Lopsided Ride

[benji12]

I have a tri hull with a 200 hp Yamaha on the back, I am getting a lopsided ride at speed, even with spare fuel etc as a counterwegiht. <br /><br />The ride is to the right but I have a left handed engine ??<br /><br />Could it be aerodynamics of the hull being slightly uneven so that once on the plane it rides off centre ?<br /><br />ANyone who have experienced this before could you tell me how you solved it. I have checked the plaement of the motor symetry of the boat and other things to no avail I do not want trim tabs but I might have to go that way ??

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Does your motor have a doel fin/whales tail/hydrofoil?<br /><br />And welcome to iboats!!!

 

[benji12]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Thanks for the reply, it does have a permatrim Hydrofoil, which has reduced to almost nothing porposing. But still starts to lean at speed, It is worse when the motor is trimed to push the bow up ?? Once i forgot to trim it down and it felt like we where going to roll if we weren't care full.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Lopsided Ride

At rest, in calm water, is the boat level? Did the listing occur as badly before the permatrim was fitted?<br /><br />I had terrible holeshot, fitted a permatrim, holeshot improved greatly but the boat started to list. The faster I went the more it would lean over.<br /><br />Removing the trim eliminated the list.<br /><br />I now have terrible holeshot

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

benji, it really does sound like you have a setup problem. You say its a left hand engine, are you saying it a counter rotation engine, in other words runs a left hand rotation prop? I doubt it’s an aero problem but stranger things have happened. Does the steering pull right? Exactly what type of hull is it?

 

[benji12]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Have checked with a spirit level in calm water, perfectly level. I know what you mean about the permatrim it might be lifting it too far ??<br /><br />The steering is fine. I am running a left hand prop and the engine is left hand.<br /><br />The hull is a hydrofield tri hull, they are now making the same type of hulls under a different name, they are based in NSW Australia.<br /><br />The hull is great in a heavey swell when drifting or trolling, but it does my head in when we are at speed (love the boat really).

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Hay dunna' I fitted Smart tabs to the Cobra (volvo sterndrive boat), removed the hydrofoil and ....... WOW, it's the boat I have always wanted, after 23 years its finally great out of the hole, handles like my outboard (Stejcraft pro-skier) and it's 100% better in the chop. Best thing I have ever done to any boat I have ever owned period! I'm fitting them to the Stejcraft this winter but that’s a bigger job as I need to mount the rams 'through' the pod extensions, they are that good I'm gunna be doing major surgery to fit them but I know it will be worth it.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Benji, how big is this boat? Only ones I know of are like ‘big’ and I have not seen one with an outboard, just wanna be sure I have the right boat in my head.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Lopsided Ride

The hydrofield is a nice boat.<br /><br />So it lists to the right but the steering doesn't pull to the right??<br /><br />Dump the foil - IMO.<br /><br />Paulie, I thought about smarttabs - but decided to sell the boat instead

 

[benji12]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Hate to say this but it was listing at speed before the foil was put on..

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Check the bottom of the boat with a straight edge for a hook, running from front to rear of the boat.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

So, you’re saying the boat rides flat and true at slow speed, so that kind of eliminates a weight distribution problem. The engine is setup correctly and is in the middle of the transom, so that’s out as a cause. When it’s planning it doesn’t pull to the right, or either side, so an adverse torque reaction is not causing it. Really just leaves the hull. Hate to say it but you may have a soft section that’s flexing at planning speed and causing drag which may be holding that side down. Or a hollow or ‘hook’ in the hull is also a possibility. Check the trailer for proper support under the hull, if it has a hook in the hull it may be the trailer causing it. Is the transom a conventional type or do the tri-hulls run separate all the way to the back of the boat?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Not to sound crude, but is your console on the starboard side of the boat? How much do you weigh? And have you ever had anyone of similar weight riding opposite of you on the boat? I had a cathedral hull bowrider 16', I weigh 196lbs. On the boat alone at the helm, it listed to the starboard side. With a buddy in the other seat, it leveled out. I never put Smart Tabs on that boat, but I've put them on my current boat which is a Center Console. Best thing I've ever done. The boat doesn't list much even with passengers moving about while underway, my holeshot is improved, porpoising is gone, and I don't "bang" through the chop. I would remove the hydrofoil, and install a set of Smart Tabs,I think it would make a huge difference in the handling of your boat.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Smart tabs will help most definitely, I'd still like to be sure your hull is ok before you go covering up what may be a serious safely issue. Describe the transom shape, do the hulls remain separate all the way to the transom?

