really bad lean to port when coming up on plane

I would try to talk someone in the service department at your local Sea Ray dealer. I know when I got on the issue of bow steer with one of the more experienced technicians they new exactly what was going on with my boat. Our service folks have seen just about everything over the years and your local dealer probably has too. Maybe they can offer some suggestions.

Dave
 
Just what did you move (and by how much) from its original location? This will play into how the boat acts. I am guessing you changed boats center of gravity and now have the bow steer issue. Remember the lever effect (fulcrum) - it doesn't take much to change the way a boat acts.
 
Have you been running with the water tank full or empty? You moved 28 gallons of water about 30" forward and added 6 more gallons in the HWH to the port sideThat is 224lbs in the FW tank, and another 48lbs in the HWH. You also said that you moved the batteries around and removed the 100lb swim platform. From what I gather, you moved the 2 batteries from port to starboard and that they are about 48" from the transom. Is that correct?

Are you certain that the hull came out straight with no hook or twist in it after the rebuild? I would start off by taking measurements of that first (I have no idea how, but I'm sure you can find the procedure somewhere online). If this is a problem, nothing you do with weight distribution will help you. Just check it to be sure.

If it is straight, I would try 3 things. Put the swim platform back on. I have no idea where the "balance point" on the hull is, but removing 100lbs from that far back would move that point forward. Move the fresh water tank closer to the transom to help keep it down, and to put the weight over the part of the boat that stays in the water while you are on plane. Move the 2 batteries on the port side backwards as well. You've moved about 300lbs of weight around by fairly significant amounts. Think about a see-saw and how moving the weight closer to the fulcrum changes the balance. I think you have a lot more weight forward of where it was and that is pushing the bow down on you.
 
I've ran the boat with the freshwater tank and hot water heater empty and it still does it. As far as the hull it shouldn't have changed. I blocked the boat before removing the fiberglass and wood. But i will look into that. Also with the water tank and hotwater empty and with the batteries on the starboard side it should've been starboard side heavy
 
Last edited:
Instead of moving things get some 5gal containers and fill them with water that is 41.65lb per container load them up and move those around. Bundgie cord them when so they don’t slide. Start with about 200 to 300 lbs all the way to the stern snd see what happens.:thumbsup:
 
I was able to get out and play tonight. The water was like glass. Cruising along at 34 mph. I trimed the outdrive up till the prop lost bite and the boat went level. Trimmed the drive back down some and she instantly leaned to the port side. So we anchored had a nice supper. Had the wife and kid seat on the starboard side. She came right up on plane with a very very slight lean to the starboard side. Is it weight or prop torque? By the way i'm running a mercury mirage plus ss 15 3/4 by 15 prop.
 
Last edited:
I would say based on your description of the boats action when you had to trim the drive down that you are dealing with a bow steer problem. Based on everything else I have read in your postings, you are not going to solve your problem until you get the weight distribution (bow to stern and port to starboard) back to where it was before your modifications. That is what I would be trying to do if it was me.

Dave
 
lime: I'm wondering if the 15 3/4 is a little too much stern lift. Do you have a spare prop to try? Something like a 15x17 alum? What is your wot speed and rpm? Can you stay on plane down around 25mph? Is your 5.7 tweeked some or is it the standard 260 hp? 260 hp should push your boat 35 ish, 330 hp will make 40mph.
 
It's the same prop i was using last year. This problem started this year after moving a few items around and also removing atleast 800 lbs of wet wood and foam. The engine is 350 vortec engine with a rochester 4 bbl carb on top of a dual plane intake.I can stay up on plane till 22 mph 3100 rpm's. My best speed was 39 mph at 4500 rpm's. That was on water that was smooth as glass
 
You’ve certainly got to be pleased with a 39 mph wot. Sounds like that mirage prop gives up very little slip. It might be aggravating the prop torque prognosis (lean to port after your up on plane) and not giving you enough bow lift. Just perhaps now with the lighter stern (swim platform still off?) you need a different prop. Certainly wont hurt much to try something a little smaller diameter.

I have water and batts on port side my self. My lean to port is manageable. I'm turning a 15x15 cupped alum. It's got enough stern lift to carry my 454 and comes up on plane with no need for the secondaries. I believe I'm running a taller gear ratio than you!

I'm thinking of moving batts to starboard (closer to starter) to see if it helps me any. I hate to admit I don't have my boat ready yet. Two more weeks for me until I can devote time to boating.

This is a good thread to keep alive. I hope it ends in a conclusion. Keep us informed.
 
Last edited:
I had something similar happen the first time out in my old 260. Just about to plane and all the sudden it violently leaned hard to port. Scared the hell out of me and my buddy. Never happened again. But now thinking back, there was some chop and I remember the bow digging in just before it happened. Great thread!!
 
I"m looking for a smaller diameter prop just to try. But i think it's a weight balance issue. I had probably around 10 gallons of fuel in the boat. Before taking it out this morning i added 30 gallons of gas. As she was coming up on plane she was perfectly level and stayed level. So i'm going to run the fuel tank down to where she starts to lean. Then add more fuel and if she stays level. Then i know when she starts to lean time to add more fuel..lol. And i did reinstall the swim platform and did nothing for the lean
 
My finally solution for the problem is the drive has to be almost trimmed all the way up. It was bow steering pretty good. Once up on plane the boat was leaning to the left. Once i started trimming the drive up the boat would go level just as the drive was almost at it's limit. So now as i'm coming up on plane i start trimming the drive up. This doesn't effect the time it takes for me to come up on plane. When i operate the drive like that i have no noticable lean at all while coming up on plane.
 
Glad that worked. Just as I mentioned in my earlier posting last May, the 260DA has the same quirks and trimming the drive as you come on plane solves 99 percent of the problems. :thumbsup:

Dave
 
Lime4X4 - Not to get off the subject but what kind of lights are you running at the stern that light up the water? They look really nice.

LK
 
Dave s. Yeah but the really odd thing was i never had that issue till i replaced the transom and foam. All that extra weight i was carrying in the stern probably kept the bow steer under control
 
I currently have 10 of them mounted to the bottom of the transom. I will try and get some pics this week for u
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,208
Messages
1,428,587
Members
61,109
Latest member
Minnervos
Back
Top