Tippy aluminum houseboat

[Roarr]

I just finished a rebuild on this boat and have made it very tippy left to right to the pointim worried about it capsizing like full rollover. There were gas tanks inside under the front seats that smelled of gas so I removed them and put a new larger tank up top under the upper helm. Yeah yeah I know this was a consideration of balance and we always had to much weight in the side with the outboard stove fridge etc all along one side but the fuel tank up top was bad but no where else to put it. So my question is what about adding some pontoons. This would give me more floatation and eliminate the left right sway even at rest. I see some boats by IRC that have pontoons and a hull and it looks like a very strong design any ideas would help and I uabw looked into gyros always need power and fins are great when your moving but houseboats just sit.....i

 

[Scott Danforth]

You need to relocate the fuel tank low in the boat, below the water line

Many times to level houseboats, you add lead weight

 

[Roarr]

You need to relocate the fuel tank low in the boat, below the water line

Many times to level houseboats, you add lead weight

There is no place below water line its a very shallow boat! It had tanks in rear of boat but they added inboard and was too heavy back there thats why they put them inside the seats. I think my only option now is to add pontoons.

 

[briangcc]

You're trying to defy physics. By placing the tank up so high, the center of gravity was put way, way out of whack. You really do need to move the tank down.

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is no place below water line its a very shallow boat! It had tanks in rear of boat but they added inboard and was too heavy back there thats why they put them inside the seats. I think my only option now is to add pontoons.

you need a very low profile fuel tank

 

[kcassells]

Just use 1 pontoon.
Scott hit on the head with his original answer.

 

[Earl Cordova]

Lowering the gas tank will help when the tank is full.
But it looks like you will need some permanent ballast.

 

[sphelps]

Lead weights or a bunch of the dumbell disk down in the bilge like a sailboat .. Less weight up top .. Adding pontoons may help but might make it a problem being too wide for a slip maybe ?idk

 

[Jim Hawkins]

I suppose you can add pontoons on each side and they will help with the roll but I don't see how to do it feasibly. That looks like an old Sea Camper, cool. I would remove all the topside railings and replace with stanchions and SS cable, remove that big platform roof on the back and find a way to put the fuel tank on the back deck, maybe where the propane tank is. How much fuel you carry anyway?

 

[froggy1150]

What about "pontoon looking" fuel tanks wouldnt have to be very big either.

 

[froggy1150]

Could put them just above the rub rail.

 

[Lectro88]

Not to beat a dead horse.
But the fuel tank up top, is like..,
Trying to relocate an extension ladder in the upright position with a 100 pounds up top, or a man standing on the top rung hanging on.
And I don't mean to sound ugly.

 

[444]

Great looking boat! I think you need to ask yourself why this boat isn't behaving now when originally when it was new it would have been just fine.

 

[70marlin]

What about ballast?

 

[PC on the Bayou]

Not only does the fuel tank being so high through off the COG, but it could also cause a significant siphoning problem from the tank that could be dangerous.

I agree with moving the tank down to the lower deck or below it. The adding of ballast could be good, also, if more is needed.

 

[Lectro88]

Not only does the fuel tank being so high through off the COG, but it could also cause a significant siphoning problem from the tank that could be dangerous.

I agree with moving the tank down to the lower deck or below it. The adding of ballast could be good, also, if more is needed.

The siphoning is a very good point that I didn't even consider.... It sure would make it easier on the fuel pump.. LOL. But if a float sticks or doesn't cut off, yeah that Could be bad.

And filling at station has got to be a pain, short hose and having to climb with the hose or have someone reach it to you.
It sux being out of good options and needing space.

 

[briangcc]

It's been over 3 weeks boys and girls. I doubt the OP will be back after we didn't give him/her the magic bullet of how to fix the self made problem.

 

[racerone]

Best to have this thing inspected before an accident happens.-------I like boats designed by a Russian archetect-------Name is ----Kneva Toppleova

 

[Jim Hawkins]

Just noticed this, check out the rudder type attachment on the cavitation plate of the big motor behind the Yamaha 25

 

[kcassells]

Doesn't anyone understand this guy left the thread?