Whale in bay

steplift20 · #1 07-21-2018, 07:27 AM

I was going to fish Friday but a whale surfaced right in front of my boat and we had to drive over the whale, scared the crap out of us now my boat is listing to starboard th e only thing I could think is e fuel tank is full and moved to starboard, did anyone fish out if AHMM one Friday see that whale? It was nice out and turned into a friggin nightmare in secounds now my boats damaged Sorry guys and girls I just have to vent

Destroyer · #2 07-21-2018, 11:18 AM

Hopefully you didn't injure the whale with your prop as you went over it.

steplift20 · #3 07-21-2018, 12:33 PM

The whale was fine ,my boats knot

SkunkBoat · #4 07-21-2018, 03:00 PM

I see whales all the time. Humpbacks and Minkes. Sometimes a dozen at a time out in chicken canyon. In along the beach when they are feeding on bunker it is a sight to see. I have had them come up right at the boat while drifting live bunker and that always results in a double or triple bite of stripers.

If you didn't hit it, why do you think it caused your list?
If your fuel tank moved, that was a problem waiting to happen at the next big boat wake.There isn't much room between the stringers for a belly tank to shift that would cause a list.
I think you should investigate further and maybe not cloud your thought process with whales.

A list on V20s can be caused by clogged bilge pipe under the tank and clogged pass-thrus in the stringers. Water gets stuck in the space outside the stringer.
Anyways, not something to take lightly

steplift20 · #5 07-21-2018, 10:29 PM

Skunk,I did hit it and my boat went airborne but the prop didn't hit it I think

Destroyer · #6 07-22-2018, 03:47 AM

Anytime I see a whale I always slam the throttle into neutral. (I know that with my forward momentum I'll still hit the beast, but at least my prop won't be turning like a food processor) Sorry about the boats list. I'd look at the hull again. It seems unlikely that the tank moved. Anyone that's ever tried to remove a tank from one of these boats knows how hard a job that is. They are foamed in place, are made to withstand years of bouncing over waves and DO NOT move all by themselves. Keep searching for the problem.

steplift20 · #7 07-22-2018, 09:03 AM

Destroyer, we didn't see it it just appeared right in front with no time to react the reason I hope the tank shifted is I had the tank replaced about 20 years ago and I never looked how the secured it in place, just assumed they did it right, I can't think of any other reason why she would list to starboard so much I looked at the hull and she looked good we went airborne when we hit the whale so something moved that's the only thing I can think would cause that much of a list, I will keep you posted. I hope it can be fixed I really love that boat

Destroyer · #8 07-22-2018, 02:22 PM

Time to use a video camera and inspect the tank location. Drill a hole in the floor, insert the camera probe and look around. About $67 @ Harbor Freight.

Or, you can drain the tank and then float the boat and see if she still lists. if she does then it's probably not your tank. if all or most of the list is gone then it probably is the tank.

steplift20 · #9 07-22-2018, 05:03 PM

I was thinking the only thing I could think of is the tank, Yerevan is nothing else that I can think of, it was such a beautiful day who the hell thought I would hit a whale Not even five minutes after we launch That really sucked And it makes you think, what if I was going fast chasing blues and that happened Not good

phatdaddy · #10 07-22-2018, 09:03 PM

Check and see if your motor is still secured tight to transom. Just throwing ideas out. If your has a belly tank, not more than couple of inches on either side of stringers.