Trimming your pontoon

[Old Dog]

Sorry guys for this basic question, but not ever owning a boat before there is so much I don't know. Could you please help me understand when you would trim a boat, why and is there a noticeable difference I will see/feel when I do eventually get our first boat and try it firsthand? When various trims are tried, do the RPM's vary with the amount of trim?

Thanks for help.

[WILD MAN]

the trim helps get the front of the pontoons up out of the water so there is less drag and you can go faster with less power. It is not as noticeable with a pontoon boat as a boat with a conventional hull but it does make a little differance, youll need to try a few different trim settings to see what works for your boat. maybe this will help it's not a toon but it is the same idea.

[Old Dog]

the trim helps get the front of the pontoons up out of the water so there is less drag and you can go faster with less power. It is not as noticeable with a pontoon boat as a boat with a conventional hull but it does make a little differance, youll need to try a few different trim settings to see what works for your boat. maybe this will help it's not a toon but it is the same idea.

Aaah, this is a good visual for me, thanks. Now I can see if the motor is trimmed in too much how it forces the bow into the water. And, if trimmed out too much, the thrust will raise the bow up too much. The final example shows the right trim.

Thanks for posting the illustration WILD MAN.

[jimrs]

Like was said before you won't raise the bow that much but you should be able to hear and feel it when it's just right.

[bassn386]

The sales guy at my dealer said for maximum speed to trim until the gauge shows about 3/4 of the way up the gauge.
Try experimenting with different trim levels, depending on your load. Always start with the trim all the way down and then after you get to cruise speed (I don't trim up until about 3,000 rpm), try trimming up, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4. Note your attitude and speed at each point. You should be able to find that "sweet spot" after a little experimentation.
Having the nose up a bit will also smooth out the ride if the water's rough.
That graphic is great for showing the correct trim. Watch a bass boat or small runabout try to take off with the trim up and you'll see a classic case of porpoising. It happens also (I have a bass boat) if you slow down and don't trim the motor back down.
Let us know how you do.

[stickman]

Don't forget to use your ears when trimming also. On my pontoon, I start with the trim down and "bump" it up until just before the prop starts to let go. With some experience, you can hear when it gets to the right spot. If you go up too much, the prop will lose grip and you will hear a noticable increase in engine RPM.

When trimmed like this, it is good for straight line speed with minor turns. If you are making more drastic turns (like whipping the kids/grandkids around on a tube), you will need to trim down more or you'll lose bite and speed in a hurry.

[oldmn19]

Watch your tach also, the rpm's will usually pick up slightly when the boat is running the free-est! now it won't be a lot maybe only a hundred or so RPM"S. Just play with it and you will get the hang of it, you can't hurt anything, so have fun.

[Old Dog]

Thanks to all at this point for giving me some additional tips of what to look for, what to listen for and what to do. It is all very much appreciated. I'm anxious and somewhat nervous about the first run which won't happen until the first or second week of May as the boat is being built as we speak.

To all a great boating season.

[dockholiday]

Probably best to start with the trim down and just cruise around like that for a while getting the feel of the boat, first time out, for a while then work on operating the trim using the different methods suggested.

doc

[stickman]

One other tip: Assuming you will get the shake down cruise with your dealer, let them go over the same things you are asking about on here. You may have all the answers from this smart bunch of folks, but let the sales guy show you anyway. Some boats have slightly different features that they will want to show you. (Our Premier has a trim switch that actually has two positions. Pressing it part way up will power the drive up about half way. Pressing it harder will overcome a slight detent and drive it the rest of the way up.) Let 'em! Having foreknowledge is good, but having more knowledge is better!

Ask to your heart's content, but let the sales guy earn his keep. Better to hear it twice and understand it fully than to think you've got it and miss something important.

[rbiederwolf]

All great tips. If you have a gps showing a digital readout for mph you can use it to fine tune the trim to find the sweetspot. On my toon it is just before 1/2 on the guage. I know when I have the perfect trim because any minor adjustment (up or down) will cause the mph to drop. It is minimal = a tenth or two but it defitely decreases.

Hope this helps

[dockholiday]

Since we are on the subject, thought I would throw this out again. Anyone know why they don't make or have the trim limit switches anymore? My bow rider in the early 80's had a 150 merc which had a trim limit switch. Basically you set it and it would stop at that position. If you wanted to go higher it had a trailer button which would override and take it all the way up.

doc

[jimrs]

Since we are on the subject, thought I would throw this out again. Anyone know why they don't make or have the trim limit switches anymore? My bow rider in the early 80's had a 150 merc which had a trim limit switch. Basically you set it and it would stop at that position. If you wanted to go higher it had a trailer button which would override and take it all the way up.

doc

Because they cost more.

[BiXLL]

I have also found my sweet spot to be just before half on the trim.

[slingshot]

LOL, my boat will increase 1/10 mph if I trim it right. It does seem to make turning a little smoother though.