Boat sitting low in the water

pstew96

pstew96

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Dec 4, 2003
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12527
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After taking it out of the water this year I noticed the barnicles and grime were about 5 - 6 inches above my bottom paint line, there isn't really that much stuff stowed on the boat to make it sit so much lower. I just got this boat in August, its a 2004, could it be they just didn't paint it high enough at the start?
 
5-6 inches is a heck of a lot of water weight. Mark it and see if there's any difference after winter storage. Maybe even take the boat to a truck scale. It's all good info to have recorded for later reference.
 
(From the profile, the boat is a year 2000 24' Male! Searay.)

Did a LOT of water drain out when you pulled the garboard plug on the hard?
Have you checked all accessible bilge compartments to make sure limber holes are clear and pump float switches are working as they should and that pump hoses or hull outlet fittings have not disconnected or broken so as to only recyle bilge water? Nylon outlet fittings are notoripus for cracking or breaking off at the hose barb side due to the wave-impact weight of unsupported hose.

Perhaps find someone who can check moisture content of hull coring?

As Charlie says, 4-5 inches is a big discrepancy possibly representing a huge volume of retained water and a benchmark weighing now is a very good idea.
 
Paint is possible, I have seen where guys have to raise their bottom paint becuase from factory or first guy who painted did it too low.

Also could be you have some water intrustion and the stringers are water logged, but I think you would see it dripping from bottom as it dries out. Maybe get someone with a moisture meter to check.
 
My crayon-on-napkin estimate shows that to represent "around" 5000 pounds displacement. If it is a mis-placed waterline, so be it, but if not, you are talking a LOT of weight ( even if my calcs are way off ).
 
Thanks for the input people! This boat has been out of the water since Sandy Storm, its a 2004 Maxum 2400, i have no indication of any water intrusion and the bilge is and always has been mostly dry. After taking her out, no water has come out despite tipping her back uphill on the trailer. Its got a 5.0 and 4800lbs and its top speed was about 32 mph. I think maybe the painter didn't go far enough up, I was wonering about it last July when I first saw the boat, wondering why there where barnicle bases on the unpainted portion of hull, thats probably why. Thanks all!
 
I'd guess at a lot of water in between the inside and outside layers of Glass. Water in the floatation in other words.
I think you could use Air Pressure to locate any of those kinds of leaks.
 
i'm serious when I say this. Look on Ebay to see if there are any boats like yours. Maybe you can see a water line in the pics for comparison.
 
I think Stephen is on to something, I noticed before I put the boat in the water that there were signs of barnicles on the hull inches above the paint line and now I know why, the paint doesn't go high enough on the hull! The paint line is way off! Thanks all for the input! Thanks Stephen!
 
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