www.iFourWinns.com

I had my vista 248 out this weekend, jumps out of the water nice, did about 42mph with 4 guys full tanks. my question is what do the trim tabs do? with no indicator how would you know if there up or down? where do you run the motor tilt? on my 21' my max speed was at about half way up on the gauge, on this 248 it seems like i cannot tilt it much at all before the prop starts to cavitate. Thanks - Ryan

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republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

Ryan,

Your tab switches are likely labeled as "bow up" and "bow down". With no gauge for the tab position, just start in the full bow-up position for both tabs. Hold the switches in the bow-up position for a few seconds to assure that the tabs are fully retracted.

Once you are on-plane and at the general speed that you wish to be running, slowly trim up on the drive, just a bit at a time (like one second or less, on the switch), while watching both the tach and the speed. As you trim up, both will increase ... to a point ... then the speed will start to go down. This may happen before you sense that the prop(s) is cavitating. You will find that you can not trim the drive up as much on this cruiser, as you had in the prior smaller boat. Trying to make the prop lift the heavier weight of the cruiser (raise the hull higher out of the water) will make it cavitate much sooner.

As for using the trim tabs, in regular conditions always keep them "bow-up" (retracted) except for leveling the boat port-to-starboard to account for weight placement. If the port side is high (everyone is sitting on the starboard side), push the port side "bow-down" switch for just a second ...then wait a few seconds for the change to take effect, before you add more.

Using the tabs to make the boat ride better or handle better in poor water conditions is their other use. Trim the tabs for bow-down if you are heading into the seas and you are crashing a bit, with the drive fully trimmed down, trim one side down to account for running beam-on (sideways) to the waves.... etc.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

Very nicely said M3 !

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I always use about three seconds of bow down on my 248 it helps cut wakes and waves better and doesn't bow steer at that setting. I plan to add on the auto tab control later, and won't have to worry about setting the tabs again.

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Brett DiMichele

good info, thanks all!

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republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

I just installed the bennett tab retractor, when you turn the ignition off, it automaticly retracts trim tabs back to 'home' postion.
This works very well for a boat that is trailered, I dont have to remind wife about tabs anymore when loading on trailer!

I have found that I do like having trim tabs on the boat, but I don't use them as much as I thought I would, last boat didn't have them and always thought I needed them.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Couldn't live without mine. And you shouldn't need a tab retractor if you are on the factory trailer they can't hit the bunks (at least on mine). I do LOVE my tabs!

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Brett DiMichele

I had trim tabs on my 23 foot Center Console fishing boat... I did not use them once. On the new Vista, they seem easier to use and the actually seem to do some good. It's all a matter of getting use to them and using them. Excellent description Gordon... Your spot on....

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2004 268 Vista "Satisfy My Sol"

I have a FW trailer and they don't hit it, but I like having them retract when the ignition shuts off.
When anchored in shallow water and swiming around boat I don't have to worry about if they are down at all with exposed sharp edges to cut anyone.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Powell,

For that reason I can whole heartedly agree. Aside from that, they clear the trailer fine so it's no worry there. But there are many trailers that DO experiance inteference issues between the planes and the bunks. We are fortunate FW designed the trailer for the boat.

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Brett DiMichele