Learning how to properly trim your boat will give it more MPH and MPG

Whether your Bayliner boat has a Mercury outboard or a MerCruiser sterndrive, the propeller’s angle of attack in the water can be changed by the driver — called trimming — to meet different conditions. Learning how to properly trim your boat is one of the first skills a new boater should learn.

Prepare for launch

When getting ready to get on plane, the driver should put their hand on top of the throttle lever and place the thumb on the rocker switch button, which is called the trim switch. This button allows the driver to change the angle of the outboard or lower unit of a sterndrive. For launch, press the bottom of the switch to “trim down,” also known as “trim in” until it’s at its stop. This will help push down the front of the boat (also called the bow) when power is applied and helps it to get on plane faster. For launch, drivers should quickly advance the throttle all the way and then back off to the desired speed after the boat is on plane.

Active trim

Both MerCruiser sterndrives and Mercury outboards (40hp and above) have an available option called Active Trim, that automatically trims the boat. When activated, during acceleration, the trim goes up and when decelerating or making a turn, the trim goes down. The driver can override Active Trim at any time by pressing the trim button on the throttle and different trim profiles can be selected for different conditions or driver preferences.

Knowing how to trim your boat will not only unlock its best performance but will also save money at the pump.