Boat is listing to starboard

aikraar · **Joined:** Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:37 pm **Posts:** 1

Hello everyone,
I'm new to this forum and was wondering if I could get some help with a problem.
I just recently purchased a used 2011 FW H200 with a Mercruiser 5.0 MPI.
The boat and engine are immaculate.
We just noticed, however, that when the boat was docked it was listing to starboard.
When my 200 lb son stands on the port side of the stern, the boat levels out.
This suggests to me that there is something very heavy weighing down the starboard side of the boat.
It seems to me that the most likely culprit is water.
But the bilge area and lower storage areas look completely dry.
I'm concerned that water might be trapped in a floatation compartment.
Am I able to access these compartments to check them out?
But maybe I'm off base. Is there any other obvious reason that the boat might be listing?
If anyone has experience with this type of problem or has some thoughts
I would very much appreciate hearing from them.

KNEEOIL · **Joined:** Fri May 21, 2010 12:36 pm **Posts:** 33

On our H210, the battery is on the starboard side but wouldn't think that by itself would make a major difference.

230 Mike · **Posted:** Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:38 pm

Does it have dual batteries and if so, where are they mounted? I can't remember if this was an option on the 210, and I don't remember any 210 owners talking about a list, but many 230/240/250/260 owners with dual batteries dealt with this in the mid-2000's.

I doubt that's your problem, but here's a sample thread for consideration:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1742&p=34657#p34657

If your boat originally had a single battery mounted on the starboard side, and a previous owner added a 2nd battery on the same side, this could be your problem.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Mon Sep 12, 2016 11:42 pm

Also, does the H210 have a fresh water tank?

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2016 5:26 am

This being a newer H-200, there isn't an accessible area there because all the area below the deck is foam filled. If the concern is that there could be water there one thing you could do is this: usually the speedometer pick up in on the starboard side; remove the screws holding it to the transom. If water comes out that could be the issue. However the holes may not go all the way through the transom. If there is no water to be seen you could re locate the battery to the port side, that will remove about 45 lbs from stbd and add it to port. When you say it lists is that with it empty or with you at the helm? Mine has always listed to starboard and it has one batt on each side. I could have put both batts on the port side but it sometimes lists to port on plane so that would have made it worse. Does yours list on plane?
If you relocate batteries from stbd to port keep in mind you have to up size the gauge of the battery cable to compensate for the longer lenght ( I used a 1/0 cable for the long run from the port side battery to the switch)...

rpengr · **Posted:** Tue Sep 13, 2016 7:14 am

Water doesn't seem too likely because it is hard to hide 20+ gallons of water in a largely foam filled boat. That's a lot of water.

One simple test you could do is to tap on various spots on the boat and compare the sound of the port vs stbd sides. Of course you would have to do this while it's out of the water. I would use the plastic handle end of a screwdriver... it's hard enough to make a good crisp sound but will not damage the gelcoat unless you hit way too hard. Different areas of the boat will sound different, but the port and starboard sides should sound the same.

www.iFourWinns.com

Boat is listing to starboard

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