how do we feel about beaching boats

[bpmcl00]

Is this okay to do. or a big NO NO. Opinions please.

 

[JB25VIP]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

well i have no technical information to provide
but ive done it plenty of times without incident!

 

[dingbat]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I don't know. I get nervous anytime I have less than 3 fathoms under me.

Typically if I want to hang out on the beach I just take the truck.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

Is this okay to do. or a big NO NO. Opinions please.

I'm guessing that the only objections that you will hear, will be to the 'scarring' of the gelcoat. We all fondly remember the shiney, clean, hull...when we picked up our new boats....

Then, again...I can find you a bunch of boat racers, that sand their hulls...claiming that it makes them faster!

I like shiney....

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I like shiny too, and don't forget the perils of sucking sand into the impeller of a jet boat, the cold water intake of any boat, and the possibility of your prop hitting a rock hidden in the sand. My ol' fishin boat, don't care, I beach it now and then in the shade. If I had a nice shiny newish boat, wouldn't even consider it.


Ian

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

i dont think there is a yes or no answer,
all depends on your local conditions and customs
here at the western lake i frequent, beaching is by far the most common with hardly anyone anchoring.
i have 3 anchors but only use one in the water(sometimes we anchor bow out) use the other 2 as sand pins on stern to the shore when beached bow in or out.
i think this works here because the lake levels are fairly steady and the lake bottoms drop off pretty quick. allso you can find solid rock or sand to pull the bow on and almost all run keelsheilds.
ours is a lake powell boat and has been beached on allmost every trip to the lake.the keel is still in good shape.
personaly i like running up on solid sand stone because then all that touchs the lake bed is the keel sheild. i have done this many times with only 12 to 16 inches of keel sheild protected keel even touching. the only problem i have ever had is when the wind shifts and waves start coming on swim platform.
this very seldom happens and its easy for me to move to another beach with bow to the wind. this works better for me because if stay and anchor bow out, the bow cuts the waves, but easier to move and have no waves.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I do it. There are some barrier islands in NC not accessible by car. Getting to them is one of the reasons I have a boat. I don't like crowds and you can get miles (literally) of beach all by yourself. I try to stop short of beaching but when I rub sand I don't freak out about it. The boats is no longer shiny, but the gel coat is still intact. I am considering getting a keel guard or keel shield, but its just not that bad yet.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

As much as I hate to get wet when out boating or fishing, I have to say I'd rather come in close, drop anchor and wade ashore if I had too. I wouldn't want to take the chance on gouging the hull on a stone or something.
If it were an old jon boat, thats a different story.
Years ago I had an old Johnson trihull, we ran it mostly in the river and on occasion out in the back bays a bit. We would often beach that boat and either camp for the night or just for a break. I had it for several years, it got abused in every way possible back then. It was near mint when I got it but after a couple of seasons, the keel was getting pretty rough. I gave it to a buddy of mine who eventually built up the keel with some new fiberglass. The whole bow was scored and scraped from rocks and whatever. I'd never do that to my boat these days. I get upset when I have to rub off a cedar water line.

Back when your 17 you don't care much for things like an old boat, my feeling back then was that it just had to last long enough to get home, if it sunk, you found something else for cheap. I think I paid $200 for that old Johnson with it's I/O drive, an old V6 chevy motor. It did fine till I found something bigger.
Bigger turned into bigger and bigger yet and finally a forty two footer. These days I keep going the other way, smaller and cheaper on fuel.

 

[642mx]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I beach mine, but only on islands that I know are safe to do so. On the questionable islands, I throw an anchor, grab a noodle and swim in.

 

[arks]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

The big boat- wouldn't even consider beaching it unless it was sinking.

The Jon boat- do it all the time with nooo problemo. It's aluminium.
The PWC- occasionally, but only in soft sand with calm water.

There's very few rocks where I usually boat.....

 

[BigJ08]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

Here in FL don't have to worry much about hitting rocks. It's just a big sand hill. We beach all the time. It will, over time, rub the gel coat off the bottom/keel, if you're worried buy a keel guard. I'm sure they sell it at the iboats store....

 

[ziggy]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

for my 19' i/o,
in sand, i'll beach it anytime.
any rocks around and i put out an anchor and wade in, or better yet, not beach at all if there's rocks around.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I run a keel gaurd on the Glastron and beach only in sand and very carefully at that. My boat is not new nor shiny really but I love her. Mostly river bank sand with very few rocks around.
The Sea Nymph I run all over stuff.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

Beaching is not good for the boat or the beach. i occasionally soft beach, for boarding or disembarking passengers seniors or infants, gear. then i back off, and anchor up. if not seniors or infants, we swim the gear in.

setting stern anchor

not the correct way

this is Ponce Inlet Florida.

 

[F_R]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

Tide went out. Had to wait all day for it to come back in.

 

[nlain]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I beached my old boat one time, tide went out and had to wait about an hour for it to come back in, then the water was driving it onto the beach, push off, water push back, finally had to start engine and put in reverse with drive almost all the way up in trailer to hold boat long enough for me to jump in and back out. Never again, back in anchor bow out.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I have a little tinny, so I do on occasion, but only on sandy areas. I usually come in close and as soon as it starts getting shallow, the outboard goes up and the trolling motor comes down.

 

[Incorrigible]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

It's at your peril. Or rather a gamble. If you know where you're beaching and you know you're in soft sand without rocks, it typically isn't a big deal, but everyone here is correct: Sand will remove gel coat. (think sand paper) You're always better off anchoring and wading in....

 

[mphy98]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

IN CANADA there are few beaches, many rocks. i am installing a keel guard and will carefully pull up to the shallow rocks and nose in for shore lunch. have done it many times with a guide and thier boats. this is the first year for mine. it is an old boat anyway, but still in great condition and i do not want to hole the hull!!!

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: how do we feel about beaching boats

I never beach my boat completely. I anchor out, back in, and then stake the stern still floating at around 18 inches prefereably. And NOW, I Never turn my back even then.

I had a storm "beach" my boat for me once. I tied out parralell with the bay's shore line cause of the wind I expected and din't want the boat hitting the peir. After the Northern came in my lines were broke and boat beached.

Bad place to be on the southern shore.!!!! After the waves stopped, I was able to tilt the boat level so that I could drop a sump pump in. Two weeks later the boat still had a slight tilt at idle from all the sand in the bilge that the waves left.

My story is the reason it's wise to keep the stern facing the shore.