Boat Leveling

[Cruiser2B]

Looking for a good way to ensure my boat is level when setting it in yard for long term refit. I will be using my trailer as a cradle during the refit. I will be pulling the axles out from under the trailer and lowering it to the ground.
Where is a good place to take measurements for front to back and side to side leveling, I was thinking the cockpit seats and deck bridge area. Would like to here how others do it.

Thank you

[Matt sachs]

I put a level across the beam and a level along the bottom of the keel when setting mine up on the stands. According to my blueprints these lines should be level when properly trimmed out.

[Scot McPherson]

It's not that simple. The keel may not be horizontal. it could draw more in the stern than the stem. If you need a plumb line then you need the drawings. And set the keel per the drawings.

[mikereed100]

The only reliable way I know to get a boat level on the hard is to use a water level. Take a length of clear plastic hose a little longer than the length of your boat. Fill it with water, leaving a couple of feet of bubble at each end. Have a helper hold it up at the waterline at the stern until the meniscus (bubble) is even with the waterline. Hold the other end up at the bow and level the boat until the bubbles at each end line up with the waterline. It's actually much easier than it sounds and you can use the same hose and method athwartships as well.

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Water-Level

[Matt sachs]

With mine, it is that simple. cant say for other boats though. If you dont have the drawings You might use a level across the beam and set it up level with the waterline fore and aft. ??

[Scot McPherson]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

The only reliable way I know to get a boat level on the hard is to use a water level. Take a length of clear plastic hose a little longer than the length of your boat. Fill it with water, leaving a couple of feet of bubble at each end. Have a helper hold it up at the waterline at the stern until the meniscus (bubble) is even with the waterline. Hold the other end up at the bow and level the boat until the bubbles at each end line up with the waterline. It's actually much easier than it sounds and you can use the same hose and method athwartships as well.

http://www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Water-Level

Oh Christ, that's just way too easy

+1

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by Scot McPherson

Oh Christ, that's just way too easy

+1

+2 works a treat. put a drop of food coloring or such in the liquid. make sure there are no entrapped bubbles.

[Ex-Calif]

It can be obvious where the "level" structures are on your boat but maybe not.

For the beam take two spots (say the cockpit rails) lay a long straight edge and use a bubble level to level laterally.

Then take a large L square - place on the beam perpendicular along the axis of the boat. Place the bubble level on this plane and level fore and aft.

Waterlines, Masts and keels may not be and are probably not level.

[Stu Jackson]

Why level it? Don't you want the cockpit seats to drain? On our boat, when she's in the water, there is a slight "tilt" to avoid water pooling in the corners of the cockpit seat. If anything, I'd want the boat to be up a little at the bow assuming your cockpit drains are at the aft end of the cockpit.

[Cheechako]

I assume you want to level it to do substantial work on it? or maybe a new water line? Boat builders level the boat to fabricate the boat so that bubble levels, plumb bobs etc can be used. (I'm talking non molded, piece built boats) But as mentioned, you need to know what part of the boat is level. I would assume the floor in the cabin is one. Maybe the bridgedeck, but who knows how the mold was made..?!
maybe two laser levels one on each side of the boat? haha... that might be a nightmare!
Regarding the hose... how in the heck do you hold a 30 ft hose straight as an arrow? isn't it going to look like a washboard between supporting people?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Regarding the hose... how in the heck do you hold a 30 ft hose straight as an arrow? isn't it going to look like a washboard between supporting people?

You don't need to, it can droop as much as you want in the middle. It's the level of water at each end of the hose that gives you your two points at the same elevation.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

....
Regarding the hose... how in the heck do you hold a 30 ft hose straight as an arrow? isn't it going to look like a washboard between supporting people?

Not sure if this was posted in fun but for others in case it was (wasn't?) tongue in cheek.

Where the hose lies is not important; it could go al over the place - up, down and round and round. The water (coloured water is better) will of course just flow downhill until it (the water) is level.

Doesn't work so well when one person drops their end too low and all the water continues down the yard

[Wotname]

StuM is two minutes faster

[Cheechako]

Ahhh... I see... I thought you were working with a bubble in the hose!

[Ex-Calif]

The issue with the water level is it can tell you that two points are on the same plane but not that those two points "should" be on the same plane. i.e. a point on the transom and a point on the bow can be on the same plane but is the bow nose high?

The hose trick is nice if you are trying to locate a "vertical plane" inside the boat. I have located a point outside the boat, passed the water level though the speed log hole and found the same vertical position inside the hull.