HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR MOTORS VS TRIMMING WITH TABS

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This is for nothing else matters and anyone with a 306 Bimini . I used to have a 25 foot Worldcat and the ride was a lot softer. I have had this boat for 3 years and find tucking the motors down in 2-4 seas seems to be the right move and a little tab for leveling. That is at around 27 -28 miles an hour. Please school me to help run this boat more comfortably......... :sorry Not used to looking back and seeing motors tucked down that much. I want to like this Boat, more !!!
 
Generally, I only use my tabs to correct for weight shifts. They both stay up until someone decides to switch sides to sit or stand.

When taking off, the motors should be all the way in. Once you're on plane, bring them out some to get the bow out of the water. Too far, and the boat will porpoise (bow bouncing up and down), which is dangerous. If the bow is down too far, it will bow steer. Small waves will make it steer on its own, one way or the other. Not much, but enough to make you fight the wheel. Bringing the bow up also increases fuel mileage.

If the water is rough, you'll want to bring the bow down some, so the deep-v can slice through the waves. This makes a much more smooth ride.

In following seas, you'll want to bring the bow up, and the tabs up and slow down a little. If not, it can bow steer. Sometimes violently. I've read where people have done a complete 90 degree turn. That's worst case scenario.
 
On the Bimini that i had and the Canyon 336 i have now i NEVER used the tabs and i mean never, there is no need for them. The 330 i had sometimes i had to adjust for leveling but that was couple of times. In my opinion the 306 and the 336 does not really need them.
 
Thanks, I agree with not using the Tabs , don't normally use them at all. I have had several v hulls, and this one has come after owning a cat boat for ten years. Cat's don't have trim tabs , the motors are used for that. I do little adjustments the same way on my 306. I found yesterday that tucking them down at around 4200, kept her in the water and rode better..That is why I asked for opinions. Obviously I would want as little neg trim the ocean let's me get away with, it seemed this boat wanted more than I have been used to. Thanks again for the answers. :lol:
 
I've had a problem with the port motor burning more fuel than the stb and could never figure out why. Someone suggested trimming the port motor a little more or less to see if that changes things and sure enough it did. Trimmed the port motor up just a tad more than the stb and seemed to solve the problem. Point is...both motors don't have to be trimmed exactly the same.
 
I use tabs pretty aggressively when going into a head sea. The conditions will dictate when they are needed when I start taking some hard landings. In some situations they can greatly reduce pounding and allow a few extra knots of speed. Once they seas come to beam they are less effective and should NOT be down when the seas are off the stern quarters.

I trim the engines all the way down before the tabs. When tabs are not needed a usually have from 2-4 bars of trim.
 
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