In order to get to the Intercostal I have cross the shallow Laguna Madre just West of the bridge to Padre Island from Corpus. Which water ballast boat would be best to make the crossing in the shallow channel of about 2 ft plus: the Mac 26, Hunter 240 or 260, or the Cat 250. I thought I was all set until I started researching the boats. Seems the rudder must be full down for stearage in most cases and that means 3 feet of water or more. I like the idea of a beaching rudder but there seems to be lots of problems with that. I actually like the Hunter 26 best but am not sure if I can navigate with motor only in such shallow water. It is a straight shot across to the Intracostal but almost 3 miles (winds normally 10-15). Thanks for any help or comments/recomendations. Tip Thienes
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Benfits of EZ Steer on 260
You can raise the rudder and with he engine linked to the rudder post you can still have adequate steerage.
You can raise the rudder and with he engine linked to the rudder post you can still have adequate steerage.
Sailing skinny water
I find myself in some area's as shallow as you describe. My Mac 26 is the D model, for daggerboard with a 9.9 outboard. I raise the daggerboard. I release the rudder, so it will pivot when it touches bottom. I slow down, I steer with the rudder. When it gets shallower that the rudder no longer works, I steer with the engine. At this point the rudder has to be raised out of the way of the prop. They might meet on a hard starboard turn. It' wierd, but it works. I have a tiller tamer so I can lock the rudder in the center position. If your going to navigate shallow water below three ft. it will be a variation of this.(in a mac26d) Also, you wrote you like the idea of beaching your boat. Well, you not going to do that with the rudder down on any boat. Catamarans, included. Leaving will be with the boards up too. To make a long post short, a Mac 26 classic motor this ditch all day long. I can't speak for the Hunters, as I never sailed on their waterballast boats. Good luck. P.S. I would consider having a low pressure, high volume air pump so you can blow the watertank if you have to. I would have paid big bucks for one two weeks ago, as I waitd for the tide to rise. oops.
I find myself in some area's as shallow as you describe. My Mac 26 is the D model, for daggerboard with a 9.9 outboard. I raise the daggerboard. I release the rudder, so it will pivot when it touches bottom. I slow down, I steer with the rudder. When it gets shallower that the rudder no longer works, I steer with the engine. At this point the rudder has to be raised out of the way of the prop. They might meet on a hard starboard turn. It' wierd, but it works. I have a tiller tamer so I can lock the rudder in the center position. If your going to navigate shallow water below three ft. it will be a variation of this.(in a mac26d) Also, you wrote you like the idea of beaching your boat. Well, you not going to do that with the rudder down on any boat. Catamarans, included. Leaving will be with the boards up too. To make a long post short, a Mac 26 classic motor this ditch all day long. I can't speak for the Hunters, as I never sailed on their waterballast boats. Good luck. P.S. I would consider having a low pressure, high volume air pump so you can blow the watertank if you have to. I would have paid big bucks for one two weeks ago, as I waitd for the tide to rise. oops.
In the Shallows
If noone responds to your question about a C25, you might ask again on their forum rather than on "all sailors". I suspect a regular (not known by me if they make a water balast model) C25 would work well if equipped like my C22 with a swing keel and kick-up rudder. The heavy cast iron keel allows my boat to tack even with keel up, though it won't hold so tight into the wind. Dick
If noone responds to your question about a C25, you might ask again on their forum rather than on "all sailors". I suspect a regular (not known by me if they make a water balast model) C25 would work well if equipped like my C22 with a swing keel and kick-up rudder. The heavy cast iron keel allows my boat to tack even with keel up, though it won't hold so tight into the wind. Dick
Do Not Forget the Hunter 23.5
It is the earlier model of the 240. As the rudder gets further up it becomes more difficult to steer. On the 23.5 it is not bad about halh way up and that would give you plaent of room underneath. Steering with the motor works so long as you do not try to turn much. I have a 20" saft on mine it may work better with a 25" shaft outboard. 2' is about the bare minimum I would try and it is beachable we use to do it often.
It is the earlier model of the 240. As the rudder gets further up it becomes more difficult to steer. On the 23.5 it is not bad about halh way up and that would give you plaent of room underneath. Steering with the motor works so long as you do not try to turn much. I have a 20" saft on mine it may work better with a 25" shaft outboard. 2' is about the bare minimum I would try and it is beachable we use to do it often.
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