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How important is it to have power trim on an outboard? Is it really necessary to be constantly adjusting the trim? Or can you find an 'optimal' position with manual trim, and just leave it at that?
I've never owned or driven a boat with an outboard (ridden in them, just never been the driver), so I have no clue about the trim stuff.

I'm only asking because I regularly check craigslist to see what's available, and a lot of the older motors don't have power trim available.

Thanks.

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Jeff

My Celerity build.

You don't mention what you are building or own. A smaller boat is less likely to need it as the motors are smaller and easier to tilt and change the pin. Also, the smaller motors are less likely to have power trim. I have a Zip with Merc 500 and no power trim and it seems fine to me without it. Typically you only need to change the trim when your load changes dramatically.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

It really depends a lot on where you boat too. Without power trim and tilt on the barrier islands of the Carolinas we would be screwed for sure. I would work myself to death and with some boats its simply to difficult to even get to the motor to trim it up when on the water either. Sandbars are everywhere and depending on the tides and winds, the requirement for draft or the loss of depth changes by the hour.


SO along with what it does as a plus for trimming the boat depending on the loads and even how the weather is on a certain day, adjusting the engine is all but impossible and can make for a miserable ride home in the afternoon where winds love to kick up and certain directions favor a more nose down in head winds too for most power runabouts, which may not be the best angle overall for some boats.

A side note, some low slung trailers causes engines to drag too when being towed. So trimming a motor up will also have to be done by hand.

Sorry, I guess I should have provided more details.
I'm building a 16' Celerity (just starting). Planning on powering it with something in the 60-75HP range. The average passenger load would be 2 adults and one child. We would be almost exclusively riding around in medium sized lakes (Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier in GA to be specific). Although they can get quite choppy on windy, busy weekends.

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Jeff

My Celerity build.

In that size range, and area, I'd try to find PT for all the above reasons.

I've boated with and without, and it's definitely an asset

You'll like the ride difference on rough/smooth water,and shallow water ability, and ease of tilting.

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

There are add-on trim units that would probably work on your application,but not sure how much they are and they set back the engine and stress the transom differently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0udSAKPK ... re=related

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

I'll second the Pirate's opinion - do the the power trim. I've been boating for 50 years (God, is that ever scary!) and admittidly I'm getting old and lazy, but I wouldn't have an engine without the trim capability. Yes, you can find a best trim on a manual trim engine, but you will run into situations when that one best trim does not work for everying. The best example I can give is pulling up a water skiier or wake boarder. The boat will accelerate much better with the engine trimmed all the way in, then you can trim back up for the best ride when you are up on a plane. I ran an old (1960 model) 40 HP Johnson for almost 20 years, and the things are bulletproof, but honest, the newer motors that do have tilt-n-trim are just so much better from almost any standpoint that I'd go with a newere engine.

Peace,

TRM

I retract my statements about trim on smaller boats and engines. I find I will be needing more trim and would like to be able to adjust it easily. I am looking at Lenco trim tabs to be mounted on the transom. Hoping to keep the motor thrust line even with the boat and use the adjustable tabs to correct load and ride issues.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Thanks Roberta.
I did a lot of additional research myself, and concluded that it is a "must have". If I end up with a motor without it, then I'll probably spring for one of those bolt-on units from CMC.

I thought this article was particularly interesting concerning planing, porpoising, trim-tabs, etc.: http://www.jerrylabella.com/on_the_level.htm

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Jeff

My Celerity build.