[C320-list] Boat Draft and Grounding (Wing Keel)

[Amirault Family - S&B]

All:

My sailing ground (Ottawa River above Parliament Hill, Ottawa Canada) is
experiencing historic low water levels due to low rainfall and last winter's
low snowfall. The result of this has been deep keel boats unable to leave
harbour due to the risk of grounding at the harbour entrance. Yesterday
afternoon on entering harbour I gently bumped the bottom at this entrance
but did not get hung up. For the evening's races I took the same course in
and out as that morning's departure and had no problem; although all of the
crew was at the bow to raise the stern a bit in hopes that if I do hit
bottom it will not be with the rudder. 

Two questions. Bear's nominal draft with wing keel is 4'10''. I was asked by
the club manager (when I reported the bump with the bottom) whether this
measurement was for salt or fresh water. Would there be that much of a
buoyancy difference?

My take on grounding is that trying to cant the hull to one side to float
her off is a non-starter as this would actually deepen the draft as the wing
tilts down further into the bottom. Is there any reasonable hope of this
solution working by tilting the hull far enough over, or is a pull off by
another boat the only solution (bearing in mind that the area has no
tugboat-like craft available as this stretch of the river is an inland
waterway)?

I have yet to ground Bear, but if a grounding will leave her stranded then I
may have to tie her up until we get appreciable rainfall.

Regards;

Brian Amirault
797 Waltzing Bear, too