[indykoch]

You're burning a lot more gas and going a lot slower than you need to. As stated before, the trim tabs should only be used to correct a list (usually due to weight), get the bow down in the rough stuff, and to get on plane faster. They should not be deployed under normal circumstances, which is what sounds like is happening. This is actually causing a list, instead of correcting one.

I don't have a cruiser, but my experience with boats is to level the tabs (parallel with the hull) and trim up a ways to get most of the hull out of the water (unless it starts porpusing, then trim down a tap).

[Z280Bob]

Ryan
I tried your tabs up approach and it didn't work that well. I completely understand the theory but so far tabs down works better for me. My first boat which was a 24 footer that I had for a very brief time had no trim tabs and would plane fine with just an adjustment to to power trim when up to speed. However, with my cruiser, I have to run at much higher speed to bring the bow down without the tabs and run at a higher rpm than with them up. If I get more of chance to experiment without my wife in the boat (she wants to go slower I try again to plane with the tabs up.