Four winns 318 VISTA, Owner'S Manual

Page: 172 / 236

Owner’s Manual Page Pre-Launch and Underway - Section S
Once.you.have.spent.enough.time.practicing.maneu-
vers.and.have.a.feel.for.how.the.boat.handles,.you.will.
be.ready.to.run.in.open.waters..
S - 6 ACCELERATION
Before accelerating to bring you boat on plane,
be sure that the area in front of your boat is
clear. The bow will rise out of the water
momentarily before you plane and may
temporarily obstruct your vision.
If.you.have.never.had.your.boat.on.plane.before,.
choose a calm day for your first on plane experience.
Never.boat.beyond.your.ability.and.experience..
Before bringing your boat “on plane”, check the entire
area.to.make.sure.you.have.a.clear,.safe.path..As.you.
throttle.up.to.accelerate,.your.boat.will.increase.its.
angle.of.trim,.causing.the.bow.to.ride.high..From.a.
maximum.angle,.the.boat.will.level.out.to.its.planing.
attitude.with.continued.acceleration..This.maximum.
angle is known as the “hump”. Because visibility,
handling,.and.performance.are.reduced,.it.is.advisable.
to get “over the hump” as soon as possible. A few
seconds.at.full.throttle.should.get.the.boat.over.the.
hump.and.into.its.planing.attitude..
After.getting.over.the.hump,.accelerate.until.reaching.a.
comfortable.plane,.then.throttle.down.to.cruising.speed..
This also will provide for better fuel efficiency.
S - 7 TRIMMING YOUR BOAT
A. Trim Tabs
Trim.tabs.are.used.to.add.lift.to.the.boat’s.stern,.
thereby.changing.the.boat’s.attitude.(see.Figure.S-1)..
This.lift.can.help.the.boat.get.on.plane.faster.and.
remain.on.plane.at.slower.speeds.than.if.no.tabs.were.
used..Used.independently,.tabs.can.also.correct.listing.
conditions.caused.by.crosswinds,.unbalanced.loading.
and.quartering.seas..Trimming.your.boat.properly.
involves.two.separate.procedures,.trimming.or.tilting.
the.lower.unit.(stern.drives).and.setting.the.trim.tabs..
When.you.are.sitting.dead.in.the.water,.your.drive.
should.be.down.and.the.trim.tab.switches.are.in.the.
BOW.UP.position..Accelerate.until.you.get.onto.plane..
At.this.point.your.boat.will.be.plowing.through.the.water.
with.the.bow.down.too.far..Trim.the.lower.unit.up.
slightly.until.the.bow.comes.up..If.you.trim.the.lower.
unit.out.too.far,.your.boat.will.porpoise.or.the.propel-
ler.will.cavitate,.and.the.bow.will.slam.up.and.down.
on.the.water..Your.boat.is.trimmed.correctly.when.it.
is.just.short.of.porpoising.or.propeller.cavitation,.
under.ideal.running.conditions..
Trim. your. boat. to. compensate. for. seas,. winds,..
or.uneven.loads..
Head.Seas Trim.drives.in.more.than.
usual..Use.tabs.to.keep.
bow.down.and.go.at.a.
slower.speed.
Following.Seas To.prevent.taking.seawater
The.bow,.trim.drives.out.and.
keep.tabs.up.to.keep.bow.
down
Listing.Due.to.
Quartering.Seas,.
Beam.Wind,.or.
Uneven.Load
Use.tabs.independently.to.
adjust.for.list..If.listing.to.star-
board,.press.port.bow.down.
switch..If.listing.to.port,.press.
starboard.bow.down.switch.
Remember.that.most.boats.react.very.slowly.to.trim.
tabs..Often.boat.owners.do.not.give.trim.tabs.time.to.
work..Press.the.trim.tab.switches.for.only.one.second.
at.a.time.and.then.allow.some.time.for.the.boat.to.
react..If.the.boat.is.still.listing.after.a.minute.or.two,.
press.the.trim.tab.switch.again.for.a.one.second.
interval..The.labels.on.the.trim.tab.switches.indicate.
what.you.want.your.boat.to.do,.not.what.you.want.the.
tabs.to.do..
It.is.a.good.idea.to.take.your.boat.out.onto.open.
water.shortly.after.you.get.it.and.experiment.with.the.
trim.tabs..After.you.get.your.boat.onto.plane,.set.the.
tabs.in.various.positions.and.note.how.your.boat.
reacts..This.will.give.you.a.feel.for.how.the.trim.tabs.
work..
It.is.possible.to.extend.the.cylinder.life.expectancy.on.
your.trim.tabs..To.do.this,.keep.the.cylinders.retract-
ed.while.at.dockside..Press.both.trim.tab.controls.
down.until.tabs.reach.their.full.up.position..