Ouched bottom today in Florida Bay, in the channel. We only draw 4 ' saw some 4-9's, but never saw the hit coming. It was hard and brief, we never stopped. My theory is lobster trap. They are about 18 " tall. Take a bunch out of 5 ' of water.
Shoaling
- Thread starter Bill1565
- Start date
I was driving & soon as we heard the kachunk I put engine in neutral & said what the h was that. I can't imagine being in the keys w/a 5' draft.
Here on Long Island in the middle of the Huntington bay there's a sand hump right near the channel. It's well marked but it sneaks up on you. At least once a season, while I'm otherwise occupied with pouring a drink, shifting a line or just plain daydreaming I scalp the top. it will usually grind me to a halt for a second or two and then I move on. I should know better but.......It's soft sand so no damage except o my pride......
The bottom is a little harder up here in my part of the world (come to think, this time of the year, the top is too!). I have touched the bottom gently a few times exploring new anchorages but the one surprise I had was rather like Nelson's - going by a gravelly ledge I must have passed a hundred times...not paying attention, I cut the corner and...aground I was. Got all the crew (mostly kids) on the end of the boom and we were soon off. However, I was glad I did not have the shoal draft version that Bill & Mary sail; the extra foot of keel protected my rudder from damage. Horses for courses I guess.
Glad no one got hurt! Walking down the companionway steps can be a disaster in that situation.
I got stuck in the muck in Annapolis one time. I pulled-up to an old sheer by the Navy base so that I could look at something up my mast and the tide started to go out just before I left. Some heavy motoring finally got me unstuck but it was touch and go for a while there. I was afraid I'd be spending the night high and dry!
I got stuck in the muck in Annapolis one time. I pulled-up to an old sheer by the Navy base so that I could look at something up my mast and the tide started to go out just before I left. Some heavy motoring finally got me unstuck but it was touch and go for a while there. I was afraid I'd be spending the night high and dry!