Help with draft issue

[Sunsetrider]

Hi guys. I am doing the groundwork with a view to stepping up from the 1750 Thunder Craft you see in my sig to a . . . wait for it . . . 94 Chaparral Signature 24. (be still my heart!). Now, I reside on an inland lake with a boathouse integrated into the house (the house foundations are actually in the lake). The stern of the Chappy will extend beyond the boathouse overhead door, but I can live with that. However, I do notice that the Alpha One drive on the T-Craft doesn't clear the bottom by a whole heck of a lot, so the draft of the Chappy is a concern. Officially the minimum "draft" on the Chaparral is 2ft 9 in (33 in). Which is fine. But what I want to know is, when "minimum draft" is cited in the specs of a boat, would that be the draft at drive trim up, or drive trailered up? In other words, will my draft be 33 inches under power with the drive trimmed up?

The Chappy weighs in dry at 4800 lbs, so I figure with some gas and a double-axle trailer it will come it around 6,000 lbs. My Dakota is rated for 7,000 lbs as equipped. My objective in considering this vessel is to get offa my lake now and then and (a) down to the bigger water of the 1,000 Islands, and (b) maybe tour up the Rideau Canal to Ottawa, or even tow it over to the Trent Canal and into Georgian Bay.

This boat seems to have a reasonable size and weight, good for use on my smallish lake, along with a mid-cabin, stand-up full galley and enclosed head/shower for cruising, all at a price under $14K. And a quality product to boot!

Comments, warnings, encouragement and criticisms welcome!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Help with draft issue

Your final overall draft will depend on the weight of the boat, fully loaded, with all gear stored in place and the everage amount of fuel and passengers you carry. The draft in the literature can be that or empty & bone dry. It all depends on how the writer got the information.

Your best bet is to get the boat into semi shallow water, toss out the anchor, and raise the drive until the top edge of the prop is just under water (still able to navigate). Jump overboard and measure the distance from the lowest point of the keel to the lake bottom (which isn't always the outdrive or transom area).

If your boathouse can't handle the draft, look into having the area under your boathouse dredged or, if it's rocks, having it cleared out a bit.

 

[oops!]

Re: Help with draft issue

re.....help with draft issue.

draft is a funny thing.....unless you drink it in a timely fashion, it will go flat.
i suggest you drink it all right away !

 

[oops!]

Re: Help with draft issue

^^^^^ sorry, couldnt resist.

ok......as the fireman mentioned above......it really depends.

however, if you store it in your boat house, and get waves.....the minimum draft decreacses with each wave,,,,,,if you are even close to the bottom.......you will damage the boat.

you can dredge, or get a lift.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Help with draft issue

Water's dang cold first thing is the Spring . . . don't wanna jump in! And i betcha MOE and MNR might have issues with dredging activities ion fresh water lakes. I'll check it after I measure - with a stick . . .

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Help with draft issue

I'm thinking that you will be more in the 24" range with the drive up . . . 33 - 36" draft is typical for a 24 foot boat with the drive down.

When you look at the boat, bring a tape measure to check.

 

[Philster]

Re: Help with draft issue

Couple o' thoughts:

Since you mentioned the trailer, bank on it as weighing 1200-1250 lbs and add something like 350 lbs for fuel and another 100 for misc. gear.

Draft below plane but about to plane c(bow up, stern planted) can require more water. Keep that in mind.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with draft issue

What you really want to know is ... How much water do you need before you hit bottom!

Tape a yard stick to the transom with the bottom even with the bottom of the drive in its lowest position.
Transfer the numbers to another piece of tape on the transom to form a draft gauge like on the big tankers.



Float the boat and look at the gauge.
Then you'll know the actual numbers for your boat loaded the way you do it.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Help with draft issue

You can dredge under boathouses and docks and other personal property as long as the material isn't removed from the lake. Most places allow this on an annual or semi annual basis, but make sure you get the permits first. The actual dredging is only a few hundred dollars. No midnight dredging with a jet pump allowed!

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Help with draft issue

Thanks for the useful responses folks. Based on your comments I think I will be able to address any draft issues one way or another. Now to address the bank draft issue!

 

[JoLin]

Re: Help with draft issue

I'm thinking that you will be more in the 24" range with the drive up . . . 33 - 36" draft is typical for a 24 foot boat with the drive down.

When you look at the boat, bring a tape measure to check.

Right- the OP's Chaparral is virtually the same as my previous Chris*Craft 24' express cruiser. Draft with drive down was a bit over 3 ft. Drive full up (trailering position) cut that number almost in half. I could run the boat at low speed in 2' of water.

My .02

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Help with draft issue

You should be able to get a reasonable idea with out getting wet. Take a grease pencil and mark the waterline with the boat in the water. Pull it back out and use a board and a level to compare the low point to that mark. If you don't have a lift, figure in for wave action.

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: Help with draft issue

Right- the OP's Chaparral is virtually the same as my previous Chris*Craft 24' express cruiser. Draft with drive down was a bit over 3 ft. Drive full up (trailering position) cut that number almost in half. I could run the boat at low speed in 2' of water.

Well that would certainly work for me, as long as the intake is below water with the drive up that far. I just have to travel about 50 feet and into the boathouse in shallow water. It is a sheltered bay with no concerns about waves.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Help with draft issue

Well that would certainly work for me, as long as the intake is below water with the drive up that far. I just have to travel about 50 feet and into the boathouse in shallow water. It is a sheltered bay with no concerns about waves.

Probably no worries about the water intake. . . Most of the drive lives under water, even in the full up position.