Trim tabs position...

[biggerseagar]

I have a 01 3000 with twin 5.0 with bravo ll outdrives. I also have trim taps and that brings me to my question.

When backing up what position do you have your trim taps at? Like when you're docking, backing into you slip. I don't have a gauge to tell me what position the trim taps are at. I have always just left them alone but back up into my slip has been an effort some of the time until I had this epiphany of sorts about the position of the trim taps. For most of the times they have been about half way down which helps getting on plane. I started raising them all the way up and backing up seemed to be easier keeping a straight line going into my slip better.

So anybody else already know this ? As usual I'm the last to know or on your boat it doesn't make any difference?

Roger

[mmwjr]

Roger I don’t change the setting of my tabs when backing but it makes sense that they would add drag when extended and if extended to different positions will add uneven drag causing the side with more drag to push the bow the opposite direction.

However we back in slowly so I doubt this drag would have much effect. But hey if it helps then do it.

[biggerseagar]

Mike... I was just curious because when I was backing up sometimes I was going all over the place. Tried it withe tabs all the way up and noticed a difference in handling for the better....

Roger

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by biggerseagar

Mike... I was just curious because when I was backing up sometimes I was going all over the place. Tried it withe tabs all the way up and noticed a difference in handling for the better....

Roger

Roger, are you backing in against a strong current? If so that would make sense why raising the tabs helped.

[viper12161]

You absolutely want them in the raised positioned when in reverse....I see no reason to ever have them down as soon as your at no wake speed, as they are just causing unnecessary drag. When backing into your dock they definitely will cause an adverse effect, which sounds like exactly what you are experiencing. They are just plowing through the water, and since water is going over the top of them, that is amplified, even at very slow speed. Basically pushing your stern down. And like Mike mentioned, unless they are perfectly aligned, they are going to psh you to one side or the other.

[biggerseagar]

Thanks to all ....I guess you can teach an old dog a new trick or two....

Roger

[shrew]

I've always been advised to have the trim tabs in the full 'up' position and the outdrives in the full 'in' (down) position when backing.