low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

[QC]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

It is often funny to me how this topic always brings out strong reactions. On almost every engine or drive related issue here, the common recommendation is to "read the manual" or "get a manual". The fact is the manual from Merc says:

Power Trim allows the operator to adjust the drive angle, while underway, to provide the ideal boat angle for varying load and water conditions. Also, the Power Trim system Trailering feature allows the operator to raise and lower the drive unit for trailering, beaching, launching and low speed (below 1200 rpm engine speed), shallow water operation.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when operating with drive unit raised. Severe damage to the drive unit may result if unit is raised beyond the gimbal ring support flanges at engine speeds above 1200 rpm.

With that said, no one has asked "Which Drive are we talking about?". Seems like an appropriate question if my next response might be "read the manual"

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

For everything there is a purpose and for every purpose there should be a plan to use it the right way. (I don't know but sounded good when I started typing)

Anyway, it seems to me that the engineers designed the drives to drive the boat. They made the drives strong enough to withstand the incidental bumping and bottoming out that we occasionally do. But we should not mistake the engineered durability for an intended other use. The drive is the drive and not the anchor.

On occasion, I've backed onto the sand bar at high or mean tide and then cringed when the tide went out and saw my drive being hammered by the sand bar as boaters wakes rocked my boat (my bad) It's just not good for the boat. Maybe if you have a small lightweight boat and a strong drive, its ok for you. My boat is too heavy and it's not that big.

My friends with bigger boats (and more money and experience) would never allow their drives to anchor the boat or rest in the sand.

Always remember, they named it for the purpose it was intended to serve... DRIVE... ANCHOR.

Have fun and keep safe.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

QC, good question... What kind of drive...

Doesn't really matter, I think this thread started over how to simply and properly approach the sand bar, right? Not anchor the boat. Anchoring became a secondary issue when a good response included dropping a stern anchor to adequately secure the boat in place (along with beach anchor). I seen way too many boats slam into other boats on the sand bar because they weren't secured fore and aft.

But still, you are right... the obvious answer should have included "read the manual" and then "what kind of drive is it?"

 

[marine4003]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

But thats just too easy...............

 

[dkorzun21]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

QC, good question... What kind of drive...

Doesn't really matter, I think this thread started over how to simply and properly approach the sand bar, right? Not anchor the boat. Anchoring became a secondary issue when a good response included dropping a stern anchor to adequately secure the boat in place (along with beach anchor). I seen way too many boats slam into other boats on the sand bar because they weren't secured fore and aft.

But still, you are right... the obvious answer should have included "read the manual" and then "what kind of drive is it?"

Would have read the manual if it had come with my boat. But thanks all for the help I def wont listen to the guy that told me to drop my drive in the sand and use it as an ancor. Thanks

 

[QC]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

I guess one point I was trying to make, but didn't, was . . . . If this is an OMC Stringer then operating above trim limit is a bigger concern than if this is a Volvo or a Merc . . .

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

It's really not that hard of a thing right?

If you're concerned.........as a new boat owner you should take some steps to figure out you minimum depth with the motor down.

Go outside, put the trim all the way down to where it's almost toching the ground.

Measure from the depth finder sensor to the bottom of your out drive. If that length is 2 feet. Then guess what. At 2 feet on your depth gauge you're going to have to lift up the motor.

It will more likely be less than 2 feet.

So as you approach that magic number you need to raise it up more and more.

As others have said, don't go fast, cut the motor and walk it in with the motor all the way up.

Done? ok?

 

[QC]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

Measure from the depth finder sensor to the bottom of your out drive. If that length is 2 feet. Then guess what. At 2 feet on your depth gauge you're going to have to lift up the motor.

One thing to be careful about is any offset programmed into the Sounder. Mine allows you to put in an adder to make up for the fact that the transducer is below the waterline at displacement speeds. Or you could have it set for the difference between on plane height and water height, or you could have no offset.

The best way to handle this is to confirm when the skeg starts to touch what does the Sounder read? Pretty easy to do if the sand bar is easy enough to get out and walk around on . . .

BTW, I don't get that worked up about the skeg and/or drive hitting lightly or getting stuck. I don't like it, but I always note that 250 propshaft horsepower pushing on the transom, drive components etc. etc. while the operator yanks the steering back and forth, is waaaaaaaay more load than a 22 footer wiggling around while stuck in the mud . . .

 

[marine4003]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

One thing to be careful about is any offset programmed into the Sounder. Mine allows you to put in an adder to make up for the fact that the transducer is below the waterline at displacement speeds. Or you could have it set for the difference between on plane height and water height, or you could have no offset.

The best way to handle this is to confirm when the skeg starts to touch what does the Sounder read? Pretty easy to do if the sand bar is easy enough to get out and walk around on . . .

BTW, I don't get that worked up about the skeg and/or drive hitting lightly or getting stuck. I don't like it, but I always note that 250 propshaft horsepower pushing on the transom, drive components etc. etc. while the operator yanks the steering back and forth, is waaaaaaaay more load than a 22 footer wiggling around while stuck in the mud . . .

absolutely...but the difference is the prop is free spinning, no potential of hitting a rock or sunken piling causing 2000rpm to 0 rpm in a nanosecond....thats what causes big dollar problems. I try to keep in mind the less experienced boaters mistakenly misinterpreting statements..thereby creating the potential for catastrophic mistakes...

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: low water trailer up or just trim all the way up??

Would have read the manual if it had come with my boat. But thanks all for the help I def wont listen to the guy that told me to drop my drive in the sand and use it as an anchor. Thanks

Understood, I read the manual with my boat and I would have done what you did and asked the experts and non- on this website. The manual gives you some good information about what to and not to do with your boat. I, like you, want to be safe and get all of the information possible before giving it a try. It is usually is as simple as this one is but you never know what trick you might miss or need to know to do it better. Always ask the experts and more experienced for advice, especially when its free and generally very useful .