[Chris Burkard]

Trim can absolutely affect speed and comfort.

Inboard planeing hull designs usually run best between 5 and 7 degrees. The easiest way to figure the sweet spot for your vessel (which will change with load, wind and wave conditions) is to run the vessel up to a comfortable speed, then trim for comfort. Then back off the tabs and see if your speed increases or decreases. If it increases, back off a bit more until it begins to decrease and then add a touch of tab. If it decreases, keep adding tab in small increments until your speed decreases and then back off just a bit and you are now at the most efficent trim for your current load, speed and sea conditions. Every time you change directions or if the wind and sea conditions change, you will have to retrim the vessel.