Nudging a Catamaran on the beach

KD3PC · Feb 27, 2010

Is it your boat...and how well do you know it and the beach...if the answer is...you know all these things very well, then yes you can ease in...and that is the hard part for some cats ...as the tail end is going to want to be shoved further ashore by breaking and wave action...sometimes not in the direction you want the tail end going.
Once where you want her, then dinghy or walk an anchor out...and we usually plant one directly ahead on the beach just to be sure.

Oh by the way, all bets are off if it is a Gemini (or other cat with daggerboards/boards) or one with the rudders "deeper" than what you have water for...and they do not flip up...

Monohull no way would I try it in anything other than a McGregor/Venture 21-25 where everything is made to flip up without damage or one where there is no real keel. Call me chicken. You just never know how she will land and upon what...

If it isn't your boat...then sure go for it...haha! Unless it is a charter and you are responsible..kind of like renting a car to go drag racing..you don't want to thrash your stuff..

Definitely would not do it on purpose with a 42....

dave

sailingdog · Feb 27, 2010

Be careful to make sure that the beach you're nudging the cat up onto is all SAND. If you put the boat on top of coral or rock, you will be very unhappy. Probably not a real worry, but something to keep in mind.

Personally, I wouldn't actually beach the catamaran, as that takes a lot of the bottom paint off. My recommendation would be to use a stern anchor to hold you off the beach and walk a bow anchor up onto the beach. Both anchors should be on bridles.

sailingdog · Feb 27, 2010

kd3pc said:
Is it your boat...and how well do you know it and the beach...if the answer is...you know all these things very well, then yes you can ease in...and that is the hard part for some cats ...as the tail end is going to want to be shoved further ashore by breaking and wave action...sometimes not in the direction you want the tail end going.
Once where you want her, then dinghy or walk an anchor out...and we usually plant one directly ahead on the beach just to be sure.

Oh by the way, all bets are off if it is a Gemini (or other cat with daggerboards/boards) or one with the rudders "deeper" than what you have water for...and they do not flip up...

Umm... the centerboards and the rudders on the Gemini catamarans, at least since the 3400 series was introduced many years ago, kick up just fine. They're basically the same design as on my Telstar 28 trimaran. I don't think you know the Gemini catamarans very well. From the Gemini website:

The First-Ever Lifting, Underhung Rudder System in a Cruising Catamaran

The rudders on the Gemini 105Mc were actually introduced to the boat in 1994 with the 3400 models. The revolutionary design has been so successful, there has been little need to alter the system. They are mechanically joined through the steering system and will steer the boat at 3' or 18" of water without putting any extra load on the helm. In fact, the Gemini exhibits little to no weather helm. Her steering is precise, balanced, and easy. Using two sets of lines, the rudders can be raised or lowered - and automatically raise if and when the boat enters shallow water.

Monohull no way would I try it in anything other than a McGregor/Venture 21-25 where everything is made to flip up without damage or one where there is no real keel. Call me chicken. You just never know how she will land and upon what...

If it isn't your boat...then sure go for it...haha! Unless it is a charter and you are responsible..kind of like renting a car to go drag racing..you don't want to thrash your stuff..

Definitely would not do it on purpose with a 42....

dave

KD3PC · Feb 27, 2010

Dog

When we looked at the 105Mc, you cranked the boards with a ratchet handle and the cable was spooled on to a reel. We were cautioned by users that you needed to make sure the cable "laid" correctly or it would bind and snap. I am sure the daggerboards would drag and bounce, but it may wreak havoc on the mechanism.

As for the rudders, yes they do "tilt" up, but on several I have been on, owners bind them down to keep them from doing so and on some the mechanism and joints are not in the greatest shape for action of any kind, i.e. they have not been exercised in some time.

I still say to not do it in those types of cats. And actually I have a fair amount of time on a 105Mc, came real close to buying, but the PO was selling it "as is, where is...no survey" so I walked.

Ross · Feb 28, 2010

The US Navy had a lot of experience during world war 11 regarding the deliberate grounding of a boat or ship for off loading supplies and people. The vessels were purpose built, with kedge anchors dropped well off shore, and were equiped with powerful winches for pulling the craft off the shore.

sailingdog · Feb 28, 2010

Ross—

Just curious, when was World War 11??? Did I miss World Wars 3-10??

If you don't drive the boat up on to the beach, but let it float a bit, you don't need a strong windlass to pull the boat off the beach, since it isn't hard aground.

Ross · Feb 28, 2010

Dog, Not only can I not find a roman numeral 2 key I can't find the "any" key on the computers at the library.

Won't the boat tend to pound the beach if it isn't touching rather firmly?

Ron20324 · Feb 28, 2010

RW, I was in White Harbor two weeks ago, anchored in the harbor inside the reef. It was calm when we got there, but sitting on the beach eating lunch, we saw the rollers start comng in. They hit my charter boat on the beam, and it was rocking almost 45 degrees to each side. Of course they continued to the beach, so, no, I would recommend "nudging up to the beach". You'd need too many Glad bags to put all the pieces in.

On a lesser scale, the February issue of Southwinds" ( www.southwindsmagazine.com ) has the first of two parts of a trip on Florida's west coast who beach their 17-foot trimaran to camp ashore.

sailingdog · Feb 28, 2010

It depends on the weather and the waves...and the particular beach. If the wave action is severe enough, even being "nudged" on the beach will be a problem. Beaching a boat or nearly beaching a boat is for calm conditions only IMHO.

Ross said:
Dog, Not only can I not find a roman numeral 2 key I can't find the "any" key on the computers at the library.
Won't the boat tend to pound the beach if it isn't touching rather firmly?

Ross · Feb 28, 2010

sailingdog said:
It depends on the weather and the waves...and the particular beach. If the wave action is severe enough, even being "nudged" on the beach will be a problem. Beaching a boat or nearly beaching a boat is for calm conditions only IMHO.

Maybe it is best to plan on staying afloat and just getting your feet wet.

Sailm8 · Feb 28, 2010

I think the conditions would be fine in White Bay but I don't think the Charter Company will allow it. Pretty hard to avoid being seen in White Bay.

We had an incident in the VI's on a charter and by the time we turned the boat in and reported it they had received about a dozen calls. We had entered Cruz Bay to clear customs and the anchor drug. We saw it while we were i our dinghy and returned to the boat just in time to fend off 4 or 5 locals climbing aboard to help. We had it under control and thanked them for their concern and sent them on their way. It seems they all called the charter company requesting a reward.

catsailor · Feb 28, 2010

I have had 3 cats, and it is a bad idea.

RWSlater said:
I have a general catamaran question and was hoping some of you have experience in this and can give me some input. My question is about nudging a catamaran onto the beach instead of anchoring. I've seen it done so many times at White Bay Jost Van Dyke and would like to try it. I've been sailing for about 8 years and have done 9 bareboat trips to the BVI's. Most were in Monohull boats and one was on a Cat. I am going again early next year and will bareboat a 40' cat and would like to nudge it up on the beach at White Bay. The bottom slopes off quickly and 40 feet from the beach is a good 9 feet deep I'd say. The boat has a 3' draft I believe. I'm guessing after nudging it on, I should use a stern anchor? One or two? Tide change is only about a foot and there are usually always small waves. Any considerations for that? So if anyone can give me their experience in this maneuver I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Ron

Day charters often pick-up passengers that way. It's a good place to find business, it's fast, the customers think it's cool, and they save on marina fees.

As SD said, you loose bottom paint at a very rapid rate, since the boat will be moving a little bit, all the time. An anchor from each stern cleat to the beach well to the side helps, as even small waves will try to turn the boat.

But the greatest risk is a massive wake. If a ferry, express cruiser, or cruise ship pass, the wave can easily put you on the beach in a terrible way. It didn't happen to me, but I saw one fellow's boat lifted so high by a ferry wake that it took a tow boat and a small crane.

It is reasonable to anchor a very short distance away, in circumstances such as you describe, put one anchor on the beach, and use that line to guide the dingy ashore. But even this is tricky if there is ANY chance of waves or wakes.

Beaches are for beach cats, hauled CLEAR of the water.

druid · Mar 1, 2010

One other danger, although I think you're fine in the BVI or anywhere in the Carribean: TIDE. Nudge the boat ashore at high tide, and you'll find yourself high and dry 3 hrs later (unless your boat is light enough to push off). Nudge in at low tide, and she'll float away when the tide comes in.

This is a very common problem around here when you take your dinghy ashore.

druid

Ron20324 · Mar 1, 2010

In White Bay...

The attaraction in White Bay/Yost Van Dyke is the Soggy Dollar Bar- originator of the PAINKILLER drink. Supposedly a boat came in long ago and the crew couldn't wait for the dingy to prepped for use, so they jumped off and swam ashore. Their paper money was all soggy, the tradition continued, and thus the bar's name was born. Soggy Dollar Bar. My three crew followed tradition (even though our dingy was ready for use) and swam ashore as I took the dingy in. As to boat wakes, the 6th largest yacht in the world was there- anchored out- at 380 feet, with just and "A" on the stern. I guess they came for the Painkillers? We were not there when it came or left, so don't know if there was any wake action.

Ron20324 · Mar 1, 2010

In White Bay...

The attaraction in White Bay/Yost Van Dyke is the Soggy Dollar Bar- originator of the PAINKILLER drink. Supposedly a boat came in long ago and the crew couldn't wait for the dingy to be prepped for use, so they jumped off and swam ashore. Their paper money was all soggy, the tradition continued, and thus the bar's name was born. My three crew followed tradition (even though our dingy was ready for use) and swam ashore as I took the dingy in. As to boat wakes, the 6th largest yacht in the world was there- 380 feet, with just an "A" on the stern. I guess they came for the Painkillers? We were not there when it came or left, so don't know if there was any wake action.

This is where he wants to "nudge up" :

sailingdog · Mar 1, 2010

This is why I advocate putting the boat in shallow water but not beaching her. The tide in the Caribbean is such that unless you were unlucky enough to do this at dead high tide and in very shallow water, you would still be afloat at low tide.

druid said:
One other danger, although I think you're fine in the BVI or anywhere in the Carribean: TIDE. Nudge the boat ashore at high tide, and you'll find yourself high and dry 3 hrs later (unless your boat is light enough to push off). Nudge in at low tide, and she'll float away when the tide comes in.

This is a very common problem around here when you take your dinghy ashore.

druid

capejt · Mar 2, 2010

what about...

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned it yet, but if this is a charter boat we're talking about.... ask the charter company. Otherwise, if you beach it and something goes wrong you're going to be in a financial world of hurt!
I agree with the option of anchor out and swim, or dinghy ashore.
Remember, sailing onto a beach is sailing onto a huge piece of very coarse sandpaper. It takes its toll on the fiberglass and owners/brokers will notice it!

Nudging a Catamaran on the beach

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