My winter port has experienced a build-up of sand between the two piers. There appears to be a 20/25 foot section which, as of March, would only provide me with a 2 to 3 inch margin between my keel and the bottom of the channel. To get to the open waters of Lake Michigan and to my summer mooring should I: (1)strip the boat and run the risk of going a ground or (2) pay a thousand bucks to have the boat shipped to a deeper port of water. I sail a Pearson 30
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A risk
If it was me i would strip and rip. Chances are good that you will slip through but i would be ready to kedge if needed. The thousand bucks seams to be overkill. I might spend a hundred or so on a tow boat US membership, and clue them into your situation. You would also have the coverage for the rest of the season. Are you in Frankfort or Arcadia? Frankfort is a commercial port isn't it? I know that the Army corp. is only dredging deep water ports leaving Pentwater and others "high and dry". Let us know how you faired. Pray for wind Lugeman
If it was me i would strip and rip. Chances are good that you will slip through but i would be ready to kedge if needed. The thousand bucks seams to be overkill. I might spend a hundred or so on a tow boat US membership, and clue them into your situation. You would also have the coverage for the rest of the season. Are you in Frankfort or Arcadia? Frankfort is a commercial port isn't it? I know that the Army corp. is only dredging deep water ports leaving Pentwater and others "high and dry". Let us know how you faired. Pray for wind Lugeman
tilt and go...
...there was a discussion a few months back regarding low bridge clearance on a portion of the ICW that some folks had solved by leaning the boat over to lower the effective height of the mast temporarily. Couldn't this technique be applied to raising the depth of the keel in the same manner? Swinging out the boom with a halyard rigged through the end and some weight attached might give you enough leverage to get the extra few inches you need. It was suggested that a couple of crew, sitting in the dink under the outstretched boom ready to haul on the halyard, would be enough ballast. If you get stuck anyway you can set the bower out past the bar into deeper water and then set the kedge out to the side so you can tilt the boat by attaching it to the spinnaker halyard (no boom), then winch your way forward for 20 feet or so till you clear. Besides saving the thousand bucks you'll save the time it'll take to de rig and rig the boat again.
...there was a discussion a few months back regarding low bridge clearance on a portion of the ICW that some folks had solved by leaning the boat over to lower the effective height of the mast temporarily. Couldn't this technique be applied to raising the depth of the keel in the same manner? Swinging out the boom with a halyard rigged through the end and some weight attached might give you enough leverage to get the extra few inches you need. It was suggested that a couple of crew, sitting in the dink under the outstretched boom ready to haul on the halyard, would be enough ballast. If you get stuck anyway you can set the bower out past the bar into deeper water and then set the kedge out to the side so you can tilt the boat by attaching it to the spinnaker halyard (no boom), then winch your way forward for 20 feet or so till you clear. Besides saving the thousand bucks you'll save the time it'll take to de rig and rig the boat again.
Go for it...
Bumping your keel lightly in sand, clay or muck isn't going to damge it if you go slow. If you get stuck, chances are you can get unstuck yourself. If not, somebody will pull you off. If you have a dinghy or a friend with a powerboat, have someone go ahead of you and "sound" the depth, and pull you off if you get stuck.
Bumping your keel lightly in sand, clay or muck isn't going to damge it if you go slow. If you get stuck, chances are you can get unstuck yourself. If not, somebody will pull you off. If you have a dinghy or a friend with a powerboat, have someone go ahead of you and "sound" the depth, and pull you off if you get stuck.
A miss is as good as a mile
In Florida there is a lot of thin water.... and 2 kinds of captains: Those who have run aground, and those who will. Sand won't hurt you... might take some paint off. Rocks will do damage. If you have 2 inches of clearance, then go. Are you sitting at or below your designed water line? I have about 3 inches or so - maybe 2 - between the where the boat sits in the water and the designed water line. As was said - go slow.
In Florida there is a lot of thin water.... and 2 kinds of captains: Those who have run aground, and those who will. Sand won't hurt you... might take some paint off. Rocks will do damage. If you have 2 inches of clearance, then go. Are you sitting at or below your designed water line? I have about 3 inches or so - maybe 2 - between the where the boat sits in the water and the designed water line. As was said - go slow.
keels...
Make sure you have a fin or full style keel before you go tipping when you bump... Wing keels aren't real friendly that way. Instead of getting free, you might find yourself stuck worse. Safer then to get rears in the bow pulpit. Just a thought
B
Make sure you have a fin or full style keel before you go tipping when you bump... Wing keels aren't real friendly that way. Instead of getting free, you might find yourself stuck worse. Safer then to get rears in the bow pulpit. Just a thought
B
Since you only have to do this once...
I'd induce artificial heel by swinging the boom out and hanging crew or weights from the end. Go slow and have additional crew (not the ones on the boom, they have to stay there) in the dink ready to bring the anchor out for kedging. Tom s/v Orion's Child
I'd induce artificial heel by swinging the boom out and hanging crew or weights from the end. Go slow and have additional crew (not the ones on the boom, they have to stay there) in the dink ready to bring the anchor out for kedging. Tom s/v Orion's Child
Make it look good
I think the best advice I've heard on this is what I was once told by Steve Collgate. He said that it's all about how you look when sailing. So no mater what mistake you've made, make it look intentional. So if you run aground, get out and clean the bottom. *box
I think the best advice I've heard on this is what I was once told by Steve Collgate. He said that it's all about how you look when sailing. So no mater what mistake you've made, make it look intentional. So if you run aground, get out and clean the bottom. *box
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