Boat leans starboard

[BrianS.]

Not sure why, but my boat leans towards the starboard side even with no one inside. This makes it difficult to put on the trailer evenly. I was thinking of putting a couple of 50lb sand bags on the port side to even it out, but was wondering if there was something else I can do to make sure it get's on the trailer evenly?

Right now it's just 2 bunkers.

Its a Maxum 2300 SC (24').

 

[QC]

Re: Boat leans starboard

At anchor she lists to starboard? Which side is/are your battery (s) on? I believe you have a single fuel tank, right? In the floor.

Do NOT add the sand bags. Find the stuff that's doing it. She should list to starboard with you at the helm to counter balance prop torque. She should be flat at rest.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Yes, at anchor/dock she lists to starboard. Fuel tank is centered. Single battery aft on port side. If I have my wife in the boat when I put it on the trailer and have her stand port side, it's all good, so there is about 100 lb off center somwhere. If I am alone in the boat, then I actually have to stand in the center of the boat to keep it level.

I have checked everywhere I can visually to find anything that is weighing it down, but there is nothing visually.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Boat leans starboard

what kind of boat ? it's posable that you have water on the outer side of the starboard stringer that cant drain, is the floor in good shape ? can you see under the floor ? you may have to drill a hole to take a peek........

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Its a Maxum 2300 SC (24'). Floor is in great shape, I looked under all the access doors and storage areas that I could, and it's all dry.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Two others with this same type of boat seem to have the same issue. While trim tabs fix it while cruising, they don't help much while stationary.

So I'm really trying to find a good solution on how to trailer it so it's centered.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Boat leans starboard

has it always been this way or is this a new to you boat ?

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat leans starboard

my starboard muffler leaks into the starboard side of my stringer. that side is always heavier. wakeboarding boat, too, makes it challenging to get an even wake.

does your bilge pump run frequently?

have you owned the boat since new?

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

It's new to me, and it was like that since the first time I've tried it. The bilge area is completely dry.

 

[DJ]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Bilge dry, that's of no consequence. There may be water trapped on the outside of the stringers.

"Listing" is not unusual but annoying.

I'd look for trapped water.

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat leans starboard

got a water tank on that side?

is this a cuddy or bow rider?

you might be able to take it to some trucker scales and verify that one side is heavier but you'll still have to find what and where it is.

i can see my leak trickle into the bilge from the stringer. it's shot and is ugly to look at.

got any soft spots in your floor? do you keep it in garage or outside? covered?

if there's water trapped in there, it's not doing anything good for your floor. when i bought my boat, i could see that someone had gone under the floor not too long ago. foam had been oversprayed in a few areas but i was alot more clueless then and didn't think much of it. 5 or 6 years later i'm reading up on my floor re-build project for this winter. what's now obvious is that someone knew there was a problem with the starboard exhaust, 'fixed' it for at least the short-term, and got rid of the boat. i'm not saying someone was hiding something with your boat but what you can't see can cause problems.

a moisture meter might indicate if there's mositure in the foam.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Water tank is on that side, but it's empty
It's a Cuddy, nothing in the storage area in the Cabin.
No soft spots, stored outside, covered, no rain since I've had it (June) and quite a few days where it's been 105+.

My main question really is, are there any products to keep the boat level as it enters the trailer. I currently have bunkers and was wondering if there is anything I can add somewhere that will help level it out.

 

[salty87]

Re: Boat leans starboard

all you're looking for with that plan is weight. i don't think there's a product made because most people will tell you to find out what's making that side heavier and get rid of it. weight is your enemy on a boat so adding another hundred pounds will only make you use more gas, more gas to tow it, sit lower in the water, go slower, etc.

and, as i said before, if it is water its messing your boat up slowly.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

I think it's more of the weight distribution of how the boat is designed, since others notice the exact same problem with this boat.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat leans starboard

Brian,

Two comments . . .

1) I had a friend with the same vintage 2300 SR Not the cuddy, but the bowrider, no list. I don't believe Maxxum would design in and accept a list . . .

2) One way to help load your boat while you have this problem is to start with the trailer quite a bit higher. If the trailer is higher when she starts to "stick" then the lifting strakes will guide the bunks on straight and she will straighten up as she is winched up. What you do is just get her stuck as I mentioned (so she doesn't start to slide off), shut her down, tilt up etc. Get out and winch her up slowly as the operator of the truck sloooowly slides the trailer deeper. You just want to make sure she never gets the chance to completely float, as then you're fooked again and have to start over. I had a boat that was notorious for hanging up a strake on a bunk and this system worked every time.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Boat leans starboard

That's a great idea. I usually do back the trailer in pretty deeps so it winches up easier, but I'll try more shallow next time.

Great tip, thanks.