Trim tabs help control the attitude of the boat: Deflect the trim tabs down to push the stern of the boat up and the bow down. Many boats are equipped with hydraulic trim tabs, as pictured above. On the smaller boats, the power tilt and trim or … [Read more...]
Powerboating
Powerboaters always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim for Medium Size Outboards
Power Tilt and Trim for Outboard Engines Above 30hp A passenger leaping up and down in the bow can affect the boat's trim and performance. Outboard engines above about 30 hp are generally equipped with power tilt and trim. There are usually two … [Read more...]
Boating and Thunderstorms Don’t Mix
When you're out in a boat, a nice day can turn ugly and wretched awfully fast Boating Can Be Miserable When You Get Caught in a Thunderstorm One fine summer morning when I was a teen, I took off in our 15 Whaler with my girlfriend and my … [Read more...]
How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
In the images below, the red arrow on the boat is a speed vector, indicating the speed and direction of movement of the boat 1. Approach the dock at an angle, then shift into neutral 2. Turn the engine hard over toward the dock, then … [Read more...]
Outboard Engine Flushing Bucket
This flushing bucket makes it easy to flush the outboard thoroughly, without needing any special tools. Flushing an outboard engine with fresh water after use in salt water will greatly extend the life of the engine and reduce maintenance costs … [Read more...]
Choking the New Engine During Break-In — Or, How To Solve Problems By Reading the Owner’s Manual
My friend Kley had a 21 Hydra Sports back in the late 70s, and it had a 175 hp Mariner outboard on it. Though the Hydra Sports hull was made with Kevlar, it was still a fairly heavy boat for its size, and it had a very deep deadrise angle that … [Read more...]
Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
My first 15' Boston Whaler, back when I was a teenager, had only manual tilt, and I longed for a hydraulic tilt and trim engine. My current 15' Boston Whaler has a Merc 70 with hydraulic tilt and trim (pictured above), which makes it far easier to … [Read more...]
New Power Tilt and Trim for a Boston Whaler
The hydraulic tilt and trim on my Boston Whaler's Merc 70 Q: How many sailors does it take to screw in a lightbulb?A: It's cheaper to sit in the dark. When we first bought our 1989 Boston Whaler 15, there was a slow leak in the … [Read more...]
