e36 Listing to Port

[gregpallen]

I took delivery of my 2012 e36 in April 2012 and have noticed a slight tendency for the boat to be leaning to port when in calm air with no current and sails down. At first I thought it was my imagination and I basically ignored it but I seem always to be aware of it whenever I am tied up or when I am idling out of the marina. This weekend I was tied up alongside several other sailboats at a local boating destination and it was clearly noticable when I stood back and looked at the mast in relation ship to other boats. The mast seems to be rigged correctly and looks perpendicular to the boat decks by eye. I also checked the shroud lengths on both sides and they were within 1/8 inch of each other. I could clearly see at the water line however, that my e 36 is riding lower on the port side by about 2 inches (using the bottom white stripe as the reference point against the waterline). Further, by eye it definitely looks to be low on the port side when using the decks as a reference.

I rationalized that perhaps a full water tank, fuel tank, holding tank, equipment in the port locker etc. might be the issue but upon review of the tank layout and with an almost empty holding tank and with maybe 50 lbs of equipment in the port side locker this theory didn't seem to hold water (no pun intended).

Any thoughts, ideas, explanation, would be appreciated. I assume that Hunter engineered the boat to be level when in a neutral state so I am baffled by this. Is this normal?

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

My 2008 H36 leans to port also..think it has something to do with the weight of the batteries and any additional equipment in the port locker. Never looked to see what a full tank of fuel would do since it is on the starboard side along with the holding tank.

 

[Jackdaw]

Although less of an issue normally as boats get longer, some boat models have a tendency to list to one side or the other based on layout. My old First 235 (like all her sisters) layed slightly to starboard.

 

[Scott B]

I had a similar problem with our '05 H33. I had an extra battery installed in the port cockpit locker which placed it too far outboard, which seemed to list the boat. Also checked the mast using the topping lift with a weight attached against a measured mark on the shrouds, proved to be off 1/2", to port.

Also depends on stowage of gear etc. Our deisel tank is port ( usually close to full ), holding tank starboard ( starts empty then gets fuller ), water tank is midship in bow.
Cooler of ice & beer goes under settee seat, which is port. Fridge, freezer full of food are port.

I've since moved battery beside house batteries which are starboard, but close to centreline so don't counterbalance as much. May end up adding more batteries anyways so may help some more.

 

[Graysailor]

Most Hunters do list too port. I believe because most of the equipment and storage areas are on the port side. Has not really made a difference in boat performance. I experimented and added a lot of weight to the starboard side with very little change in the list. I would not worry about it.

 

[navigator97]

It seems that Port to Starboard balance was never high on the Hunter design team agenda. My 1990 H-33.5 has always had a Starboard list. Items to Starboard are: Holding tank. dining bench & table, Hot Water Heater (6 Gal), galley stove, Ice box, fuel tank. The fresh water tank is amidships under vee berth. Batteries are near centerline (just to port of center). I have added tool boxes under Port Settee along with storage of bottled water, wine, and Rum. Helped trim ship some. I was about 2-1/2 Degree Starboard list, and now about 1 to 1-1/2 degree Starboard list.

 

[Gypsy Wind]

our e36

Our new 336 (hull 113) lists to port as well. I am sure it is the batteries, holding tank etc. on that side. Send me your email and I can share some other upgrades, thoughts as we are entering our 2nd season with ours.

 

[Steve Dion]

I have added tool boxes under Port Settee along with storage of bottled water, wine, and Rum. Helped trim ship some. I was about 2-1/2 Degree Starboard list, and now about 1 to 1-1/2 degree Starboard list.

Navigator:

I think I know what your problem is. You need heavy rum and more wine.

 

[seadaddler]

2007 H-36

I had a port list when brand new at the dealer because I had 2-4 D's and 4200 panda Gen and so the dealer added 300 lbs of lead to starboard.
Around 2008 I moved the batteries to starboard saloon table seat and removed the lead and everything is good now.
Nick

 

[drchpete]

Talk to engineering at Hunter

Did you talk to the engineering dept at Hunter? I'd certainly call them and not write it off.

If you bought a $100,000 Mercedes and it listed to one side would you just accept it, and move a few things around in the trunk and hope for the best?

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Always had a port list

My 03 356 has a port list about 3 degrees. I have a Northern Lights 5 KW generator in the port lazzaret and 2 4d and one Group 24 on the same side. With the other elements of the 356, they all list some to port, mine more than others due to the extra battery and generator weight. If you want to balance it out, you can put some weight under the salon seat on the starboard side or maybe move your battery bank over there like Nick did. I've thougtht about adding a water tank under the seat and may do it someday. The boat sails and motors fine with the list, so it is more an issue of comfort at the dock and that aggravating water that won't drain out of the shower sump area due to the port list!

 

[gregpallen]

Re: Talk to engineering at Hunter

I have contacted Hunter

 

[gregpallen]

Thanks for all of your input. I guess what I am concluding is that the listing is in fact a result of equipment etc. I would not have thought that a boat displacing over 15,000 lbs would be so sensitive. I think that I will remove everthing in the lockers and other storage areas, fill the tanks and take a look at where I am. Then if needed I will consider adding weight to the opposite side. I would still like to hear from Hunter as to how they engineered the boat (under what loading conditions is it dead flat balanced?

Greg

 

[Andreas7699]

Mine 36 2008 does not list. It did a bit when it was new, but it dissapeared. Probobly because div equipment is stored evenly in the hull. Diesel tank full new batteries +++

A

 

[Scott B]

Thanks for all of your input. I guess what I am concluding is that the listing is in fact a result of equipment etc. I would not have thought that a boat displacing over 15,000 lbs would be so sensitive. I think that I will remove everthing in the lockers and other storage areas, fill the tanks and take a look at where I am. Then if needed I will consider adding weight to the opposite side. I would still like to hear from Hunter as to how they engineered the boat (under what loading conditions is it dead flat balanced?

Greg

If you want a good demonstration of what weight balance does to the boat, stand on the side deck at the dock and lean out. Your boat will list. So, I figure if I'm 200 lbs., then a battery at 70 lbs. will also list the boat if not centred or 25 gal. of fuel etc.

 

[Kite Runner]

I experienced the same with my 2009 Hunter 36. It wasn't until I was returning to her in a calm setting and she was listing noticeably to port. I did all the surveying for alignment and found everything in good order. I reported this to my broker and he had their techs
Look into it. With pictures that I supplied they did see the list at their dock. One theory is, that the starboard side may equal things out if a generator was installed at the factory. The port side does accommodate a larger load especially with the batteries, storage locker with everything from provisions to spare fuel ...it can add up.

What I did was have the Hunter dealer add some custom lead bricks on the starboard side inside the opening for the trash bin, close to the hull, 1.5' above the floor level. They did a great job of installing the lead which I supplied to the dealer with the end results being 0 degrees. I don't have pics handy to me at this time, but, if you would like some pics of the fix I'd be glad to post them in the near future. FYI, the slight list had no effect on the performance of the boat and it didn't take a great amount of lead to level the Hunter.

 

[gregpallen]

Thanks..I am in the process of adding bags of lead shot to the starboard side. How much weight did it take to level it out?

 

[Spcharby]

I experienced the same with my 2009 Hunter 36. It wasn't until I was returning to her in a calm setting and she was listing noticeably to port. I did all the surveying for alignment and found everything in good order. I reported this to my broker and he had their techs
Look into it. With pictures that I supplied they did see the list at their dock. One theory is, that the starboard side may equal things out if a generator was installed at the factory. The port side does accommodate a larger load especially with the batteries, storage locker with everything from provisions to spare fuel ...it can add up.

What I did was have the Hunter dealer add some custom lead bricks on the starboard side inside the opening for the trash bin, close to the hull, 1.5' above the floor level. They did a great job of installing the lead which I supplied to the dealer with the end results being 0 degrees. I don't have pics handy to me at this time, but, if you would like some pics of the fix I'd be glad to post them in the near future. FYI, the slight list had no effect on the performance of the boat and it didn't take a great amount of lead to level the Hunter.

I own a 2009 H36#207 and spent the first season a little perplexed with the list. And so it started, outboard moved from port to starboard, all inboard water supplies moved from port to starboard, and still the same issue. I posted a note here and everyone said "easier to live with than fix" so I'm living with it. Recently, I emailed Hunter and asked them and they said the H356 and H36 were a little "tender", and the fix was to do exactly what you've done. Thanks for re-attcking the issue, question is - where do you get lead bricks? Maybe I can use the one in my ass when it's time to mow the lawn! LOL

Steve

S/V Belle
Hampton, VA

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lead bricks?!? Some call them batteries and they're a LOT more useful than dead weight.

 

[seadaddler]

Lead

My list on my 07 H-36 because 2-4D's and Gen in the port large cockpit locker and so the dealer added lead on the starboard site and when my 2-4D's needed replacing I put 4-6volt T-105's under the starboard saloon table seats and did not need to buy any new cables just used the original cables aand everything just fine now.
I would add some thing anything but just lead,extra water storage tank or ssome thing.
Nick