Owner`s manual

upwards and generally increases top speed. Excessive trim-
ming up can cause ventilation (Figure 5-4). Trimming down
can cause the front of the tubes to plow through the water
and can slow the boat down, a slight “up” trim angle is gener-
ally desirable. Adjusting trim to existing conditions while
underway is necessary for good performance (Figure 5-4).
The trim gauge is a general guide only, and accuracy of the
gauge may vary from motor to motor. See your dealer to see
if your gauge can be adjusted. Trim cannot be adjusted while
running on boats equipped with a manual tilt system.
You can quickly correct minor deciencies in your boat’s
ride by shifting passengers and gear forward or aft. Shifting
weight has the same effect as changing the angle on the
drive unit. By taking a little extra time to carefully place such
items as coolers, water jugs and the anchor, you can create a
more desirable trim.
At low idle speed, an outboard can be tilted up past trim
range to permit operation in shallow water. However, the
engine’s cooling water intake holes must always remain sub-
merged. Otherwise the engine will overheat.
ACCELERATING
When you throttle up and accelerate, your boat increases the
trim angle which causes the boat to ride bow high. Get on
plane as quickly as possible. It should only take a few sec-
onds at full throttle for your boat to level out. Accelerate until
you reach a comfortable plane then throttle down to cruising
speed. This also provides for better fuel efficiency.
TRIMMING
The following summarizes general principles for trimming
your boat. For a more detailed discussion of trimming, refer
to your engine Owner’s Manual about the trim controls
installed on your boat.
The outboard or stern drive must be trimmed to adjust to
the ideal boat angle for given load and water conditions.
Depending on the motor provided with your boat, it will
have power trim controls or a manual tilt system. With either
system, the outboard should be trimmed so that it is perpen-
dicular to the water when the boat is running at full speed
(Figure 5-4).
On two-tube boats, trimming the motor does not significantly
affect boat attitude, but it does improve engine efficiency.
On the other hand, a triple tube and PTX™ boat rides higher
in the water, accelerates more rapidly, and is more respon-
sive in turns. Trimming is more likely to affect boat attitude,
but the effect will be less than trimming a boat with a plan-
ing hull.
On boats equipped with power trim controls, trim can be
adjusted while running. Trimming out or up lifts the bow
5.5
Acceleration at full throttle is not recommended during the motor break-in
period. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for the correct way to break in your
boat’s motor.
TRIM
TRIM
TRIM
INCORRECT
Causes boat to "plow"
CORRECT
Gives maximum performance
INCORRECT
Causes boat to "porpoise"
DN TRIM UP
DN TRIM UP
DN TRIM UP
FIGURE 5-4 TRIMMING
Any passenger changing position while underway must be very careful to
prevent injury or falling overboard. If passenger position must be changed,
operator must first reduce speed.
Use extreme caution when operating with drive unit raised. Cooling water
intake holes must remain submerged. See Owner’s Manual for details.
BOAT SPEED
The maximum speed at which you can make sudden turns
without losing control of your boat is called the maneuvering
speed of your boat. Maneuvering speed varies depending on
wind, waves and other factors. Some boats display a warning
advising that maneuverability above a given speed is limited.
This speed is based on tests in calm water. There are mini-
mum safe speeds for certain conditions as well, maintaining
headway in a cross wind, for example. Some careful experi-
mentation will serve you well later on. When you encounter a
potentially hazardous situation, adjust speed accordingly.
Pace your speed so that you have enough time to respond to
an emergency. Never drive your boat directly behind a water
skier in case the water skier falls. For example, at
25 miles per hour (40 km/h), your boat is traveling more
than 35 feet per second (10.7 m/s). If a skier falls 200 feet
(61 m) ahead, your boat will overtake the fallen skier in less
than 6 seconds.