Boat Isn't Level at Dock UPDATED w/ PICS: SEE POSTS #42 & 43 (analysis see #36)

[muffley]

OK, looking for some (much-needed) guidance as to the severity of my problem and possible causes/fixes.

Background
Recently bought a 2003 Larson 180...had the boat inspected by a marine surveyor while it was on trailer and he found no issues with the boat (notably, he performed a moisture reading test and found no issues). I took the boat for a test drive (without a marine surveyor) and boat performed well (near as I could tell as I am not an accomplished boater).

Issue
So last weekend I picked the boat up and put it in the water and noticed that it does not sit level in the water..it lists slightly to starboard (approximately 1/4" out of level per foot). I assumed this was caused by too much gear on the starboard side, but after removing everything I could from the boat, it still lists to starboard. Now, the only items on the starboard side that aren't on the port side are the battery and the steering wheel/pilot station.

I have a call in to the previous owner, but regardless of what he says am interested in hearing from folks here.

Question
Is it common for a boat to list this much (1/4" per foot)? is it problematic? what's the cause/fix?

Any help is appreciated. Thx in advance.

P.S. The engine is a manufacturer-installed 4.3 Volvo Penta and I made sure that the outboard is NOT leaning to starboard (if anything it is leaning to port).

 

[convergent]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Why not put something on the opposite side from the battery that is about the weight of the battery and see if it levels it out?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

So let's say you've got an 8' 6" beam, are you saying you have about a 2 1/4" list to starboard? That's a TON!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Borrow a battery and put it on the port side, equal to where the other battery is. See if that removes some of your list. The helm station accessories will account for some, but I don't know how much.

Nothing else in there? Water in the bilge? Anchor off to the right side? I have read on some posts that sometimes some boats just list a little if the flotation foam is applied evenly...but that's only what I've read. Don't know how true it is...

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

How about the Fuel tank and load?

 

[muffley]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Why not put something on the opposite side from the battery that is about the weight of the battery and see if it levels it out?

Yeah, haven't tried that yet...obviously there are ways to level it, but wanted to see if this was perhaps indicative of a bigger problem.

Thx.

 

[muffley]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

So let's say you've got an 8' 6" beam, are you saying you have about a 2 1/4" list to starboard? That's a TON!

Yeah, that's the math...seems like a TON to me too!

Thx.

 

[muffley]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Borrow a battery and put it on the port side, equal to where the other battery is. See if that removes some of your list. The helm station accessories will account for some, but I don't know how much.

Nothing else in there? Water in the bilge? Anchor off to the right side? I have read on some posts that sometimes some boats just list a little if the flotation foam is applied evenly...but that's only what I've read. Don't know how true it is...

Nothing, bilge is fairly clean (less than a quarter inch in there...bilge won't pump any more out unless I ADD water)...anchor was on port side and then removed when I moved all the gear to see if it was a load issue. Fuel tank is about half full but problem appeared to be there when it was full.

Thx.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Pics of it sitting in the water leaning like a gangsta?

 

[mxzeatr]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

I too question where the fuel tank is. But typically they are centered.

Is your battery and your power trim/tilt pump etc all on the same side?

 

[muffley]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Pics of it sitting in the water leaning like a gangsta?

lol, can't get pics now as I not near the boat...but will be this weekend and will get/post then

 

[muffley]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

I too question where the fuel tank is. But typically they are centered.

Is your battery and your power trim/tilt pump etc all on the same side?

not sure where the power trim/tilt and pump are...definitely only saw the battery on the starboard side when I looked....the others are either on the port side or in the center nearer the engine

when I am at the boat this weekend I'm gonna take some more accurate measurements to determine the extent of the list and how much portside weight is required to offset it...

regardless it sounds like this is NOT commonplace (as expected it wasn't)...as a noobie was hoping that there was something simply I missed (like a staitionary trim switch that changes the lie of the boat slightly )

 

[Philster]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Make sure the line is slack when moored and reinspect how she sits. Tie up from both sides and check.

Might be a couple hundred pounds of water sitting down in the hull, trapped by stringers/boxes or sucked up by the foam.

Look at the waterline as far back towards the stern. How far off are each of the two waterlines on the port and starboard side?

My helm and battery are on the starboard side, and so is the plexiglass cabin door (always open) and the battery switch and 90% of the wiring. Even the bilge hose and fitting are on the starboard side. A number of boats seem to have a bunch of junk on the starboard side. Probably cheaper to route everything on one side and keep wiring costs down.

Wire (gets heavier than you think)
Battery and battery wire
bilge hose/fitting (plus misc water)
Helm (electronics, steering wheel and mechanism, cables, GPS, Fishfinder gauges, throttle)
Battery switch
Door (when open)

It can add up!

However, if she is really bad, you do have to consider water down in the hull and/or foam.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

A while ago I removed the tri-fold door on the cuddy cabin. It was on the port side. After that, the boat had a list to starboard. Just about an inch, no more. But I knew why, so I let it go. Plan to move the battery from starboard to port to even it out. That darn cuddy door was made of 3/4" ply with a plastic laminate facing and was heavy.

I would start with a weight set and start adding weigh to the port side until it sits level. That should give you an idea how much its out of balance.

BTW, does just your own body weight level the boat out?

 

[sethjon]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Do you really think the wt.of a battery would have any effect at all?

 

[superbenk]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Do you really think the wt.of a battery would have any effect at all?

It's a block of lead, why wouldn't it?

 

[seabob4]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

It's a block of lead, why wouldn't it?

A good group 24 starting batt is right about 50 lbs. Imagine your 250 lb. BIL in the starboard corner...

 

[superbenk]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

A good group 24 starting batt is right about 50 lbs. Imagine your 250 lb. BIL in the starboard corner...

Well, sure, a 50 lb. batt doesn't have the same effect as your 250 lb. BIL, but it's all weight. That 50 lb. batt can offset the 50 lbs. of dash gear, cabling & wires on the starboard side if it's on the port side.

As someone else said, it all adds up.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Do you really think the wt.of a battery would have any effect at all?

when i added the 2nd battery to the starboard side, my boat developed a small list. i will eventually move it to the port side, but thats where i store the bbq grill right now. so until i figure something out, it will list.

So yes, a battery can definitely make it list with the right circumstances.

 

[Gromulin]

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

Re: Boat Isn't Level at Dock

I like the Gangsta' theory. You are probably supposed to lean toward the center while driving. Make sure you slide down as far as you can in the seat, and wear your oversize ball cap (with price tags attached) sideways.

I'm sure that'll fix it.