How do I "beach" a boat?

traderdavel

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
99
We boat in the Great South Bay off Long Island. I have seen boats at Fire Island on the bay side that drop an anchor and are in about 1-2 feet of water. Looks great - kids can basically walk off and play in the water. These boats have to be sitting on sand. My boat is 27' - How harmful is this, what are the steps to do this, (I have an I/O so pulling up drive is definitely one!!) - how do you leave this without damaging the hull?
 

JoLin

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 18, 2007
Messages
5,146
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

We boat in the Great South Bay off Long Island. I have seen boats at Fire Island on the bay side that drop an anchor and are in about 1-2 feet of water. Looks great - kids can basically walk off and play in the water. These boats have to be sitting on sand. My boat is 27' - How harmful is this, what are the steps to do this, (I have an I/O so pulling up drive is definitely one!!) - how do you leave this without damaging the hull?

Hi, Trader- how big are these boats? What's your boat's draft? I anchor regularly at Kismet, and gauge my minimum water depth based on the tide level when i arrive vs. what it will be when I plan to leave.

My 24'er draws 3' with the drive down, and can sit in 2-2.5' of water with the drive up, but I sure wouldn't anchor it in that depth at high tide, as I WILL be sitting on the bottom a couple hours later.

Know your boat and check the local tide tables before you head out.
 

Capt'n Chris

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 21, 2009
Messages
461
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

Protect the hull of your boat at any expense. It's actually cheaper that way! Keel Guard, Keel Shield, Hamby's...may or may not all be the same company now...may all be the same anymore. Don't drill holes in it and protect it from scrapes and gouges.
 

t0r

Cadet
Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
24
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

where do i get a keel guard? for my eduardono 14ft?
 

spktho

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
81
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

I try to avoid beaching. I use the "anchor buddy" stretchy anchor line with a large box anchor. Attach line to bow hook, drop anchor about 15-20' from shore(depending on depth), turn boat and back into about 3-4' of water(for my boat), jump out the back with a line attached to stern hook and either tie off to something on shore or drive a hammer anchor on shore to tie off to. The stretchy anchor line allows the boat to be pulled in and then let out to deeper water. This way I can keep my boat in a safe depth and is not moving around on the ground with every wave or wake.
 

zach103

Commander
Joined
Mar 11, 2008
Messages
2,233
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

thats how big it is.. the length of it.. you'll probably want a bigger one cuz you have a big boat..
 

swordfish25

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 18, 2009
Messages
117
Re: How do I "beach" a boat?

I did not read all the post, but you can anchor in shallow water as long as the drive does not hit if a wave comes in, If you have drive clearence with it all the way up,the hull usually will not touch UNLESS YOU HAVE TWINS. The drive hangs lower then the hull. With drive clearence you have hull clearence EXCEPT FOR ROCKS, they will hit. I anchor out every weekend. If you like your boat, do not beach it. The wave action will sand the fiberglass away.
 
Top