I'm going backwards in I/O technology

[sweetcheeks]

I had a boat with a volvo penta i/o 4 cylinder and in the boat was a gauge to let me know what angle the outdrive was trimmed in or out. I now have another boat with an '89 4.3 mercruiser. No gauge. I asked a mercruiser dealer about it and he said you guess at where it is trimmed. Is there anything out there as an add on or do I just guess.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

I'm sure they make an add on gauge for it.Some of the Merc guys will chime in...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

Welcome to iboats.....
Just guess.....
When you put it in the water, put it all the way down....
When pulling out, put it all the way up.....
When going from full 'down' to "trim" you will feel when it is right....
I have a gauge & don't even look at it.......​

 

[Bondo]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

Ayuh,............

My boat Had a trim gauge,.....
And, I took it out,+ threw it away.........

I found a Volt Meter to be Much more Useful...........

"Seat of the Pants" is the Absolute Best gage for Trim......................

 

[jspringator]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

When on plane, you can tell the plane by the handling of the boat. When launching or at idle you can tell when it is full up or full down by the sound. Gages aren't necessary, or even useful, with power trim. My old Volvo only had power tilt, not nearly as useful as power trim.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

Like said before, its "seat of you pants" thing. You can feel it break loose from the water and no torque from side to side in the steering is a start.

 

[Don S]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

While "Seat of the Pants" is the BEST way to trim your drive, and you really can't learn to do that. You can buy a gauge (Just the gauge) and install it.
The wiring and senders are all there on every drive. Only thing missing is the gauge.

 

[sweetcheeks]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

I want to thank everyone for their replies and helfull tips. Thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

hummm, guess everyone thinks trim gages are useless........and that seat of the pants trimmin is best. while i've been trimin drives since i was a teenager and can trim for optimal use just fine. i personally like a gage. then i know where its at. i can't hear my trim motor even at idle. so i wouldn't know whether i'm up or down short of the thump it makes when it reaches full up. it's also usefull for deep water starts. i sometimes forget to trim back down after a run. so after a stop, i may try to takeoff trimed up to far. if i look at the gage, i can avoid that. for me, my trim is broke also. typical 1 drive, but tilt still works. with the gage, i also know i've not gone to far in trimmin up too tight for a high speed run.....go for the gage. hope it works out well for ya.....

 

[sweetcheeks]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

Don S
The gauge is easy to buy. Is it easy to find the wiring and senders on a '89 4.3 mercruiser or is there a good manual that would be helpfull?

 

[evilratgirl]

Re: I'm going backwards in I/O technology

I also rely on my gauge. My boat don't have a seperate trim/trailer switch. With the shallow lakes I run, it helps to give an idea of where my outdrive is. I try to keep it in the gauge for the trim gauge but some times I have to run it slightly higher.