Bow Heavy Sea Craft - Page 3

lost2a6 · #21 12-19-2003, 04:39 PM

Gary, I have moved the tank as far back as possible. It's about 1'6" from the transom, however if I remember correctly the tank is about 8ft in length (144gal).
Scott: That's interesting, if you can remember any details then please let me know or possibly the boat yard in which you are referring to. In the stern of our boats there is a drain tube going through the stringer. This could clog up causing water to be trapped on the outside of the stringer, however this is not the case with my boat as I have had all of that section cut out when replacing the transom.

[ December 19, 2003, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: lost2a6 ]

GetReel · #22 12-19-2003, 04:57 PM

Perhaps Inspector Jacques Clouseau can be of service to you outboard boyz.

TarponTom · #23 12-19-2003, 09:23 PM

Wow, this is a popular topic surprisingly. I too sit bow heavy with my 88 cuddy. It's extremely sensitive to gear in the cuddy. After I come off plane it's alarming sometimes how much it settles in and the ass pops up. I have noticed after washing it down and lowering the tongue jack on the trailer, if I get in the cabin I can hear water flowing back forward. I don't think it's a lot maybe 4-5 gallons tops. I also figure extra stern weight involving twins are the answer. At least thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

ocuyler · #24 12-19-2003, 10:46 PM

Lost2a6,

When we removed the tank on my 23CC, we became conserned that the stringers held water becase the screws holding the tank hatch went into the stringers and the seal had been comprised, probably for years. We drilled some 1/2" weep holes in the bottom of each stringer in the rear. There was a lot of water. I took someones suggestion and drilled 4 - 2" dia. holes low in the stringers and left a shop vac running in each hole for 1/2 hour each and probably netted 10 gallons of water, plus maybe another 5 or so by gravity. That's at least 100 pounds.

The foam around the tank was saturated as was the plywood in the fuel tank cover panel (which we re-cored). There's another 20 pounds.

In the case of a center console, this may back fire and may tend to tilt the boat ass-ward slightly, but we'll see this spring.

I agree with Brian that water may be trapped forward as well and should be investigated, even if you have to drill some holes.

I don't like the idea of adding weight unless its the last resort.

[ December 19, 2003, 09:51 PM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

Capt Chuck · #25 12-20-2003, 12:05 AM

Yes,indeed this is a popular subject. I hate to say this but reading all the previous remarks it appears this problem is inherent to the post Potter era boats? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

I agree with Briguy and Otto and maybe I'm wrong but these boats should not be sitting bow heavy and should not holding water [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Bottom line is if there is water in your bilge or in the stringers you have got a problem. Adding weight to the stern doesn't fix it. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

I have posted before that my stringers have a nylon rope within them, that runs the length of the stringer that acts as a "wick" (like in a candle) and any moisture the builds up within will follow the wick and drain out (rear of stringer) in the bilge. I have seen this system in the Haptner flats and Ocean Master boats. I'm curious if Strick, Rich or Scott have seen these wicks also in their 70's boat as they have been down and dirty below the decks ???

Scott · #26 12-20-2003, 12:28 AM

Capt Chuck .... This is the drain that I have... Bad picture .. in the black circle.... but I "thought" it was to drain any water on the outboard side of the stringer ??? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] does it look familiar? I've not had the deck open back there to see where it goes ....

I'm not sure how water would get there (outboard side of stringer) other than through the vents...maybe .condensation

Capt Chuck · #27 12-20-2003, 12:36 AM

Scott

Yea, I got that tube also both sides. Your right it drains water from the ouside cavity to the centerline bilge area. The "Wick" shoud be just forward of that tube on the outside of the stringer in the cavity. You should be able to reach in there where that wire is coming out of?
I almost cut (wick) mine off until I found out what is was. Should be about 3/4" dia and sticking out appox 4" or so... Let me know if you discover it [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

strick · #28 12-20-2003, 02:06 AM

Capt Chuck- No wick in mine.... I checked twice now and all I see is foam and a rigging channel dug into the foam that goes to the CC area. If it is in there it is buried under the foam as I cannot see it. What year is your boat?

Strick

lost2a6 · #29 12-20-2003, 02:14 AM

Boy you guys are going to make me start drilling holes in my boat. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] When I cut about a foot of my stringer out for the transome replacement, I don't recall seeing any water, just solid foam. However the foam did seem moist. I too had the holes in the stringers where the tank was screwed to it, and my deck had been leaking for some time. Does anyone have any pics of what the stringer system looks like with the deck removed? The rear is narrow then some where along the line it appears to get wide by the time it reaches the bow. Would a moister meter tell if I had water trapped within the stringers? I don't believe that I have the rope coming from the inside on the stringers on my boat as I have seen the inside from one end to the other.

Capt Chuck · #30 12-20-2003, 07:38 AM

Strick

Built Dec 1978

Lost

Your boat doesn't look unusal in the pics but I'm not familiar with the cabin style. I'd ask Finster or that that70boat for advise. If Water is trapped you got to get it out [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[ December 20, 2003, 06:44 AM: Message edited by: capt chuck steele ]