What is power trim?
Trimming can be controlled far more conveniently by power trim, which is standard on most MerCruiser stem drives, standard on larger outboard motors, and optional on others. Power trim permits control of the angle of the propeller shaft relative to the boat bottom at the touch of a button (Figure 7-28). While on plane, the angle of the boat bottom to the water has much to do with maximum top speed, fuel economy, handling, and choppy-water ride. Boat bottoms have the least drag at an angle of from 3 to 5 with the water. If they run flatter than 3, as most light planing boats tend to do, or steeper than 5, as stem-heavy boats just barely on plane may do, efficiency suffers. Power trim can pay back dollars in fuel savings or give added thrills and safety with a faster, better-handling boat, or push a stern-heavy boat onto plane that otherwise might not make it. Heres a useful tip on operating power trim when a boat runs aground.
Trimming can be controlled far more conveniently by power trim, which is standard on all Stingray sterndrive boats. Power trim permits control of the angle of the propeller shaft relative to the boat bottom at the touch of a button. While on plane, the angle of the boat bottom to the water has much to do with maximum top speed, fuel economy, handling, and choppy-water ride. Power trim can pay back dollars in fuel savings or give added thrills and safety with a faster, better-handling boat.