trim

[viper1]

Ive been running my starcraft 3.0 19181 ft holiday. Seems fine but getting on plane it wants to leanxto the left. Now is this just prop tourq?if i trim up to the first dark line it levels out. Does this sound about right? Also what is the first line above bottom. Its thicker then the rest. Just curious.

 

[viper1]

Re: trim

No one knows or I didn't explain it right?

What I was trying to say is the Gage on my Star Craft has a line on bottom when trimmed clear down. But has another line up about 1/4 inch that is thicker then the rest. My boat leans to the left as I start off with trim down. As I increase it leans a little more till I trim up to about that thick line. So I'm wondering if the lean to the left is just the engine torg or not. Also is that line where it's suppose to go? Never had it on my other I/O's. Although I did have the left lean on my fiberglass vip.

 

[JoLin]

Re: trim

I'll take a shot-

The 'lean' is likely from prop torque, and lessens as your speed increases. NormaL.

The thick line on the gauge might be the gauge manufacturer's take on where the drive's 'supposed to go' when cruising, but the best trim position really depends on the boat it's mounted on, the load in the boat, and how that load is distributed. In short, optimum trim position will vary. You need to experiment to find the best position every time you run the boat.

My .02

 

[5150abf]

Re: trim

That line is could the DON"T GO ABOVE HERE mark, you should only run an IO in gear at a certain angle, above that you start tearing up universal joints and gimbal bearings.

Maybe put the drive to that mark and see where it is.

Use the gauge as general guide but get used to trimming by feel, the gauge can go funny at any time or quite working.

 

[JoLin]

Re: trim

I thought of that, too, but the OP said the 'thick line' is only 1/4" up the scale from the full down trim position. That seems like an awfully short swing between 'full down' and 'full up', but I only have my own trim gauges to use as a reference.

 

[viper1]

Re: trim

Kind of what I figured just wanted a more experienced persons thoughts. I start out down and as the boat starts it's lean to the left I start trimming. Once on plane there is no lean. Just between start and planing. but trim does make it go a way. Its a 19.2 and is on plane between 17-18 MPH Which to me seems great. As my old fiberglass VIP use to almost hit 30 to plane. Also It never needs planed beyond that line so I would think that shouldn't hurt any thing. If Im wrong on my assumptions please address them.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: trim

Trim gauges are about as accurate as a wooden watch but as was stated before, there is a point where you can damage the unit. To address the lean, you're lucky, lean to the right is the bad one. Your idea that it's prop torque could be right but it's more than likely a loading issue. There's just not enough power there to cause that boat to torque like I'm imagining it doing. Maybe it's not as severe as I'm thinking.

 

[viper1]

Re: trim

True its a 4 cyl. But it's the biggest one I know of at 181 cubic inch.I would say it is as powerful as the 6 I had in the VIP also a chevy. I know gauges are like idiot lights some times being an auto mechanic. But hope to use as a reference point. I also may be over thinking as my buddy's who have more experience then me don't think it's an issue. I'm more concerned in it being i am wanting to make sure all is right with it. I also really appreciate the comments and help. I'm not new to boats as much as I?O's. they seem to have so much more power then an outboard or at least the smaller ones Ive had. Im always concerned on flipping a boat in a hard turn or when it leans like that. As i dont realize whats ok and what too much. On a flat lake is it possible to stear to hard and flip or does it take a pretty good wave to do that?