running aground.
- Thread starter campuscab
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The Cal 20 is well known for her speed. I sailed a 22 ft. Westerly for several years with bilge keels and the boat drew only 2 1/2 ft. Run aground and you're in knee deep water. When you jump off the draft is reduced by easily 2 to 4 inches and it comes right off. Small boat sailing has it's advantages.
Highest regards,
Darrell
Highest regards,
Darrell
Some great ungrounding tips. Stored for next boat cos we have a retracting keel on the current one. 
Greatly adds to the fun-factor, and an indispensable safety aid. IMHO.
Yup. A decent boarding ladder was the first serious addition I made to our boat. In fact I went through 2 ladders because i was unhappy with the first one.
Greatly adds to the fun-factor, and an indispensable safety aid. IMHO.
When I first got My boat I did an experiment. I jumped off the boat to see if I could get back on. I ended up climbing up the outboard motor. It was not easy, but it's doable.
OK I would just like to say this one thing, I HAVE NEVER RUN AGROUND......Like I said I would like to say that but unfortunately I can't... at least not with a straight face. I have however (knock on wood) been able to get myself back to deep water unassisted....SO FAR..
Ok I've gotta tell this one, cause I think you guys will get a kick out of it.
Last time I took my boat out I motored over to a local public dock with some friends and went ashore for dinner. When I returned them to the launch ramp we all marveled at how high the tide was, and that we had never seen the floating dock so high on it's pilings. I then proceeded to head for my usual anchorage for the night. Since I was the last one in the only place with decent swing room was quite near the buoy marking the edge of the anchorage area. I wasn't too concerned with it's distance, and knew that it was always far enough from shore for my boat......or so I thought. I've anchored in this place before, but not quite that spot. Couple things I didn't count on. 1 there is actually a bit of a sand bar at that end of the anchorage, and 2. the full moon that caused the unusually high tide, would also cause a very low tide in a few hours time.
About 4am I was awoken by the sound of small waves hitting my boat louder than normal. When I poked my head up I found that I was less than 10' from dry ground, and in barely a foot of water. That buoy was almost on dry land as well! I had left my swing keel up that night, so when the tide dropped by almost 10' my scope lengthened and I drifted right into the shore. The bad part was that though I had left the keel up I had not raised the rudder, and it had slowly settled over 2' deep into the soft mud bottom. It took a lot of struggling to first get the rudder unpinned from its pivot to separate it from the boat, and then to work it free of the mud. Thankfully once it was on board I was able to simply walk forward, reel in the anchor line and float back out. I was still very close to shore, but the tide was coming in and I figured that by sun up I'd be in deep enough water to avoid major embarrassment.
It was bad enough that for some reason the guy on the nearest boat turned out to actually be awake at that hour, watched the whole thing, then clapped when I pulled her out.
Last time I took my boat out I motored over to a local public dock with some friends and went ashore for dinner. When I returned them to the launch ramp we all marveled at how high the tide was, and that we had never seen the floating dock so high on it's pilings. I then proceeded to head for my usual anchorage for the night. Since I was the last one in the only place with decent swing room was quite near the buoy marking the edge of the anchorage area. I wasn't too concerned with it's distance, and knew that it was always far enough from shore for my boat......or so I thought. I've anchored in this place before, but not quite that spot. Couple things I didn't count on. 1 there is actually a bit of a sand bar at that end of the anchorage, and 2. the full moon that caused the unusually high tide, would also cause a very low tide in a few hours time.
About 4am I was awoken by the sound of small waves hitting my boat louder than normal. When I poked my head up I found that I was less than 10' from dry ground, and in barely a foot of water. That buoy was almost on dry land as well! I had left my swing keel up that night, so when the tide dropped by almost 10' my scope lengthened and I drifted right into the shore. The bad part was that though I had left the keel up I had not raised the rudder, and it had slowly settled over 2' deep into the soft mud bottom. It took a lot of struggling to first get the rudder unpinned from its pivot to separate it from the boat, and then to work it free of the mud. Thankfully once it was on board I was able to simply walk forward, reel in the anchor line and float back out. I was still very close to shore, but the tide was coming in and I figured that by sun up I'd be in deep enough water to avoid major embarrassment.
It was bad enough that for some reason the guy on the nearest boat turned out to actually be awake at that hour, watched the whole thing, then clapped when I pulled her out.
I would like to reiterate what Gary just said..
I hate to say it, but I've drug a keel all up and down the Cape Fear. Skinny waters around here will keep a man on his toes. Or the sandbar. It's the only saving grace of the swing keel. But it didn't fascinate me enough to keep it..
I hate to say it, but I've drug a keel all up and down the Cape Fear. Skinny waters around here will keep a man on his toes. Or the sandbar. It's the only saving grace of the swing keel. But it didn't fascinate me enough to keep it..
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