New boat listing problem?

[JAFI]

I'm in the middle of dealing with a final warranty item on a new 08 330DA. So far I haven't heard or discovered the cause of the problem from our dealer or the factory rep.

Here is the background:
My buddy made the deal on the boat, it went in the water on a Tuesday, took delivery on Wednesday and left for Ocean City on Thursday. When we got back and had it sitting in the slip you could see that it was listing about 4" to port (the scum line on the stern was 2" above bottom paint on the port side and about 2" below on the starboard side). After hauling it out and putting a strip of tape on each side with 1" markings and pumping the holding tank (port side) it has settled to a consistent 2" list to port.

After ongoing work on the boat it has been in and out of the water a good 3-4 times for different reasons all due to warranty and new install work but no answers as to why there is a list.

The service manager, on recommendation from the factory rep, keeps looking for water infiltration in different places but haven't found any of substance, thankfully I guess, and they are talking about adding ballast on the starboard side to 'fix' it. I'm not ready to hear that at all. It would only fix the symptom not fix the problem and I want an answer to what the problem is. I've asked for a build sheet for the engine bay showing measurements for all the component locations to confirm or eliminate anything that would affect the balance of the boat.

So far I've been really happy with the way the entire service department have been and all the work they have done, but I'm looking for definitive answers. If anyone have seen, heard, or dealt with this issue I sure would like a heads up on something else to consider.

On a side note, how much force or impact does it take on a brass prop to tweek it and induce a vibration?

 

[Robski97]

Mark,
If the list would have been caught prior to delivery I can teall u they would have installed counter weight to weigh down the boat on the opposite side. Crappy answer but the truth. I have a list to port. Worse when holding tank is empty. I just try and run that fuel tank on the port side lower then stb side.

Rob

 

[Soundman1967]

Hi Mark,
I Have a 2008 310 and she often lists a few inches to port based upon the levels of the holding tank, water tank and both fuel tanks. The list is most noticable when the holding tank ( port side ) is half full or more. So, perhaps the issue is realted to the levels in these various tanks. On the 310 & 330 the galley, both fridges, all corian countertops are all on the port side, these are all heavy, I think that 's why she never lists starboard. I like to put 2 big coolers of beer on the starboard side as ballast, works great !
Cheers
Soundman1967

 

[sbw1]

This is pretty common due to the galley and related components mentioned above. Assume your batteries are on the starboard side. You may want to add a battery if you have room and could use the backup power and maybe an inverter too. A battery would at least be ballast that you can use.

 

[JAFI]

Thanks for the replies.

Yea, the list is really bad and noticeable when the holding tank is more than half full. Half full = 3" list and 3/4 full = 4" list. I'm sure it's been the topic of conversation more than once along the dock as were the only boat there that has a visible list like it. Even with the holding tank empty. The fresh water is centered under aft cabin bed, a 125 gal fuel tank is mounted on each side in the engine bay and both are drawn from equally.

I would hope the boat would be designed to be balanced with all the components installed from the factory. I know another 330 was sold and put in the water a week after ours was and it sat perfectly level without any known added ballast (at least not by the dealer).

I'm Assuming the hull should be darn near perfect since the molds are and it's robotically sprayed, cut and trimmed. That only leaves installed components. I'm just trying to figure out a way to level it out without having to haul around a bunch more dead weight (although I don't consider beer dead weight :grin

If the worst case comes about and ballast needs to be added, I think I'll press for another bank of batteries on the starboard side. Just a little more insurance while camping out on the hook.

 

[KayKook]

On a side note, how much force or impact does it take on a brass prop to tweek it and induce a vibration?

Not much at all. A slightly knicked blade, or any blade bent at all will cause issues, some you can't feel, but eventually your drive system will.

 

[hack4alivin]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm sure it's been the topic of conversation more than once along the dock as were the only boat there that has a visible list like it.

Not true…. We hardly even noticed it.:huh:

 

[hack4alivin]

Thanks for the replies.


I'm Assuming the hull should be darn near perfect since the molds are and it's robotically sprayed, cut and trimmed. That only leaves installed components. I'm just trying to figure out a way to level it out without having to haul around a bunch more dead weight (although I don't consider beer dead weight :grin

If the worst case comes about and ballast needs to be added, I think I'll press for another bank of batteries on the starboard side. Just a little more insurance while camping out on the hook.

Here's a thougth... Put a Stripper Pole on the other side, I'm sure we can find some girls to add the extra weight.

 

[Dave S]

I will check out a brand new 330DA that's in a slip at our Marina. There is probably nothing in the holding tank or water tank since it is a brand new (unsold) boat. I will let you know what I observe with that boat.

Dave

 

[JAFI]

Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.

I can see it now, Bill. No Lance I don't know what those extra brass fittings are mounted on the swim platform :huh:

 

[Dave S]

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this but I had a look at our dealer's brand new 330DA today and there is no list to either side. It sits perfectly level. This particular 330DA happens to have big blocks with Axius.

I sure hope Sea Ray can up with something for you.

 

[JAFI]

Yea, so far nothing other than lets add some weight to her.

The one good thing is that it's not getting worse, but no better either.

I was just down in the engine bay and was looking around and it looks like the generator could move about three inches to the starboard side. I have no idea how much that would affect the center of balance. It's a good thing it's only four bolts.

 

[elreyos]

Did it have a list before the sea trial? If not then in my opinion you've got water in there somewhere. If it had the list as soon as it was put in water then someone at the factory knows why. Make em fix it, or take it back.

 

[Henry Boyd]

JAFI,

Is there a generator, and is it located in the standard factory position? From looking at the layout drawings on our 280 that the generator, water tank, holding tank locations are different for with gen and without. The possibility might exist that the gen was installed in a non standard location. In a post production situation the possibility exists that corners were cut, and 'close enough' lead to excess weight on the port side.

Also putting in ballast to trim out an inherent list is not uncommon.

Henry