www.iFourWinns.com

Hello all,
I am new to this site, as I've recently purchased a 2007 FW Horizon 200 with the factory wakeboard tower and Merc 5.0L MPI.
After buying the boat used early this spring, and after many weeks looking at it in the garage I finally got it out on the water last night. It worked awesome and had no issues other than one that was a little odd to me. I've been boating all my life and this is not a new sport to me in anyway, but I can't figure out what is going on. When I hit the throttle and are getting up on plane as the boat starts to level back out (front to back), it leans towards the port side (left side as sitting in the drivers seat). But as I trimmed the motor up a little as needed and got up to a constant cruising speed it wasn't as bad but still noticeable. I also tried a playing around with it and as I hit the throttle wot in short bursts it would lean heavy to the port side each time it did it. I am running no trim tabs, the boat has power steering and it has a high five stainless (21 pitch) prop on it. To me it seems that the torque of the prop is twisting the boat in the water causing it to lean to the port side. I am just wondering if anyone else as ever heard or encountered this ever before? Its a new one to me. I have the factory 3 blade aluminum prop I will try next week to see if it corrects the problem. Any advice, previous experience or comments would be great.
Thank you!

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2007 FW Horizon 200
MerCrusier 5.0L MPI
Factory XTP Wakeboard Tower

Does the boat sit level in the water when not moving? Do you have excess weight on that side (batteries etc.)?

Yes the boats sits 100% level when at a stand still and no, I had the bare minimum in the boat so there was nothing weight wise that would have put it off in anyway. I had a small tool box which I moved around but again it was only 15lbs max and didn't make a difference.
Thanks,

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2007 FW Horizon 200
MerCrusier 5.0L MPI
Factory XTP Wakeboard Tower

Mine has always done that, at certain trim angles. I think the boat just really needs trim tabs, which is a good addition to any planing powerboat. While mine has a slight list at rest, its to stbd not to port. On plane at certain trim settings it lists to port.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

My boat does the same thing if I don't trim up enough but my boat also does not sit perfectly level at rest.
Is there anything on the drive like one of those anodes that looks like a fin you can change direction? Maybe its not straight. I know a lot of outboards have them, not sure about mercs.
Also, check the hull for any curves or any strakes that are messed up that may be dragging.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson

Is there any bend in you lower unit skeg?

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Thanks for the replies. I don't have a trim tab anode fin over the prop as my boat has power steering and from what I am told they come out of the factory that way. I checked the skeg and its not bent, and underneath the boat nothing looks out of the ordinary. I will try switching the props this weekend and report back to see if it makes any difference.
Thanks for the help so far.

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2007 FW Horizon 200
MerCrusier 5.0L MPI
Factory XTP Wakeboard Tower