23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

[Badger99]

I have a 1971 23'8" Seabird flybridge. I dragged her out of the back of an old farm a few years ago. I Pulled the old rusted high profile drive system out and repowered her with a transom bracket and a V6 Outboard. However what I am curious about is that the boat tends to roll a lot. Even 2 persons standing on one side will cause her to heel over like a sailboat a good bit. Is this normal for these boats? I have considered pulling the flybridge off and going to a center console figuring it would lower the center of gravity but I prefer to keep the cabin and bridge. Of course the nightmare scenario is a capsized boat while 45 miles offshore. Any comments on this?

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

two things likely happening here<br /><br />first and foremost - thats likely a deep v all the way back, GREAT for slicing waves, lousy for stable fishing<br /><br />dont forget, you pulled 800 pounds of ballast out of the hull and hung a weight above your transom<br /><br />since you are traveling off shore, put a big ol fuel tank where that motor used to be, instant ballast and weight to keep ya stable

 

[Badger99]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

Thanks. That seems to be the group opinion at present and heck you can never have too much fuel.

 

[G DANE]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

Hi Badger99<br /><br />Very beautifull boat indeed.<br /><br />I think the large setback you added with this transom bracket, with the weight of a 6 cyl outboard on will infect on the boats stability.<br /><br />Forcing the transom down and lifting stern will make it less stable too. Try to distribute some weight foreward. What Ray says is true too. I owned a 21 ' deep v once, it wasnt very stable when lying still.

 

[Badger99]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

When a few fishermen stand on one side of the boat she tends to lay over quite a bit. How far will this go? Can the boat actually roll over and take on water this way? Or does it reach a point where the keel weight just can't be overcome by a few ppl?<br />Several ppl have reccomended I add a large bilge fuel tank. It seems to me that would just increase the amount of chine out of the water and make the boat run even higher in the front? Would it be better to trim the bow down with a large set of trim tabs?

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

I would say not, especially if, as I am inferring here, you are talking about trolling - <br /><br />I dont think it is the setback so much as it is that the wieght is now up in the air whereas before it was down in the hull - ballast ya see<br /><br />I would bet the fuel tank does wonders<br /><br />of course, use common sense, if you are in a broaching sea, distribute the weight, but normal conditions, let it lean over, deep V boats rock and roll at rest and low speeds<br /><br />bet she slices waves like a cutter underway!<br /><br />beauty of a boat, where in delaware are you?<br /><br />Im heading down there sat for more cigs, lol<br /><br />

 

[Badger99]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

Just west of Dover. You must be coming down from Jersey? I suspect comes the tuna time we fish some of the same waters.

 

[G DANE]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

Badger99<br /><br />You can easily make your own tests. Take a couple of sandbags and try to place 150 lbs in center below deck, or 100 lbs up front. You will see if any of it helps. I you need weight foreward, its possible to move your battery and tank up front. remember to get REALLY heavy duty cables.

 

[Badger99]

Re: 23' Seabird Seems to Roll a lot ???

Yea theres a sand plant down the road that sells blasting sand in 100 lb bags for about 3 bucks a bag. Figure I will toss 5 of them on the bilge and see what that does before I pay for a custom fuel tank.