trim problem

[pack-rat]

hello this is my first post on iboats. i'm fairly new to boating, i've got a 78 aristocraft 19 with a mercruiser 120. it runs good, steers easy, but at speed it heels way over to port. it doesn't really pull, it just leans way over that way. if it's just me in the boat it heels just a little, but with a passenger in the other seat it's pretty extreme. the gas tank is on the port side, but it seems the same whether the tank is full or close to empty. i'd appreciate some advice on what to do, should i try to ballast one side, or would trim tabs help (not sure what they do, and i don't have them). i love this boat otherwise, it's kinda cool to have an old boat that's in such good shape, but i'd really like to get this problem resolved. any advice would be great. thanks.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: trim problem

PK, Welcome to iboats. . Got any pic of the new toy.

PS, Move the fat girls to the other side .... problem solved.

 

[Boatist]

Re: trim problem

1. Welcome to the board.

Bennett trim tabs would fix the problem for sure plus give you total control of the ride in all sea and wind conditions.
I have them on my boat and will never have another boat without them.
For me it is well worth the cost.

Having said that to correct your problem there likely cheaper ways.

First does the wheel turn eaiser one way than the other?

On the back of you catitation plate behind and above the prop there is a small adjustable trim tab.
If this trim tab is not adjusted right it can cause your problem.
usually if it is way off it will also make the wheel turn harder in one direction than the other.
The tab of course has more affect the faster you go.
I would start by adjusting that tab.
Most I have seen have some index marks on them and one will be longer than the rest.
Line up the mark on the tab with the mark on the caviation plate.
This is a good starting position and with the standard factory prop will usuall work good.
With different props you often have to adjust it.
I would mark where it is or note how it is alligned first and then make a very large adjustment so you can see the affect right away.
Then take it for a ride at full throttle and see how it affected your problem.
By making a large adjustment you will know right away if you went the right way or the wrong way.
Now you will know which way to go and in one or two adjustments can get adjusted to steer and right flat.

Other things can also affect the lean like wind from either side.
Most boats will lean into the wind so adjust on a day with light winds.

A bent or broken skeg can also cause same problem.

Hull damage can also cause the same problem.

Also make sure you do not have the bow trimmed too low.

 

[ziggy]

Re: trim problem

to add to boatist comment on trim tab adjustment. this adj. is set for your normal load,speed, and trim. any other load, speed and trim, steering will pull one direction or the other. myself. i like to cruise @ 2500-3k rpm, slightly trimed up. so this is where i set my trim tab to be so i can let go of the steering wheel and the boat will go stright + not pull in either direction while steering. like i said. anything other than the norm and steering will pull one direction of the other.
that said. my boat leans also. i got a '75 nineteen. i find it worse at lower planing speeds. mine does it in both port and starboard turns. seems equal to me. ya can feel it heel over right before it happens too. i've just gotten used to it. however, when i speed up which includes trimming up. i find it don't heel over near as bad. stays much flatter.

do try trimming out/up. mine is pretty sensitive to trim and i constantly adj. it depending on what conditions i'm in.

i do try to equal my load on both sides. i've found the nineteen to be pretty weight sensitive. any load imbalance and i list to the heavy side.

welcome to iboats. if yer gonna be working on your boat. iboats is the place to hang out.

iboats has mfg. specific forums too. ya might check out the aristocraft forum. 'AristoCraft' screen name is really the oem. well, the son and grandson of the oem. oem none the less. http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=224 there's a pretty good following of aristocraft actually. not surprising. great boats.

what color did ya get?

pics.... there's a post up a pic of your aristocraft thread going over on the aristocraft forum too. hint, hint...

congrats on your new boat. ya got a dandy. once ya got a sliding hardtop boat, i can't imagine what the next boat would be that would be satisfying. if ya can't tell. i think aristocraft boats are the cats meow....

 

[cr2k]

Re: trim problem

I think a big part of your problem is inherent to having that large diameter prop with the big blades (assuming you are running an original prop).
Can't help but torque the boat over the port.

 

[pack-rat]

Re: trim problem

thanks for the feed back. even yours summer fun. c'mon, a little credit here. i'm a nice guy, i gotta get the boat right so the fat girls can sit anywhere they want! here's a little background on things. i had the boat for part of last season. i did play with the trim tab thats right behind the prop. went too far at first and got a little education on not going too far. i got it pretty good finally, unfortunately i don't quite remember for sure but it seems like it pulls very slightly to the right. i'm in Michigan, and i cant put the boat in the water for a while yet. i won't be able to try any more adjustments til then. i'm trying to get it all ready as soon as i can though, so once it's time i can have fun using the boat instead of having fun workin on it. driving it is way better. i am curious about a couple of your suggestions. for one, exactly what do trim tabs do, are there specific ones for specific boats, and once in place do they have to be adjusted, maintained, etc? also as far as prop torque, how would you compensate for that, or would you need a different prop? or is it truly best to move the fat girls around till its all level? thanks again for your advice. i hope to have this little old lady all good soon as possible after the weather breaks.

 

[pack-rat]

Re: trim problem

oh and by the way its white, the sliding hard top and seats are brown. cool boat, starts a lot of conversations.

 

[Boatist]

Re: trim problem

There are many types of trim tabs.
On my boat I have Bennett helm controlled trim tabs.
They are two Stainless steel plates that go on the stern of the boat.
They can be moved up and down with two switches at your helm station.
If you move the tab down on the low side of your boat while moving it will raise that side.
At planning speeds you can adjust the lean of a boat from side to side in 2 seconds.
You can trim your boat for bow up or down and lean from side to side.
The boat will plane at a lower speed.
You adjust you boats attitude with the trim tabs then trim your motor for best speed and fuel mileage.

I love the trim tabs because I can trim my boat for the best ride in any type sea condition.
From the Short wind blown chop to the Large 8 foot swells in the ocean to the slop from many boarder in a small cove I can trim for the best ride.

When the chop is large and you can not find a smooth ride at any position you can slow down and stay on plane at a much lower speed and take the pounding out.

You can have fun with them.
When you have a new Chick on the boat for the first time you can adjust her side low.
Then ask her to trade places with a heaver person on the other side of the boat to balance the boat.
As they change side you adjust her side low again.
Last you can suggest that it must be that heavy Bikini top she has on and ask her to put the top on the other side. When she does you adjust the boat level and thank her, then hand her some Sun Tan Lotion..
Just be careful that when she finds out that there are no guns or clubs in site.

 

[pack-rat]

Re: trim problem

boatist it sounds like that's what i need. i'm still gonna try and adjust the fin tab, but i like the idea of putting trim tabs on. i'll probably have to save my pennies for a while but i think thats my answer. i suppose it's mandatory with new tabs to have new chick too. i guess i'll just have to suffer through it, but i suppose we all have to make sacrifices, eh? i love it! now all i need is the water to not be solid anymore. c'mon summer. thanks again to all for all your great advice. i think i'll be picking your brains alot as i get this old boat all dialed in.