase a U-shaped leveler that you adjust when the boat is sitting still..it has incriments of degrees that will help you know the angle you are at during plane. Other devises that help knowing yoru adjustments is the trim tab buttons with the gauge that tells you the pitch they are at. Be careful, one common mistake is when the outdrive is raised slightly and then the trim tabs are adjusted to compensate....that is a good cause for cavitation. Thru prop desing helps avoid cavitation, so check for other debris or dirty bottom or attached devices like speedometer and depth finder transom guages that may hinder and allow air to enter to the prop.