Question: Why does my boat sit on the water lopsided?

(Posted by: Bob S on 2010-03-07 15:50:36)

I have a 1969 thunderbird 15' trihull walk thru windshield. when it sits on the water it leans to the drivers side, I'm thinking it has something to do with the bouyancy but I'm not sure. What do you guys think? It leans without anyone in it, I have redistributed the weight inside but it still leans.

Posted by: mark t on 2010-03-07, 17:23:59

If this happens when no one is on the boat, is the engine turned to that side. Small boats are very "tender " and will lean easily to the side with the most weight. Check to see if you have anything stowed on that side, see if it is the engine and see if there are things installed on that side that could cause this.

Posted by: bigcat on 2010-03-07, 15:57:19

Hi there must be more weight on that side , is your battery and fuel on that side or anything else that you can move to balance it up.

Posted by: ramcharger on 2010-03-07, 16:07:50

41 yrs old could be a problem in and of itself,i think the boat is taking on water ,needs to be hoisted out of the water for closer inspection and or repair,all marinas have the capability of doing this if you don't.

Posted by: ricsudukai on 2010-03-07, 16:31:57

It will with just the driver on board - particularly if you are a big person. Other than that it is redistribute the internal weight to get balance, or if this is a sudden problem that did not exist before look to the lower hull and a possible crack, split or hole allowing water into that side internally. Old boat, look carefully, there may be many sleeping issues if water has been able to enter the structure over the years. Good luck.

Posted by: bwest on 2010-03-07, 17:48:02

If it has a subfloor you could have water under it trapped somewhere

Posted by: bullibe on 2010-03-07, 20:46:35

If moving weight around in the boat has little effect on it, it could be "oil canned " or twisted, this happens sometimes to boats that have been in lifts for a long time or on bad trailers or on sailboats that have had their rigging tuned too tightly.