Guardian 18 Drops Its Bow In Transition to Plane

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Author Topic:   Guardian 18 Drops Its Bow In Transition to Plane

unsinkable_2000 posted 05-22-2012 05:59 PM ET (US)
Today I went on a sea trial on a 1990 Guardian 18 with a Mercury 150-HP outboard engine. When powering up the [Mercury 150-HP] and where a boat would typically plane out, this [1990 Guardian 18] drops its bow quite prominently. It was quite an uncomfortable feeling. The current owner stated that he raised up the engine two-notches from where [the engine was when] he bought [the boat] [because] when he first purchased [the boat] water was splashing arount the transom when under power. So he adjusted [the mounting height of the engine on the transom]. I also noted that when the [1990 Guardian 18] tried to plane [the propeller] would get air since the four-blade propeller was coming out of the water when trimming up to attempt to raise the bow. Sounds like engine mounted too low. The owner also stated boat was approximately 40-lbs heavier than when it left the factory. Any one have any thoughts or insight?
Teak Oil posted 05-22-2012 10:24 PM ET (US)
When the prop "grabs air" maybe its slipping from a spun prop hub?
Also with the motor trimmed all the way in it would force the bow down into the water
That boat should leap on plane with a 150 on it
unsinkable_2000 posted 05-22-2012 10:31 PM ET (US)
The propeller is a 16-pitch four-blade. [The 1990 Guardian 18] does leap up but when attempting to plane it felt like it wanted to turn into a submarine. I tried trimming up engine; this only caused propeller to get some air with no lifting of the bow. Owner stated boat was only 40-lbs heavier than factory weight.
Tom W Clark posted 05-23-2012 09:36 AM ET (US)
Well without photos it's hard to say, but it sounds like either there is or was keel damage that allowed water to be forced in foam in the the bow under pressure or there is a hull deformation that has hooked the keel. How does the bottom look?
Either way, I would run away for this boat as fast as you can.
dfmcintyre posted 05-23-2012 10:10 PM ET (US)
Tom - Thinking along your same line of keel damage. How about (poorly) repaired, but with a pronounced hook?
Don
Tom W Clark posted 05-25-2012 09:44 AM ET (US)
Don -- Maybe, but a hook would be plainly visible if you sighted along the keel. Still, I think that is more likely than simply wet foam in the bow because even several hundred pounds of water in the bow would be like having a few guys up there going for a ride and I know you can put a few people in the bow of an 18 and it will perform just fine, not like is being described here.
Binkster posted 05-27-2012 03:02 PM ET (US)
More than likely the boat has a hook at the stern. Never heard of a hooked bow, unless it was a result of a bad repair. A hooked stern was commen in wood boats, but I suppose it could happen on glass boats too, especially Whalers that get their rigidity from the foam core, and don't have stringers. A bad fitting trailer or storage cradle could do it. Easy to check, impossible to fix. With the boat out of the water on slings. just lay a 4 ft. straightedge along the bottom at the keel and then again halfway from the keel and the chine. following along the length of the boat of course. You shouldn't see any light between the straight edge and the bottom. You might see a little though, becuase the molds aren't perfect, and that would be OK. Remember, the 13 foot Whaler was designed with a hooked stern, go get the boat to lay down on plane, and kill the porpoise somewhat.
rich

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Author	Topic: Guardian 18 Drops Its Bow In Transition to Plane
unsinkable_2000	posted 05-22-2012 05:59 PM ET (US) Today I went on a sea trial on a 1990 Guardian 18 with a Mercury 150-HP outboard engine. When powering up the [Mercury 150-HP] and where a boat would typically plane out, this [1990 Guardian 18] drops its bow quite prominently. It was quite an uncomfortable feeling. The current owner stated that he raised up the engine two-notches from where [the engine was when] he bought [the boat] [because] when he first purchased [the boat] water was splashing arount the transom when under power. So he adjusted [the mounting height of the engine on the transom]. I also noted that when the [1990 Guardian 18] tried to plane [the propeller] would get air since the four-blade propeller was coming out of the water when trimming up to attempt to raise the bow. Sounds like engine mounted too low. The owner also stated boat was approximately 40-lbs heavier than when it left the factory. Any one have any thoughts or insight?
Teak Oil	posted 05-22-2012 10:24 PM ET (US) When the prop "grabs air" maybe its slipping from a spun prop hub? Also with the motor trimmed all the way in it would force the bow down into the water That boat should leap on plane with a 150 on it
unsinkable_2000	posted 05-22-2012 10:31 PM ET (US) The propeller is a 16-pitch four-blade. [The 1990 Guardian 18] does leap up but when attempting to plane it felt like it wanted to turn into a submarine. I tried trimming up engine; this only caused propeller to get some air with no lifting of the bow. Owner stated boat was only 40-lbs heavier than factory weight.
Tom W Clark	posted 05-23-2012 09:36 AM ET (US) Well without photos it's hard to say, but it sounds like either there is or was keel damage that allowed water to be forced in foam in the the bow under pressure or there is a hull deformation that has hooked the keel. How does the bottom look? Either way, I would run away for this boat as fast as you can.
dfmcintyre	posted 05-23-2012 10:10 PM ET (US) Tom - Thinking along your same line of keel damage. How about (poorly) repaired, but with a pronounced hook? Don
Tom W Clark	posted 05-25-2012 09:44 AM ET (US) Don -- Maybe, but a hook would be plainly visible if you sighted along the keel. Still, I think that is more likely than simply wet foam in the bow because even several hundred pounds of water in the bow would be like having a few guys up there going for a ride and I know you can put a few people in the bow of an 18 and it will perform just fine, not like is being described here.
Binkster	posted 05-27-2012 03:02 PM ET (US) More than likely the boat has a hook at the stern. Never heard of a hooked bow, unless it was a result of a bad repair. A hooked stern was commen in wood boats, but I suppose it could happen on glass boats too, especially Whalers that get their rigidity from the foam core, and don't have stringers. A bad fitting trailer or storage cradle could do it. Easy to check, impossible to fix. With the boat out of the water on slings. just lay a 4 ft. straightedge along the bottom at the keel and then again halfway from the keel and the chine. following along the length of the boat of course. You shouldn't see any light between the straight edge and the bottom. You might see a little though, becuase the molds aren't perfect, and that would be OK. Remember, the 13 foot Whaler was designed with a hooked stern, go get the boat to lay down on plane, and kill the porpoise somewhat. rich