Mercury 15 EFI SeaPro Installation, Operation & Maintenance Manual page 55

FEATURES AND CONTROLS
Arrange passengers and load in the boat so the weight is distributed evenly.
a
b
c
a - Too much angle (stern down ‑ bow up)
b - Not enough angle (stern up ‑ bow down)
c - Angle adjusted properly (bow slightly up)
Consider the following lists carefully when adjusting the operating angle of your
outboard.
Adjusting the outboard close to the boat transom can:
• Lower the bow
• Result in quicker planing off, especially with a heavy load or a stern heavy
boat
• Generally improve the ride in choppy water
• Increase steering torque or pull to the right (with the normal right‑hand
rotation propeller)
• In excess, can lower the bow of some boats to a point where they begin to
plow with their bow in the water while on plane. This can result in an
unexpected turn in either direction (called bow steering or oversteering) if
any turn is attempted, or if a significant wave is encountered.
Adjusting the outboard away from the boat transom can:
• Lift the bow out of the water
• Generally increase top speed
• Increase clearance over submerged objects or a shallow bottom
• Increase steering torque or pull to the left at a normal installation height
(with the normal right‑hand rotation propeller)
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