First Outing in new to me 2003 Seafarer 228 - Heavy feeling stern - An Update

[jbsman099]

I posted the below several days ago and got a number of good comments, including a request to add a couple of pictures.
I ran the boat again today (Tues 4/6/21) and did a better job of trimming the motor and the trim tabs. That said, to me it still feels and looks several inches too low at the stern.
The various thru hulls on the port and stbd side are above the waterline, but the aft cockpit drains are 2/3 to fully submerged, the motor bracket has about 1.5 inches of "freeboard", and the heel of the motor is in the water at full tilt up.
Boat floats level port to stbd..
The motor is mounted on top hole of bracket and second from top on the motor.
The bilge is bone dry.
The fuel tank is full. (Does not have an aux tank)
Freshwater tank 75% full.
Bait live well tank empty.
No heavy equipment in stern, only the 2 marine batteries on the port jump seat access.

I've thumped the engine bracket, and it doesn't sound full of water but my impression could be wrong. Attached a few pictures for reference -

So, My questions would be:
First I'd hope to establish whether or not it in fact looks to those with experience that the boat is sitting low?

Then, If it is sitting low at the stern, what are the most likely causes? The engine bracket seems to top the list, but if I were to assume it turns out dry inside, what other areas should I be looking at next?
What else could possibly cause this?
Thanks, your comments and suggestions greatly appreciated.


Original post:
Took my recently purchased 228 out on Chesapeake Bay today. Ran well, handled well, easy up on plane, all the equipment worked perfectly. Like the boat, but throughout had just a feeling that the stern feels awfully heavy. Equipped with Yamaha F225 4 stroke on the transom bracket and full swim platform. Fuel tanks 2/3 full, live well dry. Trimmed up and on plane the bracket creates a lot of wake/spray and the bottom of the motor almost looks like it is at the water level.
Is this a common feel with this model boat/motor combination, or is there something I should check into? Bilge of course is bone dry and no signs of water intrusion in the transom. Any info on this issue in particular, or for that matter any other Seafarer 228 tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[glacierbaze]

Don’t know how much fuel was in my boat when this picture was taken, but I'm pretty sure my transom scuppers stay above water.

 

[efx]

It’s low but not terribly low. That’s a heavy engine. I would make sure your thru hulls, clamps and hoses are good. Your bilge is dry, thats a good sign. That year of boat was designed for a four stroke engine so its not like you put a heavier engine on it then it was designed for.

 

[glacierbaze]

Water tank is only ten gallons, located about even with the back of the helm seats.

 

[efx]

Here is my 1992 228. Scupper just touching the water with a rude 225.

 

[Blaugrana]

Scuppers look like mine in the water. Pretty much that is how it sits. Below is my boat with 2 full tanks of gas.

Only difference is that your bracket looks odd in the water. Is it painted? Seems like the bottom paint is completely under water which doesn’t seem right.

 

[jbsman099]

I much be about an inch lower than your's but not too much. The paint line for the bottom paint is what first got my attention. Correct, the bottom paint on the bracket is below the waterline, so either I sit too low, or the bottom paint waterline is incorrectly applied. Thanks for the photos.

 

[jbsman099]

Here is my 1992 228. Scupper just touching the water with a rude 225. View attachment 19872

Nice looking boat. Your's looks to be sitting a bit higher at the stern.

 

[efx]

Nice looking boat. Your's looks to be sitting a bit higher at the stern.

Thanks, that engine, two stroke and direct injection was very light and could run fast as hell. I think I hit 6200 rpm on it once. It was a great engine that eventually destroyed OMC. I miss that boat. I think you are in ok shape where your scuppers are. That Yamaha 225 of that year is heavy. It’s a good engine but heavy. You may need to raise your engine. The factory seems to always mount them low by two holes.

 

[Summertop511]

Buy a 226. Scuppers sit out high and dry not under water. Motor sits out higher too. Plenty of ppl can sit in back with no heavy stern feeling when on plane.

Check bracket for leaks. Should every time you put it in for the year.

These models had an option of a second forward secondary gas tank. Install this and keep main relatively low.

Put a windless on the bow with a heavier anchor.

 

[ItalianAngler]

It's about an inch or so lower than my 97 would sit, which looks huge of course because of where it is. I always thought the same thing as you after gassing it up, I didn't really like it but that's just what it was. As I burned fuel the scuppers would come out of the water. I never used the fresh water but doubt it would make any difference. I think your bracket paint is off, but wouldn't hurt to check out inside of it just for peace of mind. That is a very heavy motor and I'm not sure what all Grady did to account for the weight, visibly the transom looks similar aside from the full swim platform, which would also add weight. If they didn't do much of anything especially in the earlier 4s years then this would make complete sense. My LU would never come completely out of the water either, that's just how it was mounted from the factory. More so than yours, but still about 2 inches in. I'd always be scrubbing those south river scum line stains off it, drove me nuts.

 

[Ky Grady]

In relation to your pics of the scuppers and bracket, mine sits the same, about a half a scupper. I do think the bracket paint is off some on yours. I would still check the bracket for water. Also, is your motor running well? If it's off because of an issue, it won't have the full power to get the boat up, making it feel heavy. As I said, the F225 is not a powerhouse, lacks midrange grunt to get you out of the hole quickly,, you will squat for a bit before it pushes you over onto plane, especially with a full load.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Looks about right to me as well. My old 3.3 liter tilted to that point as well. it's the design of the bracket . when I repowered to the 4.2 liter F250 I shed the weight of. a second grader off the stern and all but a small amount of the nose cone of the prop gear case is out of the water now. Scuppers are almost completely out of the water too. If you are worried something is not right ,your boat is fine from the pictures . Get a 4 blade prop and you will notice better hole shot,cruising RPM, following seas handeling and reverse around the dock performance.

 

[Don Davis]

Here is my 1999 228 Seafarer with a heavy Suzuki DF250 ultra long shaft, your boat seems fine. The Suzuki has variable valve timing for great mid range power, I have the 3 blade Suzuki prop and it launches the boat out of the hole and I’m running 43 mph WOT will full fuel tanks and 2 people, fast enough for me.

 

[leeccoll]

My '87 Seafarer had scuppers which were submerged much more that your, mostly from a wet transom. I decided to raise mine after consulting with Grady White.

I would say you are in good shape.

 

[Bird Blaster]

Out of curiosity if ones bracket does leak what's the best way to seal it?

 

[doug228]

Looks about right to me as well. My old 3.3 liter tilted to that point as well. it's the design of the bracket . when I repowered to the 4.2 liter F250 I shed the weight of. a second grader off the stern and all but a small amount of the nose cone of the prop gear case is out of the water now. Scuppers are almost completely out of the water too. If you are worried something is not right ,your boat is fine from the pictures . Get a 4 blade prop and you will notice better hole shot,cruising RPM, following seas handeling and reverse around the dock performance.

Mines looks the same as everyone elses. Going to try lifting it one more bolt hole. Happy to see the weight difference between the newer outboards made a difference. I found a 2011 f250 4.2l (DEC) for sale locally, been feeling out how much i could get for my 225...might make for a relatively affordable upgrade. If the 250 i found had controls included i probably be jumping on it.