quick question about wieght distribution

Orlando · #1 11-14-2011, 09:40 AM

its a 76 cuddy with a 78 175 johnson and 2 20gal saddlebag tanks, it seems like it rolls side to side a bit more then i was expacting and was wondering if there was anything i could do as far as weight distribution to make it more stable. i have a two year old son that lives and breathes fishing and was wanting to take him out in the bay some next summer. let him catch a few spot or croakers. but i want to make the boat as stable as possible because children are not the most coordinated people. on a side note i pulled the drivers seat and checked in the hole, didnt see any foam, was wondering if there was any in this boat.

Destroyer · #2 11-14-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

its a 76 cuddy with a 78 175 johnson and 2 20gal saddlebag tanks, it seems like it rolls side to side a bit more then i was expacting and was wondering if there was anything i could do as far as weight distribution to make it more stable. i have a two year old son that lives and breathes fishing and was wanting to take him out in the bay some next summer. let him catch a few spot or croakers. but i want to make the boat as stable as possible because children are not the most coordinated people. on a side note i pulled the drivers seat and checked in the hole, didnt see any foam, was wondering if there was any in this boat.

Depends on how far you want to take the project. The best way to redistribute the weight would be to take the 2 tanks out and put in a center floor tank. The closer you move the weight to the center of a hull the more stable it is. If that's not an option, then the next best thing would be to draw down the fuel in both tanks equally so that the weight is equal on both sides of the centerline of the hull.
As far as foam goes, they didn't start foaming the hulls till a few years after your hull, so unless the PO put some foam in you won't find any.

smokeonthewater · #3 11-14-2011, 02:01 PM

honestly I doubt that you'll see a profound change even by changing to a single in floor tank.... might consider rocker stoppers

reelapeelin · #4 11-14-2011, 08:11 PM

Orlando...not sure what you're accustomed to, but keep in mind you're talking about a 20' boat w/a sharp V entry and 19* deadrise at the stern...they are not known to be "tippy" butif you and the toddler are hangin' over the port gunwale workin' a fish, she gonna dip some...

And don't worry about junior so much...raised my two girls on the '74 pictured here and never had a fall or anything due to the boat...they get their sea legs pretty quickly was my experience...just SHOW 'em what it does; don't let it be a surprise...he'll be OK, Dad...

Orlando · #5 11-14-2011, 08:29 PM

appreciate the answers guys, i just want to make sure everything is as safe as possible, kinda funny what happens when you have a kid, gonna have gray hairs by the time i reach 30. i love the way the boat rides under power, can handle really rough water. probably just bieng overly concerned with it at anchor.

Destroyer · #6 11-14-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

appreciate the answers guys, i just want to make sure everything is as safe as possible, kinda funny what happens when you have a kid, gonna have gray hairs by the time i reach 30. i love the way the boat rides under power, can handle really rough water. probably just bieng overly concerned with it at anchor.

And this is the old man of the forums delivering his usual safety message... With all the concern about being tippy or not, just always, always remember to make sure that your son has a PROPER fitting infant/child life vest on at all times when he's on the boat. It's the law, as well as just being plain good sense.