Beaching

[keith2k455]

Alright, I know that there are mixed opinions here on this topic, but as a compromise for the family having fun I have decide that this year I will beach my 21' 2003 Crownline 210 when we take it out. On the IL river, there are a few major beaches that we will stop at so the kids can get off the boat and play around a bit.

I have two main questions, one of which is two part

1) How big of an anchor do I need to tie the thing up to the beach and are keel guards really worth it? I have a I originally planned to turn the boat around and use two anchors to have the bow facing the channel, avoiding running it up on shore and all the issues associated with that. I've since decided that I'm just going to beach it. Reason being, these beaches get pretty busy and I will be the only one with this size of boat not beaching it. I have two of those twist in anchors that are about 24" long, will one of those work to hold my boat up on the beach?

2) When boarding/unboarding at the beach, should we swim around from the stern or use a ladder to climb up the bow. Swimming from the stern will keep the boat cleaner, but is it really that safe with a 4 & 7 yo? If we use a ladder, it seems to me to be between two kinds:

I'll tie/bungy the top of the ladder to the bow rail before getting out if I go the ladder route. Each of these should collapse for easy storage.

 

[BigDfromTN]

Most V boats in our Area (Tn River) that beach on a sandy beach. Do not use an anchor per se on the front. They use a "T" shaped metal rod with a bungee type dock line. This puts a little tug on the bow to keep it snug to the beach in case of waves.

As for ladder.... Im not sure how tall your bow is but will that be safe for a 4 & 7 yr old??? Those are questions you will have to figure out for yourself.

 

[bruceb58]

If there are no waves, I bring my boat in sideways to the beach. If there are waves, I anchor the bow out and get on and off the swim step. I rarely bring my bow in because my bow is too high to get up on it.

As far as what I use to tie my boat up on the beach, I use my normal anchor and bury it using a shovel. None of those screw in anchors are worth using in my opinion. The slide anchors seem to be well liked although I don't use them.

 

[Natesms]

I beach regularly with my nephews who are now 5 and 9. If the adults can get on and off the front, I wouldn't worry about a ladder. I like the boys requiring a boost from me to get in and out of the boat because then they are either IN the boat or OUT of the boat. No up/down, in/out, jump out the side into 9 inches of water, drag a bucket of sand into the boat stuff.

Going on and off the swim platform on my boat takes serious training with kids. I have to trim up the drive and the swim platform doesn't cover the prop. If the out-drive was covered by the swim platform I wouldn't worry about it but we have a strict "No swim platform when at the beach" rule.

 

[fhhuber]

How big of an anchor depends on boat size, wind and waves. Also what you are dropping the anchor on...

Dropping an anchor on smooth concrete it better be a big anchor. If its firm dirt and the anchor can dig in it may not need to be much more than a large tent peg.

Also consider the surface you are beaching on and if you may need a keel guard of some sort... Repeated beaching on concrete or sharp rocks will eventually grind through any hull.

 

[bruceb58]

Repeated beaching on concrete or sharp rocks will eventually grind through any hull.

I would hope one would never beach on rocks or concrete.

 

[batman99]

For my 20 year old bow rider boat, I installed Keel Guard (rubber strip) down the front and center area of my boat. I drive as close as possible, dismount the boat, then manually pull my boat into the beach. Most of the time, I tie my boat's bow to a shoreline tree (and let boat rock on its beach from incoming waves). With its front bow pinned on beach, I then lower its motor and lock its rear - into the beach's sand / soft stone. For a 2nd safety line, then then throw anchor over its side (with very short rope - on no traffic side of the boat). If too rocky, I don't beach my boat. So far, its keel guard (rubber protection strip) works great. For a brand new boat, I'd probably anchor off-shore and not risk scratching its keel area. For stuff like this, glad I have a 20 year old boat.

 

[bruceb58]

I have never seen the need for a keel guard but I only beach on purely sand beaches.

 

[keith2k455]

I like the comment about giving the boost to know if the kids are in or out. I had never thought about the ladder making things unsafe, but it's a good point. I may just feel it out the first time on whether or not we climb in bow or come from swim platform. My fear about the bow is twisting my ankle or something - more me than the kids. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to climb back in the bow though.

The beaches we'll be at are mostly sand with some dirt. Minimal rocks. I may still get the keel guard for my own sake.

 

[Blue2005]

I would hope one would never beach on rocks or concrete.

I understand the rocks but where would you beach a boat where it's going to be sitting on concrete..? There's something I'm not seeing

 

[H20Rat]

My fear about the bow is twisting my ankle or something - more me than the kids. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to climb back in the bow though.

Your boat will be relatively easy to get in/out off over the bow. Generally until you get up in the 26' and larger, hopping in the bow isn't bad.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I don't like the idea of locking the skeg down into the bottom to anchor a boat. With a bit of wave action I think the transom isn't going to like it. I seldom beach my aluminum and on sand only. I wouldn't lug a ladder around for getting in and out of a boat unless it was a big boat that I couldn't give a kid a boost. For some adults with a mobility problem a ladder might be an accident waiting to happen. If it is a must to beach a boat in waves bow out to the anchor and a line to land well secured.

 

[mr 88]

Keel guard or maybe a piece of canvas or some other heavy material that you can put on the beach and pull the boat up on it. I would never beach a fiberglass boat for fear of a rock working its way up to the surface and grinding on the gel coat,but that's me. I wouldn't care how the other boats of similar size did it,I would drop the kids off and secure her a few feet off shore.

 

[bruceb58]

I understand the rocks but where would you beach a boat where it's going to be sitting on concrete..? There's something I'm not seeing

There's a man made lake near me that has some concrete shoreline with some sand trucked in to make a beach.

 

[bruceb58]

I don't like the idea of locking the skeg down into the bottom to anchor a boat.

Agreed....bad idea.

 

[bwraven]

I frequently beach on sand or gravel in saltwater (have to deal with tidal fluctuations.) I use a folding 3-step stepladder for climbing on and off of the bow.

As far as securing the vessel, I carry a 100' line to tie the bow to a tree or rock, and drop an anchor off of the stern when I'm 20-30' offshore. I use an Anchor Buddy (elastic line that pulls the boat back offshore after I unload while beached.) This keeps the vessel firmly secured while it is floating in 3-6' of water.

1. Drop the anchor with the Anchor Buddy 20-30' offshore as I am approaching the shoreline. Play out the stern line as I approach the shoreline.
2. Beach the boat on shore, tie off the stern anchor line. Drop the ladder off of the bow, go ashore with the 100' line and tie off.
3. Unload the boat.
4. Have someone on shore play out some bow line while I am back in the boat pulling in 10' or so of the stern anchor line (with the Anchor Buddy.)
5. Tie off the stern anchor line while I am offshore 10' or so.
6. Have the person on shore pull the boat back to the shoreline (stretching the elastic Anchor Buddy.)
7. I hop ashore, and play out the bow line as the Anchor Buddy pulls the boat offshore 10' or so, then tie off the bow line to a tree or large rock.

 

[fhhuber]

Re beaching on concrete... that is what you are doing if you pull the boat up the ramp for it to sit while you park the trailer. I see it all the time.

 

[Chad Flaugher]

I've always thought having the bow facing away from the lake/river makes your boat susceptible to large waves in the event of a storm or squall. In fact, I watched a Bayliner take waves over the transom during a thunderstorm until it sank! (In 4' of water, not a total loss) Might be a Colorado thing though... Storms pop up in minutes around here, so you never know!

 

[JASinIL2006]

I boat on the Illinois and the Mississippi all the time, and beaching is a regular part of our outings. Definitely get a keel guard. The shore ranges from silty sand to fairly coarse stuff, and after a season of beaching without a guard, I could see the gel along the keel showing signs of abrasion.

We usually tie up by throwing the anchor onshore and pressing the flukes into the sand, or sometimes we'll tie off to a tree or bush. I've seen some folks with a steel bar that they drive into the ground, but I've never bothered. Some people anchor the stern by trimming in the drive until the skeg bottoms out, but I don't much care for that method. Depending on how shallow or steep the beach is, you may not need anything to anchor the rear of the boat. Sometimes I will toss out fairly heavy navy anchor about 10 or 15 feet off the back and tie the stern to that. Best bet is to head to a beach and ask what the locals use.

I've never seen anyone use a ladder for boarding, unless it's the swim ladder in the stern. We mostly just climb over the bow, especially if we're unloading stuff for grilling and chilling. The current can be pretty swift, so I'd never have child swimming off the boat (or shore) without me near by. They'd be in a PFD for sure, and I might have them tethered to the boat.

Where on the Illinois will you boat? We sometimes put in at Havana, but there are some nice beaches a ways upriver.

 

[keith2k455]

Thanks for all the help here guys. JasinIL,We boat between Peoria and Henry, putting in at either Peoria or Chillicothe (since both are the same distance from me). I agree with not trimming the drive down, to me that is just asking for problems. My kids are in jackets from the time they hit the dock to the time they get off the dock. No exceptions. I actually got my sister in law mad at me because we had her and her 1yo out in the boat last year and the kid didn't like the jacket. I just said, jackets on kids all the time, no exceptions.

The good thing is that the current is not too swift on the river in this area, so I just need a little prevention to keep the boat secure. Squalls and storms aren't much of a concern where I'm at either seeing as it's on this river which hits flood stage at 18'. I see people with untied boats all the time, but that won't be me. I used to pull our jetskis up to the beach, but not my boat yet.

I'm convinced to just try it. The good thing about boating is that we have a tendency to help each other out. Someone will help with what I should do. I have a danforth anchor and two smaller ones, I will be tying it off on the beach for sure. Two things concern me with anchoring bow out - I don't have the crew to help me out like bwraven mentioned. The other thing is that if I'm the only one anchored bow out, it creates another concern with someone driving through my anchor line. If my crew has a lot of fun and I just get a little anxious the first time, it will be a success.