Could this be the cause?

[ollyit]

Ongoing issue with my searider in most conditions, particulary when airbourne! - with it leaning to port

Today however I may have found the cause, I got a roll of decking stuff at the last boat jumble I went to and spent today making sections for the floor, did a rear section and cut a side peice for where the my feet go, got it all nicely shaped and fitted, and used this one as a template flipped over to make an exact copy for the other side, to my horror I have about an inch gap on the starboard side and only about little gap on the port side which suggests my console is not totally central and could be the cause of the leaning, and not the prop,engine position,dolefins, weight distribution etc -

The people who put the console in for me are really nice people and did a brilliant job on the work i asked them to do, if this is the cause then do you reckon I should take it back and ask for it be corrected? - any thoughts suggestions appreciated -

couple of pics attached to show what I rabbiting on about -

[Pete7]

Nope, do it yourself, that way you know it will be done properly. How is the console held in ? and which way does she lean over ? not convinced this is the cause of the problems though.

Pete

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Nope, do it yourself, that way you know it will be done properly.

That's what I like to hear, Pete.

[Pete7]

Absolutely, now if I could just find a skint student to complete the antifouling on "Old Spice"

Pete

[slimtim]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Absolutely, now if I could just find a skint student to complete the antifouling on "Old Spice"

Pete

[tcwozere]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Absolutely, now if I could just find a skint student to complete the antifouling on "Old Spice"

Pete

Will a skint student strapped to the hull be an effective anti-fouling option??

[Hightower]

I've yet to come across a Skint Student! If ya find one let me know .

[ollyit]

thanks pete - ill try to have a look , hope its not glued

[ollyit]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Nope, do it yourself, that way you know it will be done properly. How is the console held in ? and which way does she lean over ? not convinced this is the cause of the problems though.

Pete

sorry pete, yeah she leans over to port side quite heavily a lot of the time, even in near perfect conditions, I find my self trying to compensate by sitting differently to correct it without much luck - Ian Austin will tell you whats its like at speed!

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by Hightower

I've yet to come across a Skint Student! If ya find one let me know .

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by ollyit

sorry pete, yeah she leans over to port side quite heavily a lot of the time, even in near perfect conditions, I find my self trying to compensate by sitting differently to correct it without much luck - Ian Austin will tell you whats its like at speed!

Hmm, not convinced but if it is then thats an easy cure. I have asked boatster to measure his transom to see if he Tohatsu is exactly in the middle of the transom, could you do the same and we can compare notes tomorrow night. I still think its the torque from the prop which is your problem particularly in the waves when so little of the hull is in contact with the water.

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9788


Pete

[ollyit]

will do cheers pete - see you tomorrow

[Biggles]

I had a problem with mine being very difficult to steer one way and always wanting to pull to one side. The steering was fine when the boat wasn't moving but underway it just wanted to pull to one side. I had an idea it was the prop I had just fitted. It never used to have that problem.

I was trying a 13" pitch instead of the 12" pitch. Putting the 12" back on sorted it, but I really need to get a bigger prop on.

Have just bought a 14" prop on Ebay, hope that doesn't have the same effect.

Best of luck with your problem.

Regards Nick R.

[ollyit]

interesting mate, thanks - something to consider, I was routing around props today at the boat jumble in netley, as im thinking of getting a spare - couldnt remember how many splines though - oh well

[boatster]

Hey Guys!! ( Typical American lingo )

I will check my motor and see if it is aligned center. To the best of my knowledge it is. I personally have not noticed any lean to port when running, even at top speed. Of course my console is actually centered and not off to one side slighyly. I do know that the trim tabs that I have help significantly with getting onto plane as well as keeping the boat level. I would highly recommend using trim tabs to level your boat not only side to side but stern to bow. I remember running the boat without them and it was rough.
I will post my results when I get the chance.

EDIT: 12.5" on the left, 12.5" on the right of my Tohatsu. Its dead center on the transom.

boatster

[Nemo]

Olly

On my Searider the offset is to the starboard side both console and engine.

I will measure it and take the measurement to church tonight( if the little man isnt screeming the house down)

Graham.

[ollyit]

thanks boys i'll measure mine also tonight

[boatster]

Off centered outboard? I didn't know outboards would be mounted offcentered on these Avons. Is that meant to counter the off centered console?

[Bilge Rat]

Doodes......... Pete7 is absolutely correct, the consol being off set one side or the other is not the cause of the problem, to give you some idea my Avon consoul is off set quite a bit to starboard ! the engine is a 60hp 4 stroke Yam fitted new late last year and is set dead centre, trimmed correctly the boat runs dead striaght at 34 knots, in fact it runs so straight i can do my "look no hands" trick whilst drinking coffee on the go.

Biggles ..... forget the props and look towards trim, suspect if the stearing is pulling hard one way its either the trim or the set up of the engine, IMHO fitting a bigger or smaller pitch prop wont make much differnce.

Rat

[boatster]

How about the little fin anode under the cavitation plate?