It’s no surprise that a lot of new boaters may not know much about boat trimming or what it means. It’s understandable since this is not necessarily the most basic stuff, they need to know on boating 101. However, knowing what it means to trim a boat and how to trim it properly will improve the boat’s performance and fuel economy.

So, what is boat trim? It doesn’t mean cutting away some parts of a boat literally but it means the running angle of the boat as it makes its way in the water whenever a boater adjusts the trim by raising or lowering the front of the boat.

The next thing to know now is how to trim a boat in the water. The process is simple and if you already are comfortable enough to operate your boat all by yourself, you should definitely do some trimming. It helps your boat glide more smoothly and faster on the water’s surface. Here are some tips to help you do it:

Distribute weight evenly

Before you leave the dock, check that the weight of the boat is distributed evenly so it sits evenly in the water. Adjust all boat accessories, equipment, and gear you have onboard so no part of the boat has a bigger and heavier load sitting on compared to the other areas of the boat. Even though you can use power trim and trim tabs to compensate for uneven weight, it’s ideal to begin by distributing weight onboard as evenly as possible.

Use your power trim and trim tabs simultaneously 

Remember to use the power trim to adjust the prop path that is parallel to the water flow. Use trim tabs to trim the hull of the boat both up and down and from side-to-side motions. When you use the two of them together, you maximize your boat’s performance.

 Monitor the speed and propeller action as you trim

As you begin to trim up, pay attention to your boat’s speed, revolutions per minute (RPMs), and propeller ventilation as these three are key to knowing when your boat is properly trimmed and running efficiently. Trimming up will eventually trigger a slight drop in speed and a sharp rise in RPMs and propeller ventilation. If you’ve trimmed up too far, begin trimming down in small increments to reach your maximum speed and consistent RPMs to balance for a proper trim.

Use your trim as a turning tool 

When you enter a turn, begin trimming down remember that the more you trim down, the more you can accelerate through a turn. When you’re in the sharpest part of the turn, you should have the maximum amount of down trim, based on the turn speed and radius. As the boat slows, add some more throttle. As you begin straightening the wheel to come out of the turn, begin to trim up.

Your bow spray and stern wake can help you trim

If you’re steering your boat from a bridge, you have the opportunity to observe other characteristics related to spray and wake that can help you find your boat’s ideal trim. If you see more spray toward the stern of the boat and a larger wake, the boat’s trim can be better, unless, of course, you’ve got a boat full of water skiers and wakeboarders. When your boat is reaching its proper trim, you’ll notice the bow spray is farther forward, the wake is smaller and the rooster tail is also smaller and farther behind your boat.

Do not over-trim

Make sure you do not over-trim, especially at high speeds. Extreme changes to the angle of the bow on the move, combined with sea conditions, can cause the boat to veer off. If you have trim tabs, remember that even though the trim tabs are adjustable, you should not move one trim tab significantly further down than the other one, as it may cause the boat to lean suddenly to one side. It could capsize your boat.

Start with trim down

When you’re taking off from displacement speeds, most boats work best with the engine and bow trimmed down since this helps the boat rise quickly onto the plane. However, once your boat is in its plane position, it’s important to adjust the trim based on the sea conditions.

Keep trim adjustments small

To find that good spot for your boat’s trim, it’s important to make sure you adjust your trim tabs using short, half-second bursts followed by a pause to let the boat react before moving on to make another adjustment. How long it takes each boat to respond is different, as the size of your trim tabs and your boat’s speed affect the timing.

Be aware of trim’s effect on your wake

Trim settings will change the size of your wake. You want to trim down to minimize your wake in a slow or no-wake zone. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a better wake for waterskiing or wakeboarding, trim up while adding speed, and you might see a rooster tail.

Occasionally check your trim tabs 

As with any part of a boat, trim tabs can have loose or corroded wires over time. Since they can have such an impact on the trim of your Quintrex boat, it’s important to inspect them visually to ensure they don’t need repair. Malfunctions or failures of trim tabs can be dangerous.