 

[benji12]

Re: Lopsided Ride

I have been thinking of smart tabs, I am average weight for a 6 foot guy, I normally run the boat with a passenger. It does not list at rest anyway..<br /><br />The hulls are seperate all the way to the transom, shape might be a problem for the smart tabs, the outer hulls are quite a sharp shape the inner is more gentle, like a U sandwiched between 2 V's..<br /><br />I would have answered earlier, but my internet access was busted..

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Benji12;<br /><br />Which way does the pro rotate in forward? Clockwise or counter-clockwise?<br /><br />A list to starboard as the boat increases in speed might indicate that the motor rotates counter-clockwise. If not then as the boat rises up onto plane more at higher speeds the hull is influencing the attitude. Could be weight balance but I would also look at the hull. <br /><br />I assume that you are trimming up as you increase speed???

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Ok, three separate hulls may make it hard or impossible to fit the smart tabs depending on how wide the outside hulls are. If you want to go that route than I suggest you take some pics of the transom with some measurements and email them direct to Nauticus, they will let you know if they can work with your hull. I’m still concerned that there is something else going on with your boat. Have a good look at those hulls and check for repairs or damage or a ‘hook’ in either outside hulls. Let us know what you find, and also what Nauticus has to say re the shape of your transom.

 

[benji12]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Will post a pick of the hull, loonks like some of the galcoat will need re doing since it has some ridges in it (very slight but noticeable). It is a left hand rotation prop but it leans the other way, the other option if too use the anode on the motor then the steering would pull but I might be able to live with it. Either way sounds expencive may have to save up to get the gell coat looked at and refinished. Could not detect a hook in the hull, thanks for you help I will be posting apick tomorrow, it may be possbiel to put tabs on in the up side down U shape between the hulls, here is the picture, what do you chaps think ???<br /><br />Boat Back

 

[BassMan283]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Looking at the picture I see two "things" attached to the hull on either side of the motor. Transducer and speed sensor, maybe? Due to hull design, they are very close to the motor, especially the one on the left. This could be interfering with water flow through the prop and could have the result of causing one side to ride high. Can't remember if the interference makes that side ride high or low and don't know if rotation direction would make a difference.<br /><br />About 25 years ago, I was out fishing with some friends and one of the guys had a new Lund, 18 ft I think, with a 90 hp Johnson. When he was at speed, the right side (console side) rode way up in the air. He even had his wife ride on his side for awhile and it lifted them both up. Came to find out the transducer was directly ahead of the right side of the prop and causing some cavitation there. The other side was digging in more and pulling that side of the boat down.<br /><br />You might try removing one or both of those temporarily and seeing if it straightens out. The problem I see with that hull is where else you gonna put 'em. Anyway, it should be quicker to check that out than to put tabs on. Good luck.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Lopsided Ride

Ok. looks like the tabs are not an option. That hull looks like it would have to be set up exactly right. The outside hulls look like they don’t actually have a planning plank so they won’t actually hold one side up if its not loaded right, at rest or slow speed you would have a lot of the outside hulls in the water and providing buoyancy but as the speed increases they will come up and ride quite high, as they are very sharp at the bottom I can’t see them providing any side support for the main hull. I’m betting you have a weight distribution issue but yeah I would also remove the sensors at the back, maybe do that first see what happens.