Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

[dg512055]

I have read the manual and there seems to be a little confusion. When at idle speed in shallow water, say heading toward the beach, how far can you safely trim up for bottom clearance? Is the "trim" limit switch the maximum or can you continue higher with the "trailer" switch? I am wondering if there can be damage to the drive train while operating the engine at a high trim setting (at idle RPM only). I do know that you would have to keep the water intakes submerged, I am wondering about the u-joints or other components.

Almost forgot, running a Merc 4.3LX and Alpha 1.

Thanks

DG

 

[grahamh]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

I think it depends what kind of drive you have. I know that the old OMC drives are only supposed to be used all the way down, but they use ball gears, not U joints.

As far as I know, it's okay to use drives trimmed up if they have U joints, but I'm not sure. I know with my grandparent's boat with a Mercruiser, we move it past "trim" and into "tilt" when driving the boat onto the trailer.

I could be wrong about it being ok though

 

[ramster]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

If you are going to beach, and are not familiar with the water, I like to kill the motor at a safe distance and drift in. Even if you don't have a prop strike you can stir up debris and suck it into your impeller and cause damage.

 

[indy440]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

I've idled my Alpha 1 drive well beyond the trim limit switch while beaching. I bring it up to where its almost coming out of the water and only when the engine is idling...

Im reasonably sure that as long as Im only idling it wont cause issues...

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

When I got to shallow water I always shut off the engine, put the drive all the way up, jumped off the boat, and walked it to the beach. Too many boats & swimmers in my area to go in under power.

As you know, the water inlets are just above the bullet-shaped transmission at the bottom of the outdrive. If they are under water, you're good to go on an Alpha 1 in the full-up trailer position. Don't do this often, and never run it above idle.

If the u-joints start rattling, lower the drive a bit. (The next time you remove the drive, replace the u-joints. NAPA carries them.)

I've never used it to pull off a beach in trailer position. That's bad for the u-joints. Instead, turn on the blower and walk it out to deep water, lower the drive, and start the engine.

Two important things to remember: (1) If the water inlets come out of the water for as few as 15 seconds it can burn the impeller, and (2) if the boat is beached and the drive gets buried in sand or is constantly bouncing off the bottom, the inlets can easily get clogged.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

My alpha 1 Gen 2 manual says to not exceed 1200rpm when in the trailering position.

Ian

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

I just learned today that my boat doesn't maneuver worth a crap with the drive tilted up.

 

[indy440]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

^ same here

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

I just learned today that my boat doesn't maneuver worth a crap with the drive tilted up.

Nope, and it won't reverse either...not very well, you'll need to drop it a bit from trailering position to have any real control.

Ian

 

[dg512055]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

Well I went out today and gave it a try. I trimmed up with the trailer switch after hitting the upper trim limit and idled into some shallow water. Almost had the prop to the surface and never heard or felt anything unusual. Steering did get a little vague but not much worse than normal. I am fairly new to the deep V boats and I understand that it is somewhat normal for them to not idle forward in a straight line.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

manual says okay to run in trailer mode but no higher then 1200 rpms .
i am going to try this soon as a fishing spot i want to try is okay with smaller boats and out boards but if i trim up should be good and more shallow then my long shaft i use to run there on 14ft boat

 

[TahoeQ4Pilot]

Re: Trimming Up at Idle Speed - How Far?

After 3 prop strikes this year I am thinking this newb needs to adjust trim throughout the day on a regular basis. I would launch and lower the trim full down and head out for the day, and raise it back again when I was getting on the boat. I couldnt really bring it up much because my boat would porpoise, but now I have a hydrofoil I have a lot more control. So now I am adjusting trim depending on where I am and what I am doing and much more aware of outdrive postion.

I dont have a trailer switch but I can trim up until the prop wont get any bite and I can move, so I have to bring it down. Also running a Merc 4.3 and an Alpha 1.