Weight distribution problem on this 14ft Deep V

[wildmaninal]

Well here I go..... I took this old deep V out yesterday for a shake down test and needless to say I screwed up. Sense I set the helm to the right the boat of coarse wants to lean to the right, I was not thinking anything about weight distribution when building the helm. I could move the helm to the middle but then I wold half to worry about the controls. I could also mount the controls with the levers facing out from the side of the driver's helm because I would have a ways to reach for them if I left them mounted where they are. If I mounted the controls to the side of the helm I thought about running control box cables under the main deck back to the motor.

My original plan was to of coarse have the driver's helm where it is in the picture, then install a passenger's seat beside it. I also wanted to use the upper deck for a casting deck but I don't know if would be able to do this or not because it might be a tipping hazard. I believe this old boat was originaly setup as a closed bow runabout, but I could be wrong. When I got the boat it still had the framing for a closed bow or upper casting deck.

Your thoughts?? How would you set it up? I would like to be able to fish out of it. I also wanted to set a livewell in it somewhere. I'm not saying that the boat would tip over if I leave the helm where it is but it does make for an weard ride.

I believe the width of the main deck is only 45 inches wide.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Weight distribution problem on this 14ft Deep V

Oh I also wanted to add that the boat was setup with the control box mounting plate, but the plate never had any holes drilled in it . I believe this was part of the original layout of the boat because the mounting plate is bradded with the original style brads. Also the previous owner had a switch panel mounted right beside the control box mounting plate. So this is telling me that the previous owner had some kind of helm mounted to the right.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Weight distribution problem on this 14ft Deep V

Place the battery(s), fuel tank and other heavy stuff on the other side of the boat to balance it out.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Weight distribution problem on this 14ft Deep V

Place the battery(s), fuel tank and other heavy stuff on the other side of the boat to balance it out.

I wouldn't think that would help out to much, I weigh around 220. I have the fuel tank sitting right in the middle, the battery was on the driver's side. I don't have any other heavy stuff in the boat otherwise. I'm new to aluminum boats so....

I'm going to take it back out on the water in another day or so to do some adjusting on the motor, maybe I can play around with the casting deck idea and see how it stays balanced with me up that high.