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New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 2:47 am
by mattk22359
Hi. I took delivery of a new Sylvan Mirage 8522 LZ LES tritoon with a 150hp Merc about 4 weeks ago. We really love the boat with one exception. Maybe I am being too much of a perfectionist but from the time it was dropped in the water, it has leaned a bit to the starboard side. This weekend got in the water one calm morning with a tape measure and measured from the deck to the surface of the water on both sides. It measures 2" higher on port than starboard.

I find this most noticeable while underway because the flat horizontal surface at the front of the boat does not line up with the horizon. The floor plan on this boat has dual side-by-side captains chairs and even with both my wife and I in the boat sitting side by side it still leans. Sure, I weigh 70lbs more than my wife and of course the helm must add weight to the starboard side, but I just figured you spend this kind of money for a new boat you'd think it would be engineered to sit level on the water. The quality of the boat seems very high otherwise. Am I just being too much of a perfectionist? Is this typical of a pontoon boat?

Thanks!
-Matt

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:10 am
by steve1313
As long as you haven't added gear that is causing the lean, I'd definitely get with my dealer and have him correct it. It should sit level.

Did the dealer add an options that could be contributing?

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:17 am
by jadeboy
Why are you here telling all of us about this get with the dealer and with Sylvan they will take care of it Sylvan is great to deal with.

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:43 am
by mattk22359
Thanks. I'm here sharing this because the dealer just shrugged his shoulders and this is my first pontoons boat. For all I know, this could be common to pontoon boats. Thanks for the insight that this might not be normal. Also, I get the impression that Sylvan doesn't want to be contacted directly as there does not seem to be a customer phone number posted anywhere online that I could find. I did find a number for their business which I am planning to call. Thanks again. Matt

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:48 am
by KPC
Not sure if yours is the same but my buddy has a Sylvan Mirage and his leans to the left side also.

That's where the gas tank is.

30 gallons of fuel @ 6 lbs per gallon = 180 lbs sitting in the back left corner.



KPC

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 6:38 am
by wwind3
KPC wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 01, 2018 5:48 am
Not sure if yours is the same but my buddy has a Sylvan Mirage and his leans to the left side also.

That's where the gas tank is.

30 gallons of fuel @ 6 lbs per gallon = 180 lbs sitting in the back left corner.



KPC
He leans to the right...

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:15 am
by willy13
If it wasn't new I would think water in the starboard pontoon. But its new... :donno

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:17 am
by mattk22359
Yes, I am leaning to the right (starboard) and, the gas tank is dead center on the boat, just forward of the outboard motor.

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:30 am
by willy13
Can you tell if the starboard pontoon is sinking deeper in the water? or is the decking not welded level to the pontoons?

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 10:48 am
by KPC
mattk22359 wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:17 am
Yes, I am leaning to the right (starboard) and, the gas tank is dead center on the boat, just forward of the outboard motor.


Gotcha.

Do you have a picture from the rear?

KPC

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 11:49 am
by steve1313
mattk22359 wrote: ↑
Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:43 am
Thanks. I'm here sharing this because the dealer just shrugged his shoulders and this is my first pontoons boat. For all I know, this could be common to pontoon boats. Thanks for the insight that this might not be normal. Also, I get the impression that Sylvan doesn't want to be contacted directly as there does not seem to be a customer phone number posted anywhere online that I could find. I did find a number for their business which I am planning to call. Thanks again. Matt
You just gave a dealer tens of thousands of dollars and he just "shrugged his shoulders"?????? Don't be OK with that!

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Pick your dealer first, THEN pick your boat. Tons of places sell boats. Unfortunately as you are finding out, there's a much small number of places that will support you well.

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:23 pm
by mattk22359
KPC, I don't have a picture from the rear.

I called Sylvan today. The person I spoke with was very accommodating. He said what he'd like to do is first have the dealer verify there is no water in the pontoon. If not, then they will try having the dealer relocate the battery from the starboard side to the port side. He said if needed, they could add the 2nd battery (also on port side). He said you get double benefit from moving the current battery because you are both moving the weight off of the starboard side and adding it to port side. It doesn't sound like it could be enough to me but I was pleased they were willing to help. They will work directly with the dealer on this.

Thanks for the help/insights. I will post back what I discover but it may not be until spring now as the dealer is picking up the boat next Saturday for winter storage.

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 4:49 pm
by Strake
Our Berkshire also sits a little lower on the starboard side, but I just figure it's because of the dual batteries which are under the starboard rear corner seat. Also on the Starboard side is the power steering hydraulic pump and hoses.

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 7:05 pm
by Marc K
I'm new to the pontoon world, so I've watched my fore/aft set in the water in an effort to understand the operational dynamics of my boat. But I never actually looked closely at my side to side balance.

But, now I am curious!

Re: New Sylvan leans 2" to starboard at rest & underway

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 7:57 pm
by Rick McC.
Our Bentley sits deeper on the port side, as the fuel tank is located at that rear corner of the boat.

I was a bit concerned at first about the possibility of water in the toon (bought it used) then realized that the bottom paint on the port toon goes up a bit higher, so it’s always been like that.

It seems to level out fine when underway.