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Boat tilts right on plane

Des Moines Boater

Well-known member
I need some help here. I've had the boat for a couple of years. It porpoised when I first got it so I added a hydraulic trim tab. It took care of the porpoise problem but acts like a speed brake too. Anyway, when I get on plane if I keep the boat level it turns slightly to the left but boy is it smooth. To keep going straight I need to keep a little right rudder which tilts the boat to the right. It looks like I have a 300 pound person sitting in the right seat even when I have no one else on board. Should I adjust the rudders or is it the center trim tab that needs to go? I saw moodfoods tabs on the back edge and will try that today. It's not unsafe, just annoying.
 
Study on this : "for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction".
which way does your prop spin? which way does your motor spin? is your trim tab a little off level or center? do you have polymer on your boat? is it damaged or maybe not as tight fitting on one side or the other of the bottom? are your rudders properly aligned? do they have trim tabs on them? some like to use the trim tabs to make the boat run in a circle in case you fall off of it, I personally try to stay on the boat and use the tabs to keep it straight with no hands on the rudder stick in case I need to do something else while under way. As you can see there are a myriad of possibile reasons for what your experiencing but the key is the first line of this message I wasn't being funny with it.
 
I set up the boat to turn hands off. I recommend this cause if you ever get dumped and you are alone you weant the boat to come back to you or close enough you can swim and grab ahold of it.

The HEEL problem sounds like balance. Assuming you dont have a super long prop. I would rethink/evaluate your balance and loading and take a nother run to see if you can make a difference with loading etc.

Question: Is the HEEL and the TURN in the same direction or opposite directions??

Scotty
 
Is your drivers seat a side by side? In other words is the driver centered in the boat or off to one side. If the driver isn't centered you will have this problem when riding alone and the boat will also torque roll more when you accelerate.
 
Here's the photos mentioned above...
Trim_tab_closeup.jpg


trim_tabs.jpg


http://www.southernairboat.com/photopos ... ppuser/283
http://www.southernairboat.com/photopos ... ppuser/283

They do a pretty good job SIMULATING the flange that is on the back of most aluminum hulls. A few taps with a hammer (I usually use a wrench to gently bend them) and they are adjusted.

because they are up on the slope - OFF THE FLAT BOTTOM, they hardly touch the ground when I go land ho. But they still work in the water, and because they are spaced apart, it gives the boat a good 3-point stance when up on plane.

They are not the perfect cure for the porpose problem I HAD, but they helped it in a HUGE way! No "brake" effect either.

As for the problem you're having. I have no real advice except TRY STUFF. There is lots of good advice listed so far.

matt.
 
My boat has an electric adjustable tab by Lenco. When my boat starts to porpose I adjust the tab in small increments giving time to feel the affect on the boat. I only give the boat enough tab to stabilize the attitude. This minimizes the "brake" affect and handling changes caused by the tab.
 
Thanks for all the tips. I installed moodfoods transom edge pieces which seemed to take care of the tilting problem. I also made my center trim plate smaller. I still needed the center trim to stop porpoising but it is much better now. The boat is an 11 foot by 6 foot 4 inches Gilleo hull. It has a Lycoming O-290 with a 3 blade warp drive prop that has 33 inch blades. I have a single double seat. Solo, I usually sit in the middle of the seat and to the left riding dual. Everything seems square and weight and balance is fine. I should have moved the seat further forward to stop the bouncing, but the center trim tab works fine. I'll keep working on it and thanks again for the help.
 
you could try to make certian that the engine is level in the boat by leveling the stringers while on the trailer and then putting the level on the prop flange. If your engine is not level it will affect the way the boat runs in the water. Also if you have poly on the bottom you can put a shim between the poly and the hull on the back edge. My uncle has to carry lead weight in the front of his boat to keep it from bouncing him out but he is much too stubborn to fix the problem :lol: He isn't good at taking suggestions.
 
The motor is level and the problem seems to be solved. The boat bounced so much before I put the center trim on that I could never get on plane long enough to tell if it heeled to the right. I used Moodfood's trim on the right side and it worked great. I didn't even need the one on the left side. I still use the center trim to prevent bouncing but it runs straight and true now. Thanks everyone. I'm sure my center trim was the tilt problem, but now I have something to play with.
 
Not trying to tell ya what to do, but if you set your engine 1/4 bubble down at the prop end you might find you need no, or less trim tab in the center. Anyway just a "for what it's worth".

Similarly, a 1/4" (up to 2 degrees) at the front of the crankshaft to the port side may let it run with no trim tab on the right of the transom. Again, just a "for what its worth".

Just ideas for thought, I know tabs add drag and it is possible to trim (ballance) a boat to run without them.

All the best.

Scotty
 
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