What's "Level"?

[garyf]

I'm curious what y'all do when installing things that you'd usually take some care to "level" if you were installing them in your house or other land-based environment.

I mean, I get it - it's a boat, and "level" depends on the weight distribution within the boat... any motion of the surface of the water... speed you're going (on plane, etc) and so on.

Even sitting at home on the trailer, I really don't know how well things compare with being on the water - depends on how well the boat is centered/seated in the bunks, how far I have the tongue of the trailer jacked up, etc.

So - what if anything could I use as a reasonable reference for "level"? Can I assume the counter tops and/or table top in the cabin are supposed to be approximately "level" when the boat is sitting in calm water and 'factory' loaded?

Just curious what others do in this regard. The applications I'm thinking of don't have to be precise - I'm leaving my machinist's level in its case - but I'd like to at least use a common and reasonable reference... if that makes sense?

P.S. I'm not talking about anything that needs to be installed on a gimbal or anything, either... they'll be permanently attached to the boat, just wanting them to be "level" relatively speaking to other "level" things.

[srbaum]

Gary,
I am finicky about keeping my boat level and trim during all times underway. On my 22 and now my 26, I installed a stick on level, above the center forward window an another over the starboard front window, about center.
I had the boat in the water, when I installed them and used the flat surface on the center of the console and a regular level and used my body weight to get the level, where I thought it was good enough, then in installed the small level gauges.
It is nice to cruise and with a quick glance at plane, to adjust my engine (I have a Permatrim) and trim tabs, to keep the boat where I consider it properly trimmed.
These are the levels that I used. I prepped the fiberglass surface above the windows with denatured alcohol.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/sun-company-lev-o-gage-ii-inclinometer-leveling-gauges-pack-of-2-306-r

[Foggy]

Exactly level at sea: It's purely subjective, not critical since, most of the time
underway, you're not 'level' and are constantly moving around in 3 planes - pitch,
yaw, and roll.

Even your expensive electronics and old world compass cannot keep you 'exactly'
on course either.

Here, close works. Go for whatever makes you comfortable.

Aye.
Grandpa used to say, "Don't get lost in meaningless minutia."
Grandma used to say, "Perfectionism only leads to disappointment."

[hardee]

WOW, level on a boat, now there is a can of worms.

I have a good friend who does interiors on high end boats, and even he doesn't have the answer to that, but he leans toward parallel, perpendicular and plumb.

Then you have fore and aft or abeam.

In my boat, I use the bottom of the front center window and use that as a guide to "level" for abeam. For for and aft, the counter top is parallel to the bottom of the side windows, and rarely is it parallel to the water outside unless I am at anchor. So, things that get mounted are parallel with either of those planes.

But, it's your boat, so what ever floats it, is probably level. What ever is comfortable to you eye will probably work.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Foggy]

Aaahhh. I remember now.

"She had curves above and below but a straight keel.
And, her decks were well worn but her bilge was kleen."

Priorities are important.

Aye.

[thataway]

I also use the stick on levels--one just under the helm seat window for fore and aft trim, and right behind the wheel for lateral--side to side trim.

Yes, the counter surfaces are as close to being level when the boat is on her lines. As I moved things around the boat, we try and keep her "level". But even in the 25, more so in the 22, if Marie is going to step outside to the cockpit, I ask her to notify me, and let me know what side she might be standing or sitting on, so I can have the trim tabs appropriately adjusted. I like having the "position" lights on the Trim tabs, so you have a fair idea of how much tab there is.

Does this mean I run the boat level for and aft? No, what ever is the best "attitude" for the sea conditions.

[PNW_Wesley]

Prior to installing my radar dome, I downloaded lots pictures of Dory's that were side-on views. I imported them into PowerPoint, and drew a line along their roof line. PP then gave me the fore-aft pitch angle of the roof. While power settings and sea conditions affect the pitch, the majority of the boats I analyzed were in the 6 degree nose-up range, at a wide range of speeds.

This example is 7 degrees nose up.



On my boat, the side window sills are parallel to the roof. I taped my phone to the stbd sill, and via an app, measured the pitch angle through the full range of engine RPM. I recorded the pitch while increasing and decreasing the RPM. I used this method on several outings, with various sea conditions. The average of more than 70 measurements was close to 6 degrees nose up. The pitch at the speeds we most often cruise at is 6 degrees.

When it was time to chose a wedge for the dome to sit on, I chose 6 degrees down.

I can keep the roll axis fairly level by shifting my cargo totes in the aft cockpit.

When I'm in the fog on the Columbia, I like knowing that my dome is as level as I can make it. There are lots of things to bump into out there!

[thataway]

The horizontal beam of the radars is about 15* above and below the horizon. One consideration is that in dense fog one probably will use prudent seamanship, and be running at a much lower speed. This the boat will be more closely "Level". Because of this, I use a 3* angle for mounting radar.

[colbysmith]

All depends. If installing stuff inside the boat, I guess I use the countertop or ceiling as level. If installing stuff in the cockpit, I use the gunnels as level. Decals (boat name and number, level with the bottoms of the windows or top of the bow's sole. However, when installing my radome, I just took a swag and positioned it with the front a little lower than the rear. Due to the fact that rather I'm at displacement speeds or on plane, the boat is usually bow high.
Colby

[T.R. Bauer]

I don't make anything level really. I know this sounds nuts, but I try to make everything relatively level to everything else because I know nothing else is really level in the dang boat when I install stuff. Level underway? Good luck keeping that perfect. I think close to level, comfortable, and safe are probably enough.

[NORO LIM]

[PNW_Wesley]

[garyf]

[hardee]

This is at a cruise speed of 10-11 knots, and shows both the horizon level and the cabin top and radome angles. Less that 6 or 7 degrees I think. I believe when I redid my radar strut, the angle wedge was 4 degrees.

I agree, when you really want the radar, FOG, (or dark - but I rarely do that), I will be at displacement speed = 3-4 knots, and I will be dialed in at 1 (or less) and 3 miles for the radar. I actually enjoy running in the fog, but hate going in the dark, although I have done both.

That photo of the 19 seems like it is not trimmed very well, maybe no trim tabs.

Harvey
SleepyC

[thataway]