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

[Warren Updike]

It is said that there are only two kinds of sailors on the