Sitting low in the stern

[A and S Laidlaw - Nee Nee]

I have a 1993 Catalina 28 that I purchased a little more than a year ago and I noticed that she sits low in the stern, about 3 inches too low. I have not added any additional equipment or loads to the stern of the boat and not sure why she sits low. Any input would be most welcome. Thanks, Scott

 

[Ray Bowles]

What has been added or installed in the stern area that was not there as it left the factory. She should set on her lines from the factory and that is the reason I ask.
If there is absolutly nothing then you will need to add ballast or equipment as needed in other areas.
Ray

 

[A and S Laidlaw - Nee Nee]

As far as I can tell nothing has been added in the stern area. Both batteries and the propane tank are located aft in the two stern lockers and I would assume that those were placed there by the manufacturer. My initial thought was to fill the forward water tank and use that in lieu of the mid-ships water tank to move some weight forward. I may try that to see if she floats on her lines. Thank you,
Scott

 

[OldCat]

C22s seem to sit low at the stern as well. In my case I have a few things that need to be stowed forward. I think that the only thing that you can do is put whatever weight forward that you can.

A good stiff breeze will push the bow down...

OC

 

[A and S Laidlaw - Nee Nee]

Appreciate the input. I am going to try shifting whatever weight I can forward this weekend. maybe that stiff breeze will help .......

 

[jrowan]

Not sure if the aft battery location is original for a C 28, but I have owned 3 Catalinas & the C22, C 25 & C 30 all had the batteries stored as close to amidships in the center of the boat as possible for more even weight distribution. Next to water & fuel tanks, the batteries & propane tank are some of the heaviest items to stow on a boat. Propane is hard to move from the stern, as it is probably vented overbord from the stern storage locker vent. It is unsafe to store below in the main cabin. The batteries can always be relocated to a storage area below the setees in the main cabin. As two deep cells can easily weigh nearly 40 lbs a piece if they're lead acid type, this may be your aft weight culprit. Secondary anchors & dingy's stowed in the aft main locker can also add undesired weight. But as far as sailing, if I had to choose its better to have weight aft then in the bow. Excessive bow weight will cause the bow to plough into a wave in a deeper then designed angle & potentially slow the boat down. Does you boat have the original engine? During its life it may have had a heavier diesel replacement engine that could have added weight ballast. My 2 cents.

 

[foolproof]

I agree with JRowan...all of the battery set ups I have seen have been amidship. My biggest problem on my old C25 was that an outboard battery placement caused a list to port. I moved the battery inboard a bit and that helped, but still had to use some water in the starboard tank to correct the list.

In my C30, I added 2 type 27 lead-acid batteries under the nav station (which is fairly inboard), then moved my single start battery outboard as far as possible under the galley cabinet, which helped counter the 2 type 27's. The boat floats level on her lines, with no list!

 

[jrowan]

Its amazing how much that the weight of even a 12 volt battery that we think of as rather insignificant on a 10k weighted boat, can affect steering or a list to port or starboard. I beleive that the early C 30's from the 70's originally all had their batteries placed under the port setee, which cause that list to port that you mention. It was a fairly typical modification to install them under the starboard nav. table, as the fit their nice & snuggly. I like the idea of adding a 3rd battery under the port side for dedicated engine starting. I just wonder what the extra length of battery cable does to efficiency & routing for recharging via the engine & charger.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I understand from Catalina 250 owners that they sit low in the stern and so they have to put lead weights in the bow to trim it out properly. Of course heavy ends don't contribute to sailing performance much, but I guess it is what it is. Some boats have chain in the chain locker for good ground tackle and that trims those ass heavy boats out or makes the bow low for the boats that sit on their lines.