Also ... my opinion, if there's (mercruiser) u-joint noise, fix it before it
fails on you. How to check ... put the muffs on the drive and run it with
trim and steering set so the universals are aligned (so that universals are
not required to work). Steer to left, steer to right, tilt up, tilt down ...
if you get noise, replace the universals.

..
"Bowgus" wrote in message
ers.com...
With my new to me old '83 Mercruiser Alpha (don't know about those other
makes), as a guide when running shallow, I trim until I can hear the prop
wash, then lower a touch ... and operate with the engine at or near idle.
My
opinion ... if the universal operates from side to side, it will survive
an
equal up angle ... universal means universal. My opinion, if the bellows
survives the full trailering position, it will survive the lesser shallow
run position. For what it's worth, I've been out at least 60 times in the
2
years since buying the boat, and I would say I run shallow at least 5-6
times each outing ... weeds, shallows, running up to the beach. It never
occurred to me not to.

"JD" wrote in message
...
My lauch site is very shallow. It would be helpful if I ran the last 20
ft
or so at idle but with the I/O tilted "up" at a position that it is
slightly
out of the side constraint cradle. Is that safe to do?

-JD