My first boat

[scrobo]

Hi everyone.

I just bought my first boat and learned many many valuable lessons along the way. I bought a 1958 Lonestar XL runabout. 14'6" fiberglass. Learned why the transom cannot be rotted... learned that floors need to be strong... learned that pressurized tanks are hard to come by...

Expensive lesson. $500 for boat, trailer and 35HP motor.

$2500 for another motor, paint, transom, lights, seats, fiberglass, carpet, remote control, cables, steering wheel, etc etc etc.

I used Seacast for the transom and it worked wonders. Hard as a rock. There is a slight bow to the transom now (Wood did not support weight like it should have) but only off by 1" in the center.

The motor is a longshaft and the plate above the prop is level with the bottom of the boat. The boat is flat on the bottom and traditonally boat-like (is that a new term?) up front.

So... we're out on Lake Ontario after 1 month of rebuilding this lemon and working on trying to get the tilt right... out there full throttle (Maybe 35mph at most I think) and suddenly the boat lurches to one side and I drop a dookie in my pants. We pulled back and leveled out. It did it a few times.

Worries the crap out of me. I've come up with some possible reasons for this... Not sure if I am right. I was hoping someone could help me nail this down. I can provide pictures if asked.

a) The prop has nicks... maybe unbalanced?
b) Water was a bit choppy. maybe this old beast was not made for that kind of water?
c) Bow in transom? (Hope not... it cost me US$500)
d) Motor too long? (I think I ruled this out with the measurement...)
e) uneven at the back? There are small lumps at the bottom of the transom going under the boat. Runoff from the fiberglass I think. These are small little bubbles...
f) Needs a stabilizer? I was looking at a Stingray Hydrofoil and it says it stabilizes the boat...
g) Motor too big for boat? Maybe it just goes too fast for the boat to handle? No information plate on the boat yet... awaiting it from Transport Canada. but the OBC rating it came with from 1958 said 40HP...

Anything else could cause this? I want to go fishing up north in 2 weeks and we were hoping to do some tubing behind the boat. The 40HP makes it go fast as snot (At least it feels like it)

I also have a bench seat right up against the rear "pan" in front of the motor. Maybe people are too far back and I need to make back-to-back seats up front a bit?

I figure SOMEONE on here knows what I can do. I am lost. And I don;t enjoy boating that much when it feels like the boat is going to flip upside down on carve sideways into the water and fill up...

Here is an album from the first test day. I don;t have any from Day 2 as the water was a bit rougher and I didn;t feel comfortable out there. Lake Ontario is pretty big. Just click the link below.

http://s112.photobucket.com/albums/n197/cobraOPS/First Day in Boat/

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: My first boat

the 40 is perfect for that boat. you being a new boater, probably hit a wave wrong, and that caused you dip. those are great handle boats.

 

[rndn]

Re: My first boat

As mentioned, probably the wave causing the boat to lurch back and forth.

 

[rndn]

Re: My first boat

Is your steering tight? I guess if there was enough play it might cause it to do what you describe.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My first boat

I only have a 16 footer and it handles chop OK but if I hit a wake wrong it is SCARY! And sometimes a low one will sneak up on you. Just be attentive and prepared to back off the throttle.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: My first boat

The hydrofoil you mentioned would probably not help the situation you describe. A pair of Smart Tabs would help more probably. It is possible you experienced some chine-walking; looks like the motor is mounted pretty high up.

You can get some of the composite Smart Tabs for just a tad bit more than the hydrofoil, and it will make a huge handling difference.​

 

[scrobo]

Re: My first boat

I've been looking for results all morning. I am hoping for a calm day on Lake Ontario to go out.

I am guessing some weight distribution will help too. I am moving the battery over to the gas tank side. I am certainly not a lightweight.

To be honest, I am not sure what year the boat is now. This site had a lot of info on it on models of lonestars. It seems like a good boat and I certainly don't want to have to pull it up from the bottom. Is there the possibility of capsizing during this chine-walking thing? Or just scaring the poop out of me?

I was told Lonestars are great boats for rebuilding because they were built well. Mine seems to look good now... But the guy at the marina said too muc engine. (Tried then to sell me a 25hp)

I am also going to make sure engine is tight by putting the security bolts through the transom and sealing them. Also the little fin in front of the prop (Excuse my lack of word here) is off to the right a bit. Maybe straighten it out.

This motor was bought after the boat. The 35 I had was dead. It was a 35hp evinrude lark from the 50s. I hope to get this all stable. MKy wife and kid are scared to go out with m again

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: My first boat

1.) Is there the possibility of capsizing during this chine-walking thing? Or just scaring the poop out of me?

2.) Also the little fin in front of the prop (Excuse my lack of word here) is off to the right a bit. Maybe straighten it out.​

1.) There is a slight chance you could flip a boat during chine-walk; crapping your swim-trunks is more likely to happen.

2.) The trim anode is probably off to the right because of prop-torque; the previous owner probably had it set that way to help reduce some of the pull on the steering wheel.​

 

[scrobo]

Re: My first boat

Well.. maybe that is why the wheel is harder to turn left?

Also... I feel a bit better with the "Only crapping my trunks" idea while chimewalking. I am ordering the SmartTabs I just need to decide wether or not I need the SX or the standard models. And also the cheapest way to get them in Canada. Hopefully that stabilizes the boat. The videos were very convincing.