Trim and Tilt 101 for a new guy

[hankman73]

Hello all, I am fairly new to boating, and just recently got a 1982 Viking S.I. 220 with a 260 mercruiser.

I am trying to figure out the tilt and trim. On my controller there are a total of 4 buttons, 1 button for bringing the motor up and one to bring it down, pretty simple. There are 2 other buttons which I assume is for the trim (although I am not sure what exactly this does)

So if someone could explain the process of trim that would be great. I sorta understand that you want the boat to plane or be level as it is going through the water, I am confused as how best to achieve this. Do I do it with tilt? Or with the Trim buttons?

When crusing at a fairly good speed I can get the boat to plane fairly well, problem is I don't want to go super fast all the time, likewise when I am going fairly slow it isn't a problem either, its the inbetween speeds that I am having a hard time figuring out.

 

[lcmains1]

Re: Trim and Tilt 101 for a new guy

You will use the trim when the engine is running. "trimmimg" the drive will help with top speed and make the engine more fuel efficent. I warm the boat up and run at wide open throttle with the trim allthe way down, once the boat is on plane I start to trim up the engine, you will notice the ride in the boat become smoother and the rpm and speed will increase some. It is more of a feel.

The tilt is used to lower and raise the engine all the way. DO NOT use this while the enggine is running, the tilt will take the outdrive into the all the way up position, this will damage the u joints if raised to high while running. The tilt will only let the engine go so far.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Trim and Tilt 101 for a new guy

As lcmains said, do NOT use the tilt while the engine is running.

The trim buttons will not allow the engine to go all the way up. They keep it in the safe range where it's OK for it to be while it's running.

Start off with the trim all the way DOWN. Start accelerating your boat and as it comes onto plane start bumping the trim UP.

Once your boat is on plane, keep bumping the trim up a little at a time until the bow of your boat starts bouncing up and down. At that point drop the trim down just a hair until the bow quits bouncing. This is the most efficient planing point for your boat at that speed.

If you change speeds, you'll need to adjust the trim again. Do the same thing, bump the trim up until the bow starts bouncing, then drop it just a little till it stops bouncing.

 

[hankman73]

Re: Trim and Tilt 101 for a new guy

Excellent thanks!