1993 Marada 21ft Bowrider Leaning hard Starboard HELP!

[tsumma]

Just purchased a 1993 Marada Open Bow 21ft boat OMC Powertrain with a 5.0. The issue I'm having is once the boat reaches cruising speed 25+ it leans hard starboard unless I have all persons and gear on the port side. The boat has a 14.5 x 19p Quicksilver 3 Blade Aluminum on it. The boat DOES have smart tabs but I've changed the positions and this still happens. ANY suggestions would be great.

 

[wahlejim]

Worst Case Scenario: Hull is waterlogged on Starboard side. Could be quite a bit of water in the foam. To rule this out, take it to a scale and get it weighed. An accurate measurement will require 2 trips. One with an empty trailer and one with the boat. This would be my first course of action as it can determine if you even want to keep the boat and fix it.

You may also want to check that your tabs are functional and have full range of motion. Beyond that, its weight distribution. Where is your fuel tank? Battery? etc.

 

[tsumma]

Fuel tank is in the center of the boat, Battery is on the Starboard side but I have an umbrella weight on the opposite side to equal all that out.. I've never heard of a boat being waterlogged this boat has very little hours still has original interior in mint condition carpet and floor is all in great condition. How would that even happen?

 

[tsumma]

Also want to mention the boat sits perfect without people and sits perfect even with people going at no wake speeds only does this on plane

 

[southkogs]

What about the trim tab on your stern drive? Have you checked it? That would be the first question I'd make sure I answered.

Next step would be to look for some kind of hook in the hull ... a place where maybe there's been some past damage and the hull is not following it's correct line down the long axis of the boat.

 

[tsumma]

Your referring to the Cavitation plate above the prop? The hull is in fantastic shape I've looked it over really well checking for just that sort of thing. Nothing even so much as a gouge.

 

[wahlejim]

Not the cavitation plate, your starboard smart tab. It may be riding low. We understand that cosmetically, there may not be anything noticeable wrong with the hull. He is recommending that you run a straight edge along the bottom of the hull to make sure it is straight. You have a 25 year old boat in pristine condition. Either someone took really good care of it or someone fixed it up really well. It is possible that the hull is not straight.

 

[tsumma]

I will remove the tabs from the brackets and go from there. I purchased the boat from the original owner and yes I agree its possible its been fixed but it was garage kept and sat for a few years here and there.

 

[tsumma]

A guy at the ramp told me to turn the fin on the cavitation plate as well, was saying something about prop torque but I would think that would push it to the port side if I'm thinking right?

 

[wahlejim]

Do you have power steering on the Boat? If so, there is no need for the fin on the cavitation plate.

 

[southkogs]

Your referring to the Cavitation plate above the prop?

Sort of - there's a tab on most stern drives under the cavitation plate. It's a trim tab. It's just one of those "check here first" things - easy to fix, easy to make sure there's no problem.

Prop torque in theory will push you into a port turn easier. The tab can fight ya' both ways. I would think the fast you go, the more it'll fight.

The hull is in fantastic shape I've looked it over really well checking for just that sort of thing. Nothing even so much as a gouge.

Like wahlejim said a hook can be tough to see. Use a straight edge to check. Again, it's an item to check off the list.

 

[tsumma]

Yes boat has power steering so that pretty much rules that out. I really hope I don't have a waterlogged boat I would certainly be out every nickel I paid for the boat. Thanks for the insight I have a feeling I've been burned and its too bad because the boat is super nice for the year and price I paid.

 

[wahlejim]

Keep in mind that the water log is a worst case scenario. A hook in the hull is a close second. Both are really easy to determine and gives you piece of mind. If you can determine it is not water logged, and it is straight against a straight edge, we can get to the bottom of it. IMHO it is best to rule out worst case scenarios before sinking money into phantom problems.

 

[tsumma]

I Know the trailer weighs 750lbs because I just had that weighed when I bought it. if I go weigh the boat how will I know if its overweight?

 

[Horigan]

If the boat only leans when underway on plane and not when stationary, then it's not uneven waterlog. There should be a spec weight for the boat when it's empty/dry on line somewhere if you're curious to see how it weighs now.

 

[wahlejim]

Take the boat as empty as possible to a scale. Pull anything that can be removed and note the amount of fuel in the tank. The weight you find for your boat online will be dry weight.

Drop the trailer on the scale, pull your vehicle off. Subtract 750 for the weight of your trailer and you have your boat weight.

 

[wahlejim]

Forgot to mention to take into account the weight of the fuel. Compare your final weight to the weight you find online for your boat. If it is water logged, It will be a couple hundred pounds overwieght. If it is severely water logged, 1000 lbs wouldnt surprise me, but it doesnt sound like that is the case based on what you are describing.

 

[wahlejim]

Just a quick search and I am coming up with a dry weight of 2450 for your boat. That may be assuming a 3.0 or 4.3, and you mentioned you have a 5.0 so there will be some weight difference there. With trailer, whatever fuel is in the tank, and a bigger engine, I would ballpark it at 35-3600 pounds. If it comes in close to 4,000 or more, you probably have some water hiding in there.

 

[Alumarine]

Just to clarify, you've run it with the starboard smart tab in it's maximum extended position and the port tab in it's minimum?

 

[tsumma]

Sorry guys I've been busy and have not been able to respond for a bit. I will try to get that weighed as soon as possible. I've adjusted the smart tabs in a few different positions but never complete opposites like your describing. The adjustments don't seem to make any changes from what I've done so far.