[C320-list] Low water at minus tide

[bruceheyman at cox.net]

If the bottom is soft then the boat usually makes a "worry hole" under the keel.  Even if the material is soft I wouldn't want my keel in the mud.  If nothing else it can't be good for the bottom paint.  Also what if it is a negative tide when you want to go out or are returning?
Bruce
Somerset 671 SoCal
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "Bill Sloane" <southsoundbill at gmail.com>

Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:57:18 
To:c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Low water at minus tide


I have owned my C-320 for just one year and this week at my moorage, we are
having some extremely low tides. Monday, May 5, the tide was -3.0'. I turned
on my depth meter exactly at low tide and the reading was 4.7'. Allowing
that the transponder is at the bottom of the hull or 12" below water line, I
thought I was on the bottom at least 5" as my fin keel draws 6'-0". The boat
was solid when I stepped aboard, with little sway.  The tide yesterday,
Tuesday was  -3.9' and today it was -4.1'.  I moved my boat Monday night to
an adjacent marina with deeper berths.

The question is, was I foolish or correct to move my boat?  What does a
C-320 do when tied to a dock in water that is 3'-6" to 4'-0" deep for 1 - 2
hours? The bottom looks muddy and soft, but I don't think soft enough for
the bulb at the bottom of the keel to sink into it.

Bill Sloane

C-320 No. 554 'Endless Summer'
Olympia, Washington