240 at low tide

[Tim Moylan]

Another gift from Hurricane Sandy is the addition of two feet of silt/mud which is now covering the entire creek. I keep our 240 at my dock but at low tide, I now have a new bottom less than a foot. Until the town approves a temporary mooring near a deeper channel, I intend sail only at high tide and otherwise the 240 will be sitting on bottom for the balance of the time. I have a good bottom paint on the hull which is less than one year old. Looking for feedback about possible issues with this plan. Thanks Tim

 

[Ray Bowles]

Not knowing the degree of sail in the water you are in makes a difference in my answer. If you have all the sail water hardshell sea critters of the open ocean then areas of the boat bottom that might rub off bottom paint will be subject to lots of hardshell critters. The other problem you might have is mud and sand building up in your centerboard housing. My 260 had a good bit of clearance in the centerboard housing so it might not be a problem after all.
Can you put your 240 on the trailer and leave it with the mast up between sailing days? That removes all problems and only required about 10 minutes each way when sailing. I know as that is what I do.
Ray

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

tim;

should the centerboard rest on the sand, it will force it upward into the centerboard housing causing damage. If that is the case, get the boat out of there.