Leaning Hard To The Right

[xwwh587]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and fairly new to boating. I just bought a 2000 Javelin FS 18 Venom (17.5' fish & ski) with a Johnson 150 (3 blade SS prop, don't know the pitch), it's in like new condition with about 50 - 60 hrs on it. The problem is after plane and at about 33 - 40 mph the whole boat pitches hard to the right, it's not pulling the motor or even hard to stear but it's like there is all the weight to the right. I make all the passenger ride on the left side and still it pitches to the right.

Now at 3/4 - full throttle at plane all the way to top speed, no problems, but when I throttle it back and cruise is where it want to lean to the right. I have tried trimming it in all positions to no avail. The boat rides nice and straight at tubing and sking speed and anything over 45. I moved the trim tab, over the prop, 1 degree to the right and did nothing for my problem.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

It leans between 33 and 40, but not slower or faster, and the steering isn't pulling? I'd look for a deformation in the hull on the leading edge of the pad.

 

[QC]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

Any chance it has a hydrofoil?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

Any chance it has a hydrofoil?

Sounds like a classic whale tail problem...

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

It leans between 33 and 40, but not slower or faster, and the steering isn't pulling? I'd look for a deformation in the hull on the leading edge of the pad.

I've looked at the bottom of the hull pretty well, but I'll get under it and see if I can feel anything.

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

Any chance it has a hydrofoil?

No hydrofoil

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

I have read some post on here about smart tabs, any chance that will help?

 

[QC]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

You're fixing a symptom before you figure out the problem . . . Use a straightedge to check your hull. Anything reasonably reliable will do. A big level, even a 4 - 5 ft piece of 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC should be reasonably straight . . . Roll it on your garage floor to check, use a good pool cue, anything that is straight.

Bent skeg?

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

You're fixing a symptom before you figure out the problem . . . Use a straightedge to check your hull. Anything reasonably reliable will do. A big level, even a 4 - 5 ft piece of 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC should be reasonably straight . . . Roll it on your garage floor to check, use a good pool cue, anything that is straight.

Bent skeg?

What exactly am I to look for? What is a skeg? I have a 4' level at the house, i"ll check it this afternoon.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

My '95 Skeeter 200SL Skeeter does the exact same thing sometimes, but other times it doesn't do it, and it's with the left side instead of the right. I'm interested to find out what causes this. Although, mine does this under high speeds, and usually when going into the wind or against the current.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

Once you get up on pad, its more or less a balancing act - one side or the other might catch a bit more of a wave. Could be that a little bit of a weight distribution change might make all the difference. For Lucky anyway; xww already figured out it doesn't in his case.

Skeg = the part of the motor below the propeller. Lay your straightedge along the hull longitudinally (just as a reference, since there are really very few actual straight lines on a boat) - look for a "hook" in the hull = a concave section, but probably only *very* slightly concave - don't worry if you find it you can fix it. It was really only a guess on my part.

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

Once you get up on pad, its more or less a balancing act - one side or the other might catch a bit more of a wave. Could be that a little bit of a weight distribution change might make all the difference. For Lucky anyway; xww already figured out it doesn't in his case.

Skeg = the part of the motor below the propeller. Lay your straightedge along the hull longitudinally (just as a reference, since there are really very few actual straight lines on a boat) - look for a "hook" in the hull = a concave section, but probably only *very* slightly concave - don't worry if you find it you can fix it. It was really only a guess on my part.

Thanks jtex, man it's already 102 dregrees this afternoon, but i'll go ahead an check it out, it's a little cooler in the garage.

 

[xwwh587]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

It leans between 33 and 40, but not slower or faster, and the steering isn't pulling? I'd look for a deformation in the hull on the leading edge of the pad.

I check the hull this evening and everything appears to be ok, the botton of the hull is nice and smooth. At the back bottom of the hull where it meets the transom is cupped a little (about a foot), but is the exact same on both sides by the chine and appears that is the way it was manufactured.

The skeg is nice and straight also, not even a scratch.

I will take a picture tomorrow, but everything looks ok.

 

[micel]

Re: Leaning Hard To The Right

If all is straight I'd try raising engine up a notch.