Hook in the Hull ??

[schooner]

Have a 1984 Sceptre and am trying to fix some handling / performance problems. Recently repowered with 4 stroke Suzuki. As I was dialing in the correct prop, noticed the need for more bow rise, even with the heavier motor. After looking at all possibilities, mechanic suggested I might have a "hook" in the hull in which a sagging transom acts like a permanent trim tab. Thought this would be evident in broken stringers, etc but no sign of that. Anyone heard of this in SeaCrafts?

[Capt Chuck]

I might have a "hook" in the hull, Anyone heard of this in SeaCrafts?

Yes, I was talking with Mr P a few years back and he told me something about this so called "Hook" in some early 80's model Sceptres. I don't recall the exact years but it had something to do with using a "retired" mold from another model. He showed me how to look for it by placing a straight edge down the inside chine from the transom towards the bow. If I remember correctly,it was on the Port side.
I think ScottM was with me the day this was discussed. Maybe he can recall as his Dad has an early model Sceptre ????

I guess with some grinding, glass and faring this hook can be fixed.

[Ikan Besar]

another cause of a hooked hull is using a trailer or lift where the bunks don't extend all the way to the transom. I know a shop in Florida that has fixed a lot of hooked hulls that became that way due to bunks that were too short

[NoBones]

Most all boats manufactured have hooks at the stearn.
This is intentionally done to keep the boats from having
excessive bow lift. Some times when the boat was removed from the mold "Hot" the hook becomes more pronounced and
irregular. Capt Chuck hit the nail on the head. Put a good
straight edge on it. It can be glassed-out.
See ya, Ken

[ScottM]

I think ScottM was with me the day this was discussed. Maybe he can recall as his Dad has an early model Sceptre ????

Yup, I was there. I remember the topic of discussion but not the entire conversation. Not sure if it's coincidental or not due to prop spin, but my dad's '82 lists to port while underway if you don't drop that tab. Would a clockwise motor cause a port list?

[Ikan Besar]

Would a clockwise motor cause a port list?

yes, it definitely can. mine was pretty extreme when I got it but I played around with adjusting the angle on that little fin behind the prop and it helped a lot - not perfect but a big improvement.

[joema]

My 80 septer with 250 suk tracs good with skeg haif way over but needs some trim still bow hesvy i weigh 250 which doesnt help

[aj23seacreft]

My 23 listed to starboard when I had a left hand prop, when I changed engines and went to a right hand prop the list changed to port. this is very common in single engine boats.
Robb

[schooner]

Thanks for the responses.

Think I found the issue. The trim tabs were mounted incorrectly and not able to get full negative trim. This leaves about a half inch of plane deflected which will have a small bow-down effect. This is part of the problem, but not the main issue.

The helm and passenger positions are further forward than in a center console combined with the normal heavier weight of the Sceptre's nose makes a bow-down bias will cause relatively more bow steer and greater torque lean.

The biggest contributor to the problem is my selection of a left hand turning motor during my repower. The counter-rotating motor leans the boat to starboard and the lean is accentuated by the weight of the driver at the starboard helm. Instead of the driver weight at the starboard countering the lean of a standard motor, it places both the driver weight and the lean to starboard in a counter-rotating requiring full port-bow-down tab increasing even further the previously mentioned bow-down bias. Moral of the story: A counter rotating motor is nor the way to go in a single engine Sceptre application. This is an expensive lesson.

[edloh]

schooner,

just for curiousity, how does you boat sit on the water. if you stand by the deck drain with a full tank of gas, would water come in the deck drain?