See full version: How to Adjust a Trim Tab on an Outboard Motor
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In boating, trim is the general term for the angle of the boat as it sits in the water when you accelerate. If the front of the boat, called the bow, is too high, you won’t be able to control the boat in the water. If the bow is too low, your gas mileage suffers and you won’t be able to accelerate very well. This is where trim tabs come in. Trim tabs are optional fins that rest on the back of boats with outboard motors to adjust the angle of the bow while you accelerate. Keep in mind, if you do not have power trim tabs, you can still manipulate the angle of the bow the same way by adjusting the motor and stabilizing trim.
If your motor is tipped back, it will tend to force the bow down into the water. If it is tipped forward, it will force the transom down in the water and tend to lift the bow into the air. You want a happy medium that makes the boat ride close to level with the bow only slightly lifted. here
When mounting an outboard motor or trolling motor on your canoe (or other boat), consider carefully how you set the trim angle.
A safety rope or chain should also be used to attach the motor to the boat in case it comes loose from the motor mount or transom.
Incorrect trim angle may slow you down, waste gas or electric energy, and render your boat less stable and more vulnerable to capsizing or swamping. [links]