Stern Rides Too Low In Water

[jmerritt]

I have a 1998 19' Godfrey Hurricane Deck Boat that I have restored. The problem is that the stern rides about 18 inches too low which floods the transom. Engine is the original 1985 Johnson 150 OB which is what is rated as the maximum for this boat. I have not changed anything weight wise from the original design but I did remove some bad foam that was located in the stern. My question is will adding closed cell foam back into the stern raise it. I have read a number of posts about foam used for buoyancy in the event of taking on water but can't find specifics to my issue.

Thx John

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Foam only helps your boat float if it fills with water.

It sounds like you might be taking on water, have you checked your bilge with the boat on the trailer (pull the plug)?

Are all of your through hulls good?

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Could the wood in the floor and transom have absorbed enough water to cause this ? You said you restored it did you rebuild the transom? if the foam was bad the wood is probly water logged too.

 

[airshot]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

That bad foam probably contained water, the rest of the foam probably is waterlogged as well. Just from the info given here You probably have a serious amount of water stored inside(sandwiched between) your inner and outer hull. If so this will also rot the stringers or any other wood structure inside.

 

[batman99]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

.

Does the rear (stern) of your boat ride too low when sitting still? Or, does the rear of the boat ride low when taking off?

If rear of boat is siting too low while taking off or when cursing forward, suggest one investigates TABs technology. Some brands of tabs are "install them and leave them" - like Smarts TABs SX on my boat. Or, there's the better (but much more expensive) Bennet power tabs. If wondering, tabs are installed on the lower hull / outer edges. Thus, lifting the boat's rear UP - without over stressing the transom like motor fins. IMO, TABs should be mandatory on boats - especially boats who's rear sits low in the water. For more info about the tabs on my boat (with heavy weight motor), surf: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4-RF8OtKcw

Hope this helps.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Ditto on the tabs if it rides low while running but not at rest. I've got Smart Tabs on my boat and it pops right up. I never strain to see over the bow even coming out of the hole.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Do you have a picture of the boat in the water at rest?

 

[jmerritt]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Thx to everyone for your replies. No picture of boat in water. It is a 1998 196 FishnFun and from what I see on the Godfrey website is pretty much the same as the new ones except for the modernized seats, controls, etc. It is all fiberglass and in looking at it I am not an expert but I don't think it is a double hull. It takes on water because the transom sits too low and water eventually enters the steering cable and engine control openings. I know I can seal those but I am trying to see what I can do about raising the stern. I will look to see about moving weight to the bow. It sits low in the water at the stern as soon as I put it into the water. Engine is original.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Stern Rides Too Low In Water

Everyone's definition of "restored" is different. Did you make the boat look nice or did you pop the cap and remove and replace water logged foam. It sounds like your foam is soaked, adding weight and dropping the stern. When you pull the boat out and remove the plug, how much water comes out of the boat? I beginning to think you can't move enough weight to the bow to correct the problem because the problem is wet foam under the deck.