Express 265 handling

[Gizmolvr1974]

have a 2000 express 265 with twin 250 yamaha 4 strokes. Boat is hard to control when going slow, and when at speed will just lean to one side out of now where. Ive read dont use the trim tabs and use the tilt trim of the motors. any tips from 265 owners? I ve heard there is a learning curve to learning how to handle this boat. Thanks!

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

Boat is hard to control when going slow

This is most likely bow steering as low bow act as a rudder and boat start to snake around, the sudden list comes probably from the same problem

How is your boat riding at slow speed, bow pointed down, flat running or bow high?

Do some tests:

1. retract trim tabs and start to trim outboards up to raise the bow to see if "snaking" and listing goes away. Your vision ahead may be restricted!
2. if above does not help, then bring outboards to parallel to surface position and lower gradually trim tabs (even if in theory counterproductive)

It is my experience that trim tabs should only be used if outboard trim does not bring the desired effect, however different hulls can react differently.
The best forward thrust is when propellers and AV plate as parallel to water surface as no power is "wasted" to raise stern or lower bow and on certain hulls, propellers and weight distributions it can happen that outboards parallel and a bit of trim tabs do better. Thats why tests are necessary to verify that.

I use rarely trim tabs as outboard trim gives me the best fuel efficiency but i use them
a) between approx 12-20 knots when bow is too high and restrict vision ahead
b) when it's very choppy and i need the bow down to slice/plow thru the waves instead of lamming on them.

Chris

 

[seasick]

This is probably obvious but make sure you are triming the motors the same angle. Don't rely on the trim gauges, they may be off. Also verify that other than rotating direction, both props are the same and there is no damage to eother one.
The aim of these checks is to identify if the leaning issue is a result of different thrust on one motor. Check the anode tabs also. Both with no fin is OK, both with fins is OK as ling as the CCW side has a left hand anode and both anodes are set straight.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Been said before but…. Raise your tabs and pull the fuse

If motors are down too far while on plane you will fall over.
ALWAYS Start fully down . Raise the motors while getting on plane


You single button for motor trim may not be raising both the same

Adjust motors toe in about 1/2”. ( shorten the tie bar by 1/2.”). Play around with it but no more than 3/4”

That will fix the problem of not going straight at idle speed

Even out your crew weight to both sides. Tell them to stay htere while you're running.
The 2000 has a 22 degree deadrise. If you are on plane and they move to one side you WILL list to that side.

If you use tabs and you fix it with tabs, when they move back you will get yanked over hard. and you will say WTF! Pull the fuse....don't look back...

Tabs are just dragging a foot in the water. Tabs are for heavy boats with inboards to get on plane. You don' tneed them. Don't use them.