What makes my boat list?

[rburlington]

My thanks again to all contributors (and any still coming).  I appreciate it.  

It will be the middle of next week before I can get over to the boat again.  I hope to find out what is the cause and will certainly report back what I find.  Will do the process of elimination: 1) fridge is out (broken anyway and beyond repair) and 2) batteries to the center of the boat.  If that does not correct the problem, then I will try to find a way to get at the starboard stringer and find out if it is wet or not.

Scott, does your bilge stay dry or does water seep from the stringer into the bilge?

If anyone knows the route of the stringers from the back under the gas tank and toward the bow, I would be glad to know that.  For example, if they pass under the gas tank, would it be possible to drill a hole through the liner the tank sits in and into the stringer itself?  How big a hole should be drilled?  I am guessing that if it is wet, it would be wetter toward the back of the boat than toward the front.  Anyway, any info that will help me should I need to do this would be much appreciated.
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[GoneFission]

I'm pretty sure the gas tank is between the stringers, but I would also weigh in that moving the batteries (do that before the fridge) to the other side might cure the problem.

[JimCt]

That pun nearly sneaked by...

[rburlington]

After all the "weighing in" here is how things balanced out:

First picture below shows a slight list remains to the right when 2 batteries and fridge are placed on a line down the center of the boat.  The list is probably due to the cabinet and drawers, helm station, injection oil tank, and wiring that are all on the right side.



Second picture shows a slight list to the left when one of the batteries, the 60 pound marine deep cycle, is placed on the left side with everything else still sitting on the center line.



My interpretation of this:

1-If there is any water in the stringers, it is in more or less equal amounts in both the right and the left.

2-I doubt there is significant water in either or both because the boat does not otherwise sit abnormally low in the water when the weight is more evenly distributed.  At the stern it rides almost exactly on the chine about 2 inches below the boot stripe.

3-When 13 gallons of fuel are added to the left side and 5 gallons of water to the sink tank on the left side, I imagine the boat will sit pretty level.

[RickK]

What is the 13 gals of fuel on the left, an aux tank? So what is the plan - live with it?

[JimCt]

Have you been able to figure out a permanent battery location for the corrected weight distribution?

[GoneFission]

Y'all probably don't want another physics lecture, but from a polar moment of inertia standpoint, putting a battery on each side toward the outer parts of the boat would be best, followed by putting both batteries on the centerline of the boat as low as possible (think bilge here).  

Either of these options will enhance boat handling.  Worst case scenario is having large mass items (such as batteries) high and center.  That makes the boat top-heavy and amplifies rocking and wave motion.  

Hope this helps, see ya on the water...

[JimCt]

That begs the question what a tower does to the whole scheme of things... This boat doesn't happen to have a tower but I would imagine adding one would make the boat even more sensitive to asymmetric weight distribution.

[rburlington]

Good comments, thanks.  Yes, there needs to be a better plan than just counter balance with water and fuel (extra tank).

Unfortunately, it will have to wait until the fall when the boat is out of the water again.   For this summer I will just live with it b/c I am out of time and out of money for boat recovery!  

Moving one battery will be a larger job than it sounds like b/c it will require cables and a couple of other wires to pass under the deck via a route that will not compromise the stringers by opening them up; if such a route exists.  Otherwise I think I see a route for cables all the way down the right side via an existing manufacture-installed (and nearly full) tube, across the stern and back up the left side via an existing and empty original tube.  Neither way will be easy.

There is room for both batteries on the center line in the same compartment as the fuel tank.  Much easier for installation--but...!!!! (by the way, I work in Batteries Plus store and you might be surprised at what a spark from a terminal and venting from the battery can accomplish by themselves w/o help from gasoline!).  

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[rburlington]

While my boat was in the barn this winter, I switched the two marine batteries from the right to the left side of the boat as was suggested to me by some of you.  The boat is sitting level now.  The two batteries account for about 100 to 120 pounds together (one group 24 and one group 31 size).  My stringers appear to be dry, so I am guessing it was merely a weight distribution issue.

I have no idea how many batteries this boat originally had or where they/it were supposed to be located; the boat (an 82?) has been subject to several refits and reconfigurations by various owners.  But, since all cables, the majority of the weight from the station, the oil tank, and the fridge were all along the right side of the boat, I would guess the original battery(ies) was not.  

Anyway, once again, I thank you for the suggestions and the help.
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