SO32i List to starboard.

[insight3774]

Having purchased a new lift keel boat this summer we are dissapointed to find she has a substiantial list to starboard.
This is amplified by the stowage in the galley, cold box, chart table and cockpit locker being on that side, and also the major stowage in the aft cabin on the port side being taken up by the grey water tank which is empty most of the time.
Before taking this up seriously with Jeanneau we are wondering whether anyone else has this same problem.
Any comments would be gratefully received!!
Incidently, to correct the list requires at least one person standing on the port side on deck!
Brian Rosevear.

[spud]

I took delivery of a standard keel version in May, and have not found a major problem with a starboard list -but its true there is a minor one. This winter I am planning to put the liferaft on the port side of the transom to try to balance out.
On another subject (pointing ability) I contacted the architect and found him very helpful - [e-mail].
By the way, I find she handles best with a full water tank
Good luck
Philip Eastaff

[dublin]

I had a SO 32
The list ot starboard is noticable but not "major". i put it doen to the cockpit pocker and a lost of inbuilt gear on that side.

Fixing the liferaft to the after port side corrected the list

[Juha]

Hi, my SO 32i also has a minor list to starboard. Think it's mainly cosmetic not affecting performance to any significant extent.

Best regards,
Juha

[Anwen (Deep Joy)]

If you look behind the settee back on the port side, there is a substantial cast weight attached to the hull. This is to try and counterbalance the calorifier, diesel tank and the contents of the cockpit locker, which if you have a dinghy and liferaft stowed in there adds up to quite a bit. On the port side, you have the grey water tank, the batteries and the counter weight.

I stow the kedge anchor on the port side under the settee cushion which isn't ideal, but it helps to improve the balance. Putting the liferaft in a cannister on the port side of the pushpit would probably be a good move.

We have found the weight bias does affect the sailing performance - she always sails better on starboard tack because you have more weight over that side.

Phillip, what did Phillipe Briande say about sailing the SO32? I'd be very interested in his thoughts. Perhaps you could post a short summary?

[spud]

Jon-my question to Briand Yacht design was to ask if he had any tips to point closer to the wind . I have a standard (deep) keel .A summary of his reply:
-light conditions: deep keels are efficient but less tolerant than shallow draft : so the key is to keep boat speed up by bearing away to build up speed -and then luff up slightly once up to speed.
-medium conditions: bearing in mind its a cruising boat (no mainsail track - wide genoa track because of the coach roof), if you want to point closer to the wind then route the genoa sheets through a ring and adjust inboard (barber hauler?); Don't be afraid to oversheet the mainsail.
-heavier conditions: unlike light conditions, don't keep a constant angle to the wind -for example if the average wind allows full sail , don't fight the boat in gusts but keep a constant helm - the boat will luff up slightly on her own without a great increase in heel - and won't lose speed. In stronger gusts ease both main and genoa in balance -or reef.

Hope this helps
Philip

[insight3774]

Thanks for all the replies.
Jeanneau, through Westways of Plymouth, have now admitted there were three hulls they omitted to fit trimming ballast to!!! Unfortunately ours was one of them.
I have been surprised how many basic design faults there are with this boat.
eg. Mainsheet is fouled when the sprayhood is lowered, design of coachroof shoots water perfectly onto anyone sitting to leward under the sprayhood, the need to add ballast to correct the list, the headlining fixing allowing it to fall down in several places in the saloon.
I had assumed that through constant development of their range of boats these
sort of problems would have not occured. Never mind!!!
Happy Christmas.