Cobalt Digital Inc 296 BOWRIDER, Owner'S Manual

Page: 67 / 132

Cobalt_OM_preprint_shell.fm Page 1 Wednesday, March 1, 2006 5:39 AM
296 Owner’s Manual 3
-
13
O
PERATING
I
NFORMATION
Trim
Boat trim while on plane is influenced by three
factors:
1. Load distribution
2. Drive unit trim
3. Trim tab position, if equipped
Determining best boat trim while underway takes
time. It is best to experiment with different drive and
tab trim combinations while taking note of the
condition.
Load Distribution
The performance of your Cobalt boat depends on
load weight and distribution.
Distribute weight evenly, from bow to stern, and
also from port to starboard.
Drive Unit Trim
Trim angle is the angular relationship between the
drive unit and the transom of the boat. Boat trim
while underway greatly affects the performance and
efficiency of your boat. For best results, the boat
should be on plane and trimmed to reduce the
amount of the boat’s hull in the water (known as
wetted surface). With less boat in the water, both
speed and fuel economy increase.
Continuous trim adjustment is required when
operating your boat to maintain maximum
performance and efficiency.
If the drive unit is trimmed in too far (closer to the
boat bottom), speed drops, fuel economy
decreases and the boat may not handle correctly.
However, it does provide better acceleration from a
standstill; and because it forces the bow down,
visibility is improved. If the drive unit is trimmed out
too far (away from the boat bottom), steering torque
may increase, the boat may be difficult to get on
plane and it may bounce.
To use power trim effectively, start with the drive
unit trimmed in. As the boat planes, increase the
angle out. Experience is the best teacher for
understanding proper drive trim.