Has anyone had experience or knows of someone with experience mooring their boat on a "flats-mooring", (a mooring in a shallow area where your boat lays down in the mud during low-tide). I have a 25' Hunter fixed-keel sailboat, I know where I can get a "flats-mooring", having difficulty finding slip/mooring space so I may be willing to use one of these moorings. I'm afraid however that my keel will stick in the mud! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, Mark
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No experience necessary
I don't think I would keep a fixed keel boat on a mudflat like that. If its firm, you see those British twin keel jobs that stand upright, or boats with fairly flat bottoms sitting like ducks, but I can't remember pictures of keelboats lying over. 25' sounds a little heavy to do that every tide.
I don't think I would keep a fixed keel boat on a mudflat like that. If its firm, you see those British twin keel jobs that stand upright, or boats with fairly flat bottoms sitting like ducks, but I can't remember pictures of keelboats lying over. 25' sounds a little heavy to do that every tide.
Not a good idea
Just think about the angle your boat will sit when the keel is grounded. Are the topsides going to be over on the mud? Imagine a small rock with your boat rocking back and forth on it as the tide falls or rises. If the flow is strong enough it may even undercut the mud where your topsides rest causing the boat to sit even lower. Now you may have water on your decks or your portlites. Find a real mooring. There are some in southern Maine if you don't mind a little driving. The other thing I have heard of is someone buying a boat that already has a slip or mooring just to get a slip/mooring and then reselling the boat to make room for their boat. Tim R
Just think about the angle your boat will sit when the keel is grounded. Are the topsides going to be over on the mud? Imagine a small rock with your boat rocking back and forth on it as the tide falls or rises. If the flow is strong enough it may even undercut the mud where your topsides rest causing the boat to sit even lower. Now you may have water on your decks or your portlites. Find a real mooring. There are some in southern Maine if you don't mind a little driving. The other thing I have heard of is someone buying a boat that already has a slip or mooring just to get a slip/mooring and then reselling the boat to make room for their boat. Tim R
Check the photo caption contest
if you want to khow how your boat will look like in that kind of mooring.
if you want to khow how your boat will look like in that kind of mooring.
mud duck
About getting stuck in the mud...both times I saw my H25 before I bought it was moored at high tide, never even considered the possibility of...well, it went like this my girl and I were going to sail the 60 miles to my home after the purchase. We got to the boat in the evening and planned to sleep aboard then depart in the morning. So on our first night aboard "Soul Kitchen" we awoke to a 30 deg list!? I thought we were sinking! Eventually after the tide returned and we leveled we fell asleep. Only to be awakened when the keel popped out of the mud. Imagine lying in a bed snoozing (somewhat uneasily due to previous trauma)then feeling an immense upward accleration followed by wild bobbing! Do you ever have those falling dreams? A night to remember! Amyways, about your question, all of this seemed pretty hard on the old girl. Plus consider this: if there is any reasonable fetch of wind available a hell of a breaking chop can develop in the 3 feet of water you'll need to start coming back up, couple that with your rail lying in the water and you may have a very wet boat next time you see her. I wouldn't recomend it.
About getting stuck in the mud...both times I saw my H25 before I bought it was moored at high tide, never even considered the possibility of...well, it went like this my girl and I were going to sail the 60 miles to my home after the purchase. We got to the boat in the evening and planned to sleep aboard then depart in the morning. So on our first night aboard "Soul Kitchen" we awoke to a 30 deg list!? I thought we were sinking! Eventually after the tide returned and we leveled we fell asleep. Only to be awakened when the keel popped out of the mud. Imagine lying in a bed snoozing (somewhat uneasily due to previous trauma)then feeling an immense upward accleration followed by wild bobbing! Do you ever have those falling dreams? A night to remember! Amyways, about your question, all of this seemed pretty hard on the old girl. Plus consider this: if there is any reasonable fetch of wind available a hell of a breaking chop can develop in the 3 feet of water you'll need to start coming back up, couple that with your rail lying in the water and you may have a very wet boat next time you see her. I wouldn't recomend it.
Patrick, are you sure that ride wasn't because of
your girl friend. I've had a couple of them that made me think that was happening too. ;D
your girl friend. I've had a couple of them that made me think that was happening too. ;D
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