What's the best method for beaching?

[luckyinkentucky]

I was wondering what everyone thinks is the best way to beach a 20' fiberglass boat. I've only done it on one occasion without a whole lot of luck. I ended up with the boat drifting around in the area pulling at the bow eye when I got back. All I had was an anchor in the sand attached to the bow eye. Nothing in the back.

Forgot to add that white sand is the only place I will beach my boat. I will not beach it on pea gravel or anywhere questionable. Fine white sands are the only method I am interested in.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

Come in a little hot, cut the motor raise the trim and geter done.........

Ohh and if your to hot.......think really fast and come up with a better plan.......

 

[bjcsc]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

What's wrong with using anchors? You can save your keel and avoid sucking "fine white sand" through your engine...

 

[Scout Sport Fish]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

I agree with bjcsc. All my friends are always saying "Oh come on just beach it so we dont need to wade through the water!" Well there not the ones that have to deal with worrying about sucking up sand and scratching the keel. Invest in a second anchor if needed. I got one this weekend for well free. Tide went out one a POS boat and it was 100% on ground and about 6 feet from the water. (It was abandond)

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

Well, I'm going to install a keel guard tomorrow, so that's won't be an issue.

What are you suggesting? That I anchor it out about 5 feet from shore in the forward and aft?

 

[_brad_]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

What I do is throw motor in reverse, get some speed in reverse, let off the throttle and pull motor up.

Depending on how shallow it is you can get the stern to get onto the shore pretty easily. Makes it easy for people to get off and push off.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

When I beach (bow first), I gas it and then cut the motor while trimming up. I sometimes will pull it up more (by using the anchor rope)if needed once everyone gets out. Stab the anchor up on the beach.
The last time it was windy I trimmed the motor down till the skeg buried into the sand and it kept the boat straight as an arrow.... Not sure if that's good on the outdrive or not but it worked well. (this was after the motor was off and front was anchored.)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

i use an anchor buddy with the 23' deck boat. it's a huge bungee, that attaches to the anchor. "http://www.waterskiworld.com/boataccessories/Anchors/AnchorBuddy/anchorbuddy.html"

 

[dvan1901]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

One thing you might want to do is scope out the spot first for any "hidden" rocks. Then, get you a little speed, cut engine, raise drive and keep it straight. Once you are beached, toss an anchor out the back a ways to keep the stern from turning on you too much. You can also an anchor or beach spike off the bow. When you go to leave, just have someone push it back to get your drive clear of any sand/muck.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

What are you suggesting? That I anchor it out about 5 feet from shore in the forward and aft?

That's what I am suggesting, but it's typically more than 5'. The procedure depends on the tide flow (toward or away from beach), but if this is happening in Kentucky that would be a non-issue. It's easier on a lake, and in a lake I do the following: Get in close and carefully scope out the depth and general bottom. Figure out where 6' deep is. At that point, turn 180deg and head away from the beach to about 40' from where you had about 6' of water. Drop your bow anchor. Reverse out (back towards the beach) to the 40' tag or mark on your bow anchor line, cleat it off, set the anchor, and turn the engine off. Get in the water. Take your stern anchor, cleat the end to the stern of the boat, and swim it to shore. Set the stern anchor by hand, preferably in view so people don't kick it or trip over it. Swim back to the boat and get in. Uncleat the bow line, but leave a loop over the cleat so that it will release line but not leave the cleat. Keep that in your hand (or have a helper man it) and go to the stern. Uncleat the stern anchor line and pull yourself toward the beach until you're in 3' of water or so. Secure both lines and enjoy the day. When it's time to go, take the stern anchor with you. When you get on board, turn your blower on, stow the stern anchor, and pull yourself back out to 6' of water and start your engine. Weigh bow anchor as usual...

 

[Texasmark]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

"I was wondering what everyone thinks is the best way to beach a 20' fiberglass boat."

One word solution: Don't!

Gell coat scratches and chips easily and a boat on a beach with wave action moving back and forth will just scratch up your hull. The darker the color the more obvious.

BTDT

Mark

 

[old-gubbins]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

I like the solution recommended by Tash.

Well illustrated in this thread from 2005, search this forum for
"Proper beaching techniques?"

HTH

O-G

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

The only place I beach at is a place called 'Pump Out' here locally. It's literally just sand that the US Army Corp of Engineers dredges up every year off the bottom of the Ohio to make a deeper channel for barge traffic. It makes a 100 yd. long 'island' that we all hang out on until the late season rains cause the river to rise, and wash it all away. If you were to see it you would see it's just sand and no debris, so rocks aren't an issue. There are some good suggestions here.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

if you must you must, beaching a boat is never good on the hull. and a keel guard is going to do very little to protect the surrounding areas, that wallow in the sand. save your money. when we were kids, parent had a lake house without a dock. we just ran the boat up on the sand beach. yes over the years if did take it's toll on the jell coat. but never wore thru. when beaching trim up, move passengers to the stern, and get the weight out of the bow. then ease up on to the beach. when the weight comes out of the stern the boat will stay. if i a tidal area watch the tide. you don't want to be high & dry,

 

[Texasmark]

Re: What's the best method for beaching?

A longer reply than "don't".

I always wanted my boats to look sharp. Proper hull condition was part of that so I never beached. If I wanted to partake in beach activities, I'd anchor my boat out in the water with two anchors, one fore and one aft with the bow facing the incoming waves, engine up and at a depth sufficient to insure that the bottom of the boat would not ground out on the troughs of the waves.

Mark