How to Trim a Small Outboard Motor: One Pin, Big Difference
Your small outboard probably has no trim button. It has a metal pin and a row of holes. Get that pin in the right hole and your boat rides drier, faster and easier to steer.
To trim a small outboard motor, move the trim pin (tilt pin) in the transom bracket so the motor’s shaft sits roughly vertical while running: closer to the transom lowers the bow, farther out raises it.
Pete’s wet ride and the one-hole fix
Every trip, Pete’s 14-foot jon boat threw spray right over the bow and soaked whoever sat up front. His son started calling it “the car wash.” Pete assumed the boat was just like that.
A guide at the launch watched him idle out and pointed at the transom bracket. Pete’s trim pin was in the hole closest to the boat. With two people and a cooler aboard, the motor was pushing the bow down into every wave.
They moved the pin out one hole. Next run, the bow lifted slightly, the spray dropped away to the sides, and the boat gained a couple of miles per hour at the same throttle. Two minutes, no tools, no money.
Trim is the cheapest performance upgrade in boating. Most owners set it once and never touch it again. The best ones check it every time the load changes.
How do I know if my outboard trim is wrong?
Your boat tells you. Watch the bow and feel the tiller.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Pin move |
|---|---|---|
| Bow plows low, spray over the front | Trimmed in too far | Move pin one hole away from the transom |
| Bow bounces up and down (porpoising) | Trimmed out too far | Move pin one hole toward the transom |
| Prop loses grip, engine revs jump | Trimmed out too far or motor mounted too high | Move pin in; check mounting height |
| Tiller pulls hard to one side | Prop torque | Adjust the trim tab behind the prop per manual |
| Boat feels balanced, runs level | Trim correct | Leave it alone |
How do you trim a small outboard motor step by step?
- Load the boat as you normally run it. Same people, same gear. Trim depends on weight and where it sits.
- Stop the engine and tilt the motor up. This takes the load off the trim pin so it slides out easily.
- Pull the pin and move it one hole. Toward the transom to bring the bow down, away to raise it.
- Lower the motor and lock it. Make sure the pin is fully seated and its clip is in place.
- Test run at cruising speed. Look at the bow, check your speed and feel the tiller.
- Repeat until the boat runs level. On most small boats the shaft ends up close to vertical when underway.
- Check the anti-ventilation plate sits roughly level with the hull bottom. Trim cannot fix a motor mounted too high or low.
- Some larger outboards offer power trim and tilt; the goal is the same, but you use a button.
Small outboards that trim easily, in stock now
Tiller motors with simple multi-position trim pins. Prices in USD.
How to trim a small outboard motor: FAQ
What is the trim pin on an outboard?
It is a removable metal pin or rod that passes through a row of holes in the transom bracket. Its position sets the running angle of the motor.
Should the outboard be straight up and down?
As a starting point, yes. When the boat is running at speed, the shaft should be close to vertical, then fine-tune one hole at a time for your load.
Does trim affect fuel economy?
Yes. A boat that runs level has less drag, so it usually goes faster and burns less fuel at the same throttle than one plowing or porpoising.
Why does my tiller pull to one side?
Propeller torque pushes the motor to one side. Many outboards have an adjustable trim tab or anode behind the prop to balance it. Adjust it in small steps as the manual describes.
Level bow, dry crew, better mileage.
If your motor is too small to run level, we can help you find one that fits your plate and your load.