heavy stern

[grandx]

I'm afraid the solution to this won't be easy, but here it goes. I have a 2500WA Hydrasports cuddy cabin with twin 150 mercs on the back. The stern is too heavy, scuppers level with the water line. I've tried loading more weight up front with little success. Wondering what else I could do to lift the stern some. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[JB]

Re: heavy stern

Howdy, GrandX.<br /><br />I don't know about Hydrasports cuddys, but I have a couple of knee-jerks for you:<br /><br />1. Do you have too much engine on it? 300HP doesn't sound like it's too much for a 2500, but it may be that your boat is rated much lower to keep transom weight down.<br /><br />2. Have you a secret cargo of water in the bilge or flotation area?<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[grandx]

Re: heavy stern

Ahoy JB,<br />Boat rated for 400HP, I repowered with 150's from a pair of older 175's and actually gained 100 lbs, it already sat low but this did not help. Bilge is dry as a bone, I think its just a poor engineering job. I can move batteries forward a couple of feet, thought about pulling fuel tank and trimming off a couple of feet towards the stern (have ample fuel), but was hoping for some miracle method that wasn't so much work.

 

[Ross J]

Re: heavy stern

Short of loosing a few HP the only solution I can see would be add-on external floatation devices such as transom mounted hollow 50ltr tanks to help bouyancy when stopped. Otherwise the vessel wouild remain unsafe!<br />Ross

 

[suzukidave]

Re: heavy stern

This doesn't sound right. I don't know the make, but a 25' cuddy should be able handle two 150's especially if it's rated for 400hp -- a few random questions/ideas<br /><br />what is the motor's combined weight? <br />What type of hull design (v, deep v?) <br />Has somebody maybe switched fuel tanks on it and shifted wight aft? --<br />Is this an aluminum fuel tank seated in the bilge -- what capacity, dimensions and how far from the transom? <br />Was this maybe originally an i/o powered boat? <br />How about the transom itself, has somebody maybe cut it low to run a short leg? <br />Also dry bilge doesn't mean there's no water on the other side of the bulkheads. The flotation foam in the watertight compartments could be soaked. Do you have access to check your foam?

 

[Trent]

Re: heavy stern

Sounds like my wife..Heavy stearn..

 

[jungnim2]

Re: heavy stern

Try using lighter engines. Both engines combined weigh 980 pounds! You can have the same performance with OMC engines for 700 pounds. Your engines are too heavy. When you don't want to change the engines, put 200 pounds of sand bags in the bow.