List to Port - Fletcher 19 GTS

[Bigplumbs]

Now I have had 3 trips out in the Fletcher 19 GTS I have found that with me and my wife on the boat when on the plane the boats lists to the left (Port). When at displacement speed the boat seems to sit nice and even. The odd thing is that I am about 8 stone heavier than my wife and I am sitting at the helm (Right hand side or Starboard). When on the plane if my wife sits the same side as me it seems to level out nicely. Is this just a question of swapping stuff about in the lockers or is it a trim thing.

Any advice would be appreciated

Dennis

[Ianfs]

I replied to your post on the other forum.

Try adjusting the trim anode. Sometimes if it's not adjusted properly the prop torque means you compensate at speed with steering which lists the boat.

[BruceK]

As above. You have a paddle wheel effect from the prop plus engine torque i.e the engine wants to rotate against the direction of the flywheel. If the annode doesn't work you need to start looking at different prop blade shapes size and pitch. There lies many hours of fun and frustration

[BruceK]

This of course also leads us back to trim tabs. And the trim tab vs Smart tab argument. Oooops.

[Ianfs]

And the trim tab vs Smart tab argument. Oooops.

[annageek]

I replied to your post on the other forum.

Try adjusting the trim anode. Sometimes if it's not adjusted properly the prop torque means you compensate at speed with steering which lists the boat.

Is this the round anode that goes beneath the car plate with a sort of 'sharks fin' that hangs down which can be rotated to give sideways hydrodynamic lift at speed to help reduce the steering effort to fight the paddlewheel effect?

If so, the fletcher doesn't (shouldn't) have this and has a plain flat anode, as it has hydraulic steering.

Could it be that one has been fitted and adjusted and is inducing the effect?

If you do want to play with props, we had a 19" Mercury Hi Five and a 19" Black Max which was the preferred prop. If we'd have kept the boat I'd have put on a 21" Black Max, as the 19 allowed a tiny bit of over rev, so we had to be mindful not to WOT her if we had a light load. With 4 on board though, I suspect the 21 may have struggled. That said, I can't really remember any noticeable list in any case.

[Bigplumbs]

Anna

Thanks for the reply. I think my boat has got the shark fin anode on the leg. I think I need to take that off and cut the fin off then put it back on. I also have a bit of steering wander when at very low speed and I wonder if this could cause that also. Taking that anode off will be fun on the mooring

Dennis

[Ianfs]

If so, the fletcher doesn't (shouldn't) have this and has a plain flat anode, as it has hydraulic steering.

Could it be that one has been fitted and adjusted and is inducing the effect?

Is this specified in the manuals? Only reason I ask is because the old 4" fins were used before '72 when the majority of boats didn't have power assist. After that the fins where still made but were smaller and Gen II legs still used them. There are also different sizes depending upon the props.

This kit has the fin...

http://www.boatzincs.com/alpha-one-gen2-kit-fin.html

But this one doesn't.....

http://www.marineengineparts.com/drive-systems/anodes-anode-kits/zinc-anodes/mercruiser-io/b-s-marine-anodes-bsmalphagen2kitz-alpha-one-gen-ii-zinc-kit.html

It's a good point though and worth checking to see say taking it off makes a difference. As you say Dennis, it'll be interesting getting it off mid channel!!

Oh and as Colin knows, I'm quite good at removing them mid Southampton Water, but that's another story.

[annageek]

I also have a bit of steering wander when at very low speed and I wonder if this could cause that also.

I'd have thought not - at slower speeds, it's so small that there just isn't going to be any hydrodynamic significance to it, I'd have thought. Ours always wandered a bit, but much less than other boats of similar size/type etc. Interestingly, if steered dead ahead by the helmsperson, a passenger could almost steer the boat by running from size to side to induce a bit of list. It was nearly impossible, but could be done! (To anyone who saw us slewing all over the Itchen on the way back in - you now know, we weren't blind drunk we were just trying to steer!)

Is this specified in the manuals

Hmm, I've tried to find where I once read that. There's a lot of talk along similar lines on various other forums, but no actual Mercruiser 'advice' as far as I can see. I've got a funny feeling I may have read it on the website for the shop when I bought a replacement. Doesn't mean it's right of course though!It seems its horses for courses though, as some people with power steered boats seem to benefit from a correctly set finned anode.

[ChrisH]

My alpha drive has no fin either. It's terrible at slow speed. Wanders all over the place. Was considering trying a finned anode. But not so sure now reading the above.

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