Why is the boat tilting ?

[Moretolife]

A trawler I’m about to buy is tilting to its starboarded side . The broker told me it’s because the fuel tank in the starboard side might not be full as the port side. Does it make sense? It sounded weird to me, but I’m not an expert in boats…any reason why it’s tilting?

[Lurker19]

Listing is the word you're looking for.

How much is the list? 1-2 deg, the explanation is possible. But you should be able to actually check the tank levels to confirm that.

[Moretolife]

Thank you. I’m not familiar with listing…should I put level on the front of the boat to see the degree? How can I measure it and what counts as normal?

[Stu Jackson]

How big is this boat?

[Moretolife]

The boat length is 42’

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Moretolife

Thank you. I’m not familiar with listing…should I put level on the front of the boat to see the degree? How can I measure it and what counts as normal?

Put a spirit level on the "floor" as close to the centre of the boat as possible.
Get a plastic school protractor and place it beside one end of the level
Lift the other end of the level until the bubble is in the right place and read the angle off the protractor.


Note the size and location of all tanks (fuel, water, grey water, holding tanks) and see whether their is a large weight imbalance which would change under other conditions.

[LittleWing77]

Tips to Alleviate Lean, List, Heel
https://www.boatingmag.com/how-to/ti...list-and-heel/

[larsfforsberg]

Put a stick in each tank - see if it's true.

[MarkSF]

Fuel tanks, water tanks, holding tanks, uneven load. They could all do it.

[stinkpots]

As you are new to boating please do what most of us do when buying a new vessel, employ a good marine surveyor. The cost of the surveyor is very small compared to the cost of finding out later of serious problems. Often, on getting a report from a surveyor you are able to re negotiate the price down to to faults found or withdraw fro buying if serious problems uncovered. The surveyor will also advise if the list is a problem. My own 51 foot trawler has a permanent list of about 2 degrees due to an off centre water tank.