Boat having an improved ability to get on plane and improved method of getting a boat on plane

A boat comprising:

• a hull;
• at least three trim devices connected to the hull, each of the at least three trim devices being movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, a first one of the trim devices being a port trim device, a second one of the trim devices being a starboard trim device, and a third one of the trim devices being an intermediate trim device provided between the port and the starboard trim devices, wherein each of the at least three trim devices is positioned and oriented in the deployed position to create an upward force on the hull when the boat moves through the water;
• a plurality of drive mechanisms, each drive mechanism configured to move a corresponding trim device between the deployed position and the non-deployed position;
• a speed sensing device configured to determine the speed of the boat;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• receive the speed of the boat from the speed sensing device;
• determine whether the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold;
• actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the port trim device to move the port trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds the first predetermined threshold and if the port trim device is in the deployed position;
• determine whether the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold;
• actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the starboard trim device to move the starboard trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds the second predetermined threshold and if the starboard trim device is in the deployed position;
• determine whether the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold;
• and
• actuate the drive mechanism corresponding to the intermediate trim device to move the intermediate trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds the third predetermined threshold and if the intermediate trim device is in the deployed position,
• wherein at least one of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds is different from at least one of the others of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds.

A method of operating a boat having at least three trim devices connected to a hull of the boat, each of the at least three trim devices being movable between a deployed position and a non-deployed position, a first one of the trim devices being a port trim device, a second one of the trim devices being a starboard trim device, and a third one of the trim devices being an intermediate trim device, the method comprising:

• determining the speed of the boat;
• moving the port trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds a first predetermined threshold and if the port trim device is in the deployed position;
• moving the starboard trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds a second predetermined threshold and if the starboard trim device is in the deployed position;
• and
• moving the intermediate trim device from the deployed position to the non-deployed position when it is determined that the speed of the boat exceeds a third predetermined threshold and if the intermediate trim device is in the deployed position,
• wherein at least one of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds is different from at least one of the others of the first, second, and third predetermined thresholds, and
• wherein each of the at least three trim devices is positioned and oriented in the deployed position to create an upward force on the hull when the boat moves through the water.