Beaching a boat overnight... would you?

[smokeonthewater]

When I anchor overnight on a big body of water (e.g. Lake Michigan) I set an anchor from the bow. I use sufficient rode and set the anchor so that the boat will not get in too shallow water in the worst case position. I attach a long line to the stern and tie it to something on shore. The stern line has enough length so that the boat can swing where it wants. When I want to get back to the boat I pull the stern line to get the stern as close to shore as possible so I can wade out to the boat (about 2.5' deep water). I can leave the boat unattended at night this way with no worries.

unless your stern line fouls on the anchor line... THEN you could be in big trouble n take waves over the stern or broadside..... I suggest rethinking that strategy

 

[dingbat]

A serious lack of information about the conditions that will be incountered at the location. Method of anchoring would be driven by exposure and horizontal movement of the water. I will anchoring completely different on an island in the Bay than I would on a barrier island on the coast or obvious reason to those that understand the difference between the two. When you see pictures of bay of fundy pop up in theses conversation it's pretty obvious that they don't understand that beaching a boat is all about horizontal changes on tide, not vertical .......

 

[poconojoe]

I'm a rookie, but it seems to make sense to point the bow out. The stern line to the shore scares me a little since anything tied to the stern can possibly pull the stern down and cause a swamping. How would one prevent this? A lot of slack in the stern line? That would still scare me! Maybe because I'm a rookie I might be a little too paranoid?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Personally I can't imagine me EVER anchoring any boat in the ocean and sleeping on shore without some really good electronics to monitor it AND a fast dingy to chase it down if it left without me..... Also I would want enough insurance to make me happy it was gone AND a backup plan on how I would get home without my boat.

Short of any of that I wouldn't be getting very far from the boat and wouldn't be sleeping.

Just my $0.02

 

[ssobol]

unless your stern line fouls on the anchor line... THEN you could be in big trouble n take waves over the stern or broadside..... I suggest rethinking that strategy

The stern line is a floating line. the anchor line does not float. Between the wind and the waves it is unlikely that the boat will swing 360 deg. The stern line is held to the beach with a stake. If the line from stern of the boat goes taut for any reason, the stake will pull out and the line will float downstream/wind of the boat. The purpose of the stern line is simply for pulling the boat back close to shore when I return. This system has worked for me for a number of years on a number of boats where I use it. It may not work in all situations.

 

[smokeonthewater]

if it works then good but I have had my boat turn 360 on me while anchored more than once inland...

anyhow not intended as an attack, just food for thought in case it might help you or someone else.

Personally I think (IF I were going to use one) I would rather pull the stern line to shore tight in most situations..... waves don't ever come from shore (if you are close enough to run a line) though depending on the orientation of the beach I guess they could come in at a pretty good angle.

 

[nwcove]

When you see pictures of bay of fundy pop up in theses conversation it's pretty obvious that they don't understand that beaching a boat is all about horizontal changes on tide, not vertical .......

20 years as a commercial inshore fisherman....i do have a more than a good understanding of the effects of tide rise/fall and running tide. only posted a pic of the bay of fundy as i tried to add a pic to redneck joes post on page one as a fun thing. for you to say that "beaching" is all about running ( horizontal?) tide and has nothing to do with rise or drop is VERY misleading to others that may read this post in the future. if the op is not comfortable or experienced enough to do what he is planning, he should avoid putting himself and his craft in that situation. jmo

 

[redneck joe]

When you see pictures of bay of fundy pop up in theses conversation it's pretty obvious that they don't understand that beaching a boat is all about horizontal changes on tide, not vertical .......

I was speaking to the question of the boat sitting on the ground in response to post #2 and #3



and for those that want to have fun instead of incorrectly picking apart others posts, here is what I'm speaking of - my friends boat is in this:

 

[nwcove]

I was speaking to the question of the boat sitting on the ground in response to post #2 and #3



and for those that want to have fun instead of incorrectly picking apart others posts, here is what I'm speaking of - my friends boat is in this:

geez, guess i shouldnt have used the word " fun" while posting a generic pic. will keep any other comments and media straight to the point.

 

[rbh]

Ize Da buy dat sails da boat, Ize da buy dat cleans er!


OK now what where we talking about?? LOL

 

[nwcove]

Ize Da buy dat sails da boat, Ize da buy dat cleans er!


OK now what where we talking about?? LOL

ROFL!!! i need i beer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-bQn9DtgUA

 

[achris]

If we are talking about a tidal movement of less then half a metre, as the OP is, then there is not going to be anything pulling the stern of the boat down if the stern line is run ashore.

I have beached my boat, I've slept on the boat with it on a single bow anchor, I've slept on the beach with the boat on a bow anchor and stern line to the beach (and that was with a 4 metre (13foot) tide)... The only 'rule' I've followed is to let out the amount of line I think is about right, then added another 5 metres...

You can't see it, but there is a stern line running up to where the water line was the night before. And I took this shot while the tide was running in.

Water rose up, the boat floated and we had another great day out. The boat is facing about 15 miles of open ocean there too....

 

[marcoalza]

OK Guys, I'm back safe and sound with my boat intact.
I took your advice and bow out with a stern line to a tree on the shore.
Everyone retired to bed by 11pm, I tried but was up at midnight sitting on the shore watching and watching and watching, dropped off a few times and watched the tide drop by 1m at 3am.
Finally went to bed at 3:30 happy that I'd done thing right.
Good thing was that I could see the top of my white anchor light by popping my head up!
Needless to say I was doing that every 10 minutes or so.
A beautiful morning from 6 walking the beach with my dogs contemplating what a damn good anchor set I had pulled off!
Sea was like a mirror at that time of the morning. 28c with a water temp of 32c.
The egg, bacon, sausage, rocket and mayo ciabatta rolls were to die for.

Thanks again guys for all your help and advise.
iBoats done it again!