Chris Craft leans to the port side

[cosergeant]

Hello all, I have a stupid question, and they always say a question is never stupid! Yea okay, some are. lol When I am going down the river at slow speeds "No wake" I am zig zagging like a drunk! Is this normal, or am I really drunk and don't know it? And honest, I do not drink when on the boat. Second question, When at most speeds, until my top of around 43-45mph on my 1986 Scorpion 21 foot cubby cabin I seem to be leaning to the port side, That's left, right? I do not take on any water, well after an hour on water and pulling the drain plug, drips come out. So, is my boat just not stable or am I too fat at 200 pounds and need to stand in middle when wife is steering it? I would have said wife is on port side, but I value my private parts guys. I look forward to any replies, from anyone! I get lonely and no one writes to me at my e-mail address either. lol
Also, I really know nothing about this boat, and would welcome any and all information on my 25 year old Chris Craft, Scropion 21 foot cuddy.
Thanks, Arthur

 

[my1stboat1]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

your right no ? is a stupid ?, That is until i heard you ask that port is lefted LOL... as for the boat leaning to port that chris craft boats have a pretty deep V hull. if its listing to port i would just balance the vessel better ...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

Ayuh,.... First,.. V-hulls tend to wander an idle speeds...
Less operator input usually makes it tolerable...

If it's out of balance on plane,... Shift some weight,....
Fuel from a different tank,..??
Move the batteries,..??
Trim tabs always work....

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

There are quite a few boats that wander during idle speeds. Some of can be due to the inherent characteristics of the boat, some of it is due to trim tab settings and some is due to overcorrection on the part of the operator. Remember, slight corrections are best. Do you have trim tabs? Are they fully reset while at idle? Is the steering sloppy on the boat, allowing the engine & outdrive to kick around? There should be little to no play at all in your steering.

As far as your leaning to port (yes, it is left), that can be due to 1 or 2 things only:

1) Trim tabs adjusted differently. adjust either port or starboard (that would be the right side ) to level the boat, or

2) The boat is loaded unevenly. Food, coolers, batteries, and your big butt all on the port side will definitely make it lean. Readjust your load evenly and see if that helps. This assumes that no water is trapped within the hull or in the foam of the boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

You are over-steering. The boat turns to port 1 degree and you turn the wheel 5 degrees to stbd to correct.. Then it turns to stbd 6 degrees and you turn to port 8 degrees.

Common with deep V hulls. Just don't be so impulsive....LOL.

 

[cosergeant]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

Another question.

What is difference between no wake and minimal wake? My boat does not register low speeds on speedometer, so I keep it around 1,000 RPM's and it seems I am at low or no wake? No wake is stopped to me, if a Duck paddles in the water, it leaves a wake! So, please someone help me out.

Arthur

 

[cosergeant]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

Hey, thanks for all the replies. I really did know Port is left. lol

PORT is 4 letters! So it is LEFT! See I am smart....
Starboard is 9 letters, and Right is 5 letters, now wait a minute, I am confused now, RIGHT should be 9 letter to match STARBOARD... LOL

I am guessing that it is the deep hull. As there is no water in hull, and the thing seems to be balanced. I do not have trim tabs, I guess it was too small of a boat for Chris Craft to put them on? The Steering wheel turns nice, and if let go of, it stays pretty stright for a while, funny though, I have noticed that the sun ends up behind me after 15 seconds. LOL


Art

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

No wake/idle speed means boat settled in the water, engines at idle. If your engines idle at 600 RPM, they'd better be at 600 RPM.

Slow Speed/Minimal Wake means boat settled in the water; the slower, the better. If your boat idles @ 600 RPM, you could be up to 1000-1200 without real issue, depending on the property owners or deputies in the area.

Both terms are a misnomer. According to the Rules of the Road, both really mean the slowest speed that the vessel can go and continue to maintain steerage. This may mean faster than an idle, if you're in windy conditions and/or moving with the current.

These are the definitions for the Florida Boating courses:

GLOSSARY TERM STATE-SPECIFIC DEFINITIONS (FL):

HEADWAY SPEED The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering

IDLE SPEED The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steerageway and headway; the vessel should not produce a wake at this speed

NO WAKE SPEED The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steerageway and headway; the vessel should not produce a wake at this speed

SLOW SPEED or MINIMUM WAKE SPEED A speed at which a vessel is operating fully off plane and is completely settled in the water; the vessel's wake must not be excessive nor create a hazard to other vessels

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

These questions and more can be answered by simply taking a Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Safety Course.

Then you wont have to ask such basic questions, you and your wife will stand a better chance of coming back alive, and you can ask more difficult questions in the future.

Money well spent.

 

[cosergeant]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

You guys are great.... Thanks... Art

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Chris Craft leans to the port side

Hey, thanks for all the replies. I really did know Port is left. lol

PORT is 4 letters! So it is LEFT! See I am smart....
Starboard is 9 letters, and Right is 5 letters, now wait a minute, I am confused now, RIGHT should be 9 letter to match STARBOARD... LOL

Art

Right is 5 letters: G R E E N