Is My Transom Too Low or the Water Too High?

[Jim Loats]

My 1996 H26 sits in the slip with the water level about two inches above the aft edge of the hull bottom. And that's without anyone on-board. Put six people in there and it is way down.I have two heavy duty gel batteries, a 5 gallon water system storage bag underneath and my gas tank and a 9.8 Nissan outboard. Is this normal? Seems like it ought to ride higher at least when empty.

 

[Mike Pajewski]

That's a lot of stuff

Jim,I have a 97 vintage 26. My transom sits a little higher than yours, but not much. The water level comes up about a half inch above the socket for the mast crutch. I have a single group 27, a 9 gallon tank and an 8 hp Tohatsu.Weight distribution could be affecting your trim. If both batteries are in the transom locker, that is close to 200 pounds all the way aft. The 9.9 is a little heavier than the 8 Hp, and 5 gallons of water is 40 lbs. It all starts to add up quickly. Add 4 adults, and you now have added a full 25% of the boats displacement aft of center. I wouldn't be too suprised at all.Mike PajewskiH26 "Loon"

 

[Gerard]

sand

Hi Jim-We have a new to us 95 h26 and it seemed that we were back heavy,too. We only have an 8 hp Yamaha, 1 group 24 battery and a 6.5 gal. gas tank. But when you add 350 lbs of people (we're a small family), not to mention that a large part of the boat structure is aft (head, galley), the boat gets "aft heavy." Our (Dave approved) solution solution was to put four 60 lb. sand bags and our large, extra fisherman's anchor under the vee berth. Makes a big and welcome difference. Good luck.

 

[Todd Thomas]

nature of the beast

Dear Jim;I have had my H-26 since new in '94, and this has always been a major DRAG (literally)!Last year, I finally fixed the problem by moving my two batteries to under the center settee storage area. To help even more I installed a 30 gallon bow shaped water tank (with on demand pump) and this has drastically made a huge difference in the boats attitude and speed!We now can motor at six knots (vs. 5 to 5 1/2), I think the boat points a little higher and it finally looks correct with the rear in the air and the drag all gone! And most importantly, I am winning the races in my fleet!good luck!Todd Thomas

 

[Jim Loats]

Yep I figured....

Thanks, Todd. I have been thinking that I would need to use your solution. Can you give some details about where you got the tank and then where you put it and batteries?We can do this on e-mail....loatsj@mscd.eduThanks for all of your answers.Jim