H37C lists 3 deg. to starboard, and bow high

[MatterOfTime]

Greetings, and welcome to my first post. We purchased Horizon, a 1984 H37C, last year and had a great summer on Puget Sound. What a great boat. However, there (of course) have been, as they say, "issues"...several solved, many remaining...

My #1 concern is that this boat refuses to lie level. She lists to starboard by about 3 degrees per inclinometer, even after rebalancing...

I have checked- the mast is centered (measured by main halyard to chainplates). Also, the portside fuel and water tanks are near full, and I emptied the starboard water tank and holding tank. Granted, I have three average size car batteries located about 4' from centerline to starboard.

More that that, she sits "bow high" by several inches. So much so that the deck scuppers, located about 8 feet from the stern, don't drain the deck. They would have to be relocated to 3 feet from the stern to drain away the festering green puddles that form from our constant winter rainfall.

Any ideas? Anyone with similar issues on this model?

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

Out of balance-?

The batteries could very well be the culprit. You are talking about 200 lbs or more placed all of 4 feet off center. This is a lot.

I would empty every bit of gear out of the boat, pump the bilges, drain tanks (as much as possible) and start by drawing pencil Plimsoll lines near the waterline at the beam and both ends. (Measure these down the hull from known places on the deck-- don't rely on the painted stripes.) Then, piece by piece, add your gear back in, and watch the Plimsoll marks. You will be surprised what fuel, anchors and chain, canned goods, batteries, tools, wet rope, and other things will add up to. Don't assume one or two things 'can't make much of a difference'. I bet they do.

A thing to remember is that the 37 is not that big of a boat. A few bits of weight either side will unbalance it. Also I have seen owner modifications involving oversized metal brackets and hydraulic pumps and 'beefed-up' fiberglass reinforcements that add an incredible (as in hard-to-believe) amount of weight in the wrong places. If your boat has suffered any such 'improvements' over the years I will suspect that first.

It is highly unlikely (however, possible) that the boat was laid-up wrong at the factory or that factory-specific equipment and gear is the culprit. The only way to be sure is to empty it to a 'factory stock' condition and see what you are working with as a datum.

 

[MatterOfTime]

Re: Out of balance-?

Over the winter I had nearly every portable thing off of the boat - same result. And all tankage was/is full on port side only. As far as I can tell, there are no structural modifications to this boat at all. As far as battery placement, two house batteries are over stbd center, start battery in rear stbd lazarette. It seems factory original.

My (probably unreasonable) fear is a waterlogged deck core at the stern, or bent keel bolts. There have been a few deck leaks that I am still chasing. But I wonder if that could ever create that much weight? The decks seem sound...

 

[Johnb]

I am not sure I would sweat 3 degrees. My boat heels more than that in a cross wind when tied up at the dock with just the bare pole. Another contributor is water tank level, I know when its time to change over/fill the tanks when I see her listing as I make my way down the dock. Anchoring in a cross current (to the bank in a slough for example) will also produce a list, the point here being that the ballast does nothing until you have a list.

As far as the bow being high - ditto, when sitting at the dock. Under sail however the bow dips due to the forward thrust from the rigging being above the boat and she tends to level out. The scuppers then work O.K. I have gotten used to just mopping up the rain/wash down water that stays on the outer deck.

We have had our '83 37C for 12 years now and love her. I hope it goes as well for you as it has for us.

 

[rhythmsurfer]

My 1981 Hunter 36's bow sits high. I don't have much of an anchor and/or rode. I am thinking it will level out when I put a proper anchor on.

 

[Ed Schenck]

In this picture Ladylove sits as always, beautifully I think. Guessing that both water tanks are about half full and likewise for the port diesel tank. There are three batteries in the original location, the starboard lazarette. There is 100 feet of chain and another 100 feet of rode at the bow but on the keel. I installed a hawse pipe from the windlass. The windlass is a fairly light manual unit in the locker. You can't see it but she is perfectly level, no heel at all. So I really wonder what gives in that you have tried so many things.

 

[SailH37]

Yea, mine leans a little too.

I can get it to level out if I fill the port water tank completely full. and the fuel tank which is on port aft, is at least 3/4 full. And, it heels over a little at the dock with a couple of knots on the beam. But, it does lean to starboard just a little and bow up. I'm going to tackle mine by trying to put new gear that'll eventually be needed, like a safe and water maker, somewhere on the port side of the boat and towards the middle to forward portion of the boat. I figure mine is bow high because there's no clothing, nor personal stuff of any kind in the front like there was when I was living on it, but the aft still has all the gear like the dingy, propane, etc. I know it's easy to get an H37C to hobby horse if you're not careful, especially if it's the shoal draft model like mine. I've raced sailboats for 18+yrs and I can see how it would matter there, but I'm not going to get too worried about a little list.
Kb

 

[Ed Schenck]

Well as I look at my picture again(I do that a lot) I have this idea. Just fill the fenders with lead until you get her level.

 

[Mathurin]

We have the same issue on Mathurin II, never checked how many degrees, but we've never been able to get her to sit straight, event with the batteries located to port. It's surprising as the fuel thank and the biggest water tank is on the port side. The only plausible explanation I came up with is that the person who drew the water line must have been really drunk that day . But seriously, we can see the differece with a naked eye.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Have you eyeballed the boat heel wise?
It could be that the bubble level was installed on an angle!!!!!

In any case if it "looks ok" I'm thinking you are over thinking things. 3 degrees is pretty much out there with the lunatic fringe of racing and not something you normally be concerned with. If you fill all the tanks and put everything on the boat and it does not "look" (read with your eyeballs from the dock) heeled I'd just live with it. As you use and refill the tanks it is going to have this magnitude of heel anyway so don't sweat it.
As for the bow fill the bow tank and put the anchor on and be glad you have some extra buoyancy up there. Most boat suffer from bow down syndrome due to all the gear we put there.

 

[Ed Schenck]

There is no "bow tank" on the H37C Bill. Unless you mean the holding tank which I don't think you would want to keep full. The two water tanks are amidships under the salon seats but enough aft of the bow to contribute to "bow high". Then add batteries and fuel both aft of the companionway and it is hard to keep her level. So far as a heel of three degrees I definitely agree with you, nothing to be concerned with.

 

[MatterOfTime]

Thanks, Ed, Bill, everyone, for all your input. It is good to know that our boat is not the only one with this situation. It does seem that our boat is more heely than most. I think I am going to try adding some ballast forward and to port. Perhaps 200 lbs or so in the port forward locker. Somehow.

Actually, I am not too concerned about any heel in terms of sailing (we're far more recreational sailors than technical die-hards) but more in terms of cabin comfort. I see about 3 degrees of heel if I fill tanks only to port to fix it - it is more like 4 degrees if both water tanks are full. For example, it is a bit uncomfortable to sleep in berths at an angle like that. Sinks and the Icebox don't drain all the way, etc.
The worse part is the bow-up attitude. The constant green slimy puddle on the aft stb. deck drives me nuts. Has anyone ever installed an extra set of scuppers? I would be putting these in at about 3-4 feet from the stern. I don't know how I would ever get a drainable, flush mount scupper hole into the fiberglass...

 

[Bill1565]

The worse part is the bow-up attitude. The constant green slimy puddle on the aft stb. deck drives me nuts. Has anyone ever installed an extra set of scuppers? I would be putting these in at about 3-4 feet from the stern. I don't know how I would ever get a drainable, flush mount scupper hole into the fiberglass...

Our boat is bow heavy due to the windlass, batteries and anchor chain I added. still get water on the aft deck. we have replaced the deck drain tubing with nylon reinforced and rotated the right angle fittings to avoind kinks in the drain. That was a large help.

 

[med2463]

I hate it too that water collects on the aft side decks. I wipe it with a rag when it collects. I've wondered about extra deck drains, but the 2 we have plugs up with dog hair, etc. I'm going to put drain grates on top to see if that helps.

 

[Mikem]

My 466 always has a port list and so do two others that I know of. You have done all that is reasonable without structural modifications to eliminate the list. Like you, I keep water tanks full on one side and empty on the other and as much as possible stow all gear, in my case, to stbd.

 

[Jim Legere]

Just launched yesterday - 2 degrees of starboard list (assuming the inclinometer is accurate). That is about normal I guess. I think every H37 Cutter owner has mopped up the puddles on the aft side decks. I suppose the deck drains should have been positioned a foot or two aft of the primary winches...oh well!

 

[Ed A]

I had a 84 37c. I thought it sat bow up, because I had the dirty spot on the deck too.
After careful study i found mine sat correctly. The deck was just a bit higher in the aft end than at the deck drain. So i put a stainless nut in the corner of a wash cloth and wraped it with a tie wrap. When i left the boat i would drop the nut on deck at the back of the deck, (wet spot) and let the rag hand over the side. The rag wicks the water away and no more moldy spot...
works well in ports that hold water on the outside also. Someone said its not to nautical,but then again im not there when the rag is!

 

[MatterOfTime]

Thanks, Ed A, that is brilliant! Why didn't I think of that... It is not a permanent fix, but it might help.
I have the same issue with my port lights - they collect water due to the angle of the cabin sides. I will try it there too.

 

[Ed Schenck]

That's one advantage of being really old, you know things like that.
For the portlights a heavy 3" length of yarn hanging at the lowest point will wick the water out. Learned that from Ed A because he is older than me.

 

[tcbilgerat]

And I thought mine did that because of the heat/ac unit under the starboard setee. I do intend to relocate the batteries to the bilge soon. The bow lowered when I added 100 ft of anchor chain, and I have yet to install a windlass. Swabbing the deck dry takes only a minute, and does not bother me.