running aground.

[campuscab]

I was watching my sails and got too far south and ran aground near Peche Island today. I tried using the motor and got the boat pointed north toward deeper water but would not budge. I tried heeling it over and could not. We gave up jumped out and pushed by hand. I have a 3 1/2 ft. Draft so this was the first time for me. I was so focused on the sails I did not notice I veered off course. Was that the best was to get going or should have I tried to use the anchor and winch to get off. I have towing but did not want to be one of the people I hear every weekend calling for a tow.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Wait for high tide ................ or were you already there ?

 

[StinkBug]

I'd say any way that gets you floating again without damage or injury is a proper way.

 

[Ron20324]

I had that problem once. Ended up "pollywogging" off. Under motor, move the rudder back and forth, so as to pivot the keel in the bottom muck. It should "walk" you off.

 

[Rick I]

With a 3 1/2 foot draft the easiest thing is to get out and push. By jumping out you lightened the boat which reduces the draft, also it's easier to push than kedge off in such shallow water. With deeper drafts the methods will vary depending on the conditions. As for waiting for the tide, there is none in the Great Lakes where Peche Is. is.

 

[Ron20324]

At 20 feet in length, you clould probably do a "cannon ball" off the boat, and the created wave may lift the boat enough and push it in the proper direction. The higher up the mast you climb to jump, the bigger the wave.

 

[Merlin Clark]

First I try to shift the weight forward on my boat because the deepest point of the keel is aft. My next option is climb off and push. Third is throw the anchor as far as possible and kedge.
I'd call for help if option 1 or 3 didn't do it and the water was cold.

 

[IH82BL8]

I made the same mistake and applied the same remedy. My thinking is, order your possible solutions from least forceful to most forceful. If your shoal keel is like mine, the rudder goes almost as deep as the keel, so there is the potential for damaging it. In my case, I dug out the bottom of the rudder with my toe, pivoted the boat on the keel, and backed out the way I went in.

 

[NYSail]

Immediately back up the same way you got there

 

[Ross]

Please remember that you also have to be able to climb back aboard if you jump off.

 

[rgranger]

At 20 feet in length, you clould probably do a "cannon ball" off the boat, and the created wave may lift the boat enough and push it in the proper direction. The higher up the mast you climb to jump, the bigger the wave.

... and sell tickets.

 

[rgranger]

Please remember that you also have to be able to climb back aboard if you jump off.

Yep!

Drop your sails first.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Cannonball into 3' of water?!?!? No thanks! Ross must have watched the movie "Open Water II".

 

[Ross]

Never heard of it. My boat has 3 feet of freeboard and getting back aboard from the water requires advance planning.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Open Water II

6 people jump off a big fancy sailboat for a swim out in the ocean and can't get back on board ... that's basically the movie! I'm sure you won't find it worthwhile to rent from net flix! Open Water I is about 2 people who go on a dive charter party boat and are left behind in the ocean by the charter boat. Another real winner.

 

[Benny17441]

Don't understand, you have towing insurance but did not want to call. What gives?

 

[Ross]

You don't call for help until all of your other options have failed including waiting for high tide on the great lakes.

 

[campuscab]

I did not want to abuse the towing. It is a great deal for the unlimited towing and if everyone uses it for every little thing it will raise the price for everyone. I feel that the sailing community is more self sufficient and maybe a little smarter than the stinkpots. A fishing boat called for a tow last week and as the tow was nearing they called and said we don't need you. Stuff like that raises the prices for everyone. Plus I need to learn to deal with problems on my own. I had a taxi company for twelve years. The first year i was calling for a tow every week. By the end I could take wire, tape and gum and limp the cars back. If I want to cruise I need to be able to problem solve.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Good attitude!

 

[campuscab]

Oh and it was good pracrice pullung a 200lbs man on board. I am low to the,water and it was still hard. We dropped the outboard mount and used that. I use the cockpit well for my motor but never to the mount off the back. I figured it might come in handy.
Even with the problems yesterday was one of the best sails I had. My buddy somehow wrapped the main sheet around the tiller as we raised the sails. We looked like the three stooges at the start but by the end of the day we were chasing down the bigger boats. She point well into the wind and it was great watching the look as we passed them. I have so much to learn but when everything comes together it is true bliss. It is not about money or boats, it is the love to sail that we all have. I would not trade it for the world.