Lean to the left. Help plz?!!

[Rjbrice15]

I have an 18ft stingray 556 with a 3.0 mercruiser, the prop pitch is 15.5 with a 19 pitch. Also have a stingray hydrofoil. When I am on plane the boat leans to the left.. It gets a little better with trimming but deffineltly still leans to left. It does this with me only also seems a little worse woth a passenger. . However I don't think it's a weight issue just making it worse when I have someone woth me. Also I was out the other day woth no wind and calm water and it seemed to not lean at all. Today was a little windy and choppy. Any advise would help I was reading and maybe prop tourqe?

 

[alldodge]

Howdy

Most light boats lean (list) to starboard (right side looking forward from the stern toward the bow)

The prop rotates clockwise which causes the boat to list in that direction. So yours is listing the other direction?

If this is the case, when no one is in the boat, which way does it list?

 

[Rjbrice15]

Yes correct to the it list to the port. When noone is in the boat or when I'm at idle speed it seems to be completly level it does not list until it planes.. When I trim it pulls out of it but still is noticeable enough to make me nervous. I've been on a boat since I was a kid and have never experienced this before. Thanks for replying and look forward to your input. It's a right hand prop if that helps.

 

[alldodge]

Would like to know how it sits with no one on the boat? Trying to figure out if the hull has taken on water, something heavy is on one side compared to the other or something else.

Does the outdrive have a torque tab on it?
Looks something like this

 

[Rjbrice15]

Yes it has that zinc skeg above the prop. It's perfectly straight. I don't think it has taken on water the first time I had it in this year after I bought it i noticed it. When I was out 3 days ago it was calm no wind and didn't seem to do it at all. Now today it was WI do and choppy again and it's doing it. Is there anyway I can tell if it's taken on water. Could the hydrofoil be causing it? Could it be the prop is wrong? I know I have alot of questions but im just looking for what others think the case may be. Thanks again.

 

[Rjbrice15]

Oh and to your questions. When there is no one in it and it's at the dock the boat it completely level. No list just floating empty looking at it from shore.

 

[alldodge]

I've been on a boat since I was a kid and have never experienced this before.

I'm using this comment as the baseline, this is a boat your well use to.

The issue with weight is not from taking on water over the rails/sides, it's taking on water over time in the hull.

The foil will lift the hull and I also have the same one on my Rinker. My main thoughts are: is this new to you since you haven't been maybe in the boat for some time, or is this a real change which has happened recently?

You sit on the right side and therefore it should lean toward that direction, not the opposite.

It's not the prop, and the only way in my opinion it could be the foil, is if the cavitation plate broke on one side causing the foil to tilt when running, but you should clearly see that

 

[Rjbrice15]

I just bought this boat 2 months ago so this boat I am speaking of os very new to me. Correct me if I'm wrong but if there was water in the hull wouldn't it lean at idle. Or even when it's floating at the dock?

 

[redneck joe]

Yep, it would.


I had a 20' bayliner that would lean when in the wind but perfect on calm days. Never did anything about it just lived with it. It did not have a foil on it so thinking that is not your issue. Tabs would work i bet. I have Bennetts that are adjustable maybe smart tabs would work?

 

[alldodge]

I just bought this boat 2 months ago so this boat I am speaking of os very new to me. Correct me if I'm wrong but if there was water in the hull wouldn't it lean at idle. Or even when it's floating at the dock?

Agree, and my mistake on your statement, I took it as you used this boat, my bad

Yes, as joe mentioned in would lean to one side when sitting. This is why I asked how it sat in the water with no one in it. Look at how the foil is mounted to the drive, is it tilted to one side?

Can you post a couple pics of the hull and drive?

 

[steelespike]

Leaning to the left(port) is from prop torque.Some boats will lean toward the wind when steering to combat the wind.
A deep V might tend to run on one side.
Smart tabs may help.They should be adjusted just enough to get it done.Too aggressive will cause strange handling
and poor performance.

 

[redneck joe]

Take the foil off for a few days and see what happens

 

[Rjbrice15]

Thanks guys. Never thought u would need to put tabs on such a small boat.. I will post a few pics when I take it out of the water today. I'm going to try and take the foil off.. It does appear to be mounted straight ad I thought this may be the problem. I will let you guys know.

 

[Rjbrice15]

Just one more question. How important Is diameter on a prop. What imI'm seeing is most people run 14-14.5 by 17-19p. The one I have on there is 15.5x19p. Should I go smaller on diameter. If the tach is correct which I planned to have it tested it runs full throttle at about 5,000

 

[alldodge]

IMO the diameter has nothing to do with your issue.

 

[steelespike]

5000 rpm,19",1.98 ratio,12% slip = 40 mph.Of course the hydro foil could slow the results.

 

[Rjbrice15]

Took the hydrofoil off. No list anymore. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[decrepit]

You fixed the issue, but if you still want to use your hydrofoil, the zinc skeg is supposed to be adjusted to correct listing. You can try moving it off center, and see what direction your boat goes. Fine tune the anode's direction until you're going straight.