Leisure Boating — December 2017

December 2017 Leisure Boating^35

G

etting the trim just right on
your new boat takes a bit of
practice, but we all know that
practice makes perfect. And,
it won’t be long before your boat is gliding
across the water and you have become a
seasoned pro at getting your boat trimmed.
If you are unfamiliar with the different
aspects of trimming your boat, ask a friend
who owns a boat to take you through the
various easy stages. Optimising the ‘hole
shot’ and generating peak efficiency from
your motor through the careful control of

trim will have your boat planing in record

time and the earlier you get your boat

planing, the less your fuel bill will be.

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

For the best trim to be achieved on your

boat, the weight distribution needs to be

correct. What this means is that the skipper

needs to delegate where the passengers

sit and where the cooler boxes and other

accessories are placed for even distribution

of weight. Too much weight on one side

of the boat will cause it to steer badly and

it will be a lot more difficult to attain the

correct trim.

KNOW YOUR BOAT

The methods of trimming will vary from

boat to boat, yet the general principles

of trim apply to all boats. Many different

factors affect how your particular boat

is trimmed and these are boat size, hull

shape, weight distribution, sea conditions

on the day, wind factor and wave action.

No day will be exactly the same when it

comes to trimming.

TYPES OF TRIM

Trimming In

t
 Lowers the bow in the water

t
 Results in the boat planing

more quickly, particularly with

increased load

t
 Improves ride in choppy seas

t
 Increases steering torque or pull

to the right

Neutral Trimming

t
 Lowers the bow in the water

t
 Improves fuel efficiency

t
 Propeller shaft sits parallel to the

surface of the water

Trimming Out

t
 Lifts the bow

t
 Increases the top speed of the

boat

t
 Increases clearance in shallower

waters

t
 Increases steering torque or pull

to the left on normal rotation

motors.

t
 Can cause the boat to bounce or

porpoise if used excessively

t
 Can cause cavitation of the prop

and result in over-revving.