Water line

[Reckless]

  Trying to figure out why my boat is sitting lower in the water than previous years. The water mark is about 1.5 inches higher than the bottom paint line at the stern. I have a few theories. I gained more weight than I thought.  I kept more gas in it than previous years. Or I just never noticed it before. Bilge pump works fine. Your thoughts? 

[L.T.]

Storing more gear AFT? Or as you stated maybe you didn't notice other seasons. But knowing your boat, you would have noticed it before. Worse case scenario and I hope not, water logged transom core, maybe stringers.   It wouldn't hurt to get it moisture checked. Good Luck 

[Reckless]

 Stringers are composite. I think 2003 is the year the transom went composite too. I have a feeling it was always like that but never noticed.

[L.T.]

That' a good thing(composite)

[Hunter 2]

I was going to suggest that you may have water soaked foam filler somewhere on the boat, but I doubt a 2003 will have this material.

[Luna Sea 5]

strange.. maybe if you power washed the boat, you washed off some of the water line on the boat and your getting a false reading.  Depending on how big your boat is, some added equipment and extra gas won't be enough weight to drop the boat as much as you say.  On a smaller boat, the extra weight does make a difference. 

On my grady, it barley sits lower having 4 guys in the boat.

[Reckless]

When it is pulled out in the fall the marina power washes the bottom. Maybe they just didn't do the stern as well as the years before.    I will have to watch it when tank is near empty vs close to full. Its a 21 ft CC.

[Maritime Matt]

Good thoughts above and add this one.  Whats the weight of a gallon of bottom paint? Pretty heavy right? Just think year after year it all adds up. When I power wash my bottom, I don't just wash the slime off. I wash as much bottom paint off as possible. Even get a stiff brisle brush and hit the sides, transom, wherever. And thats why You always use Ablative bottom paint. Just my 2 cents.
Matt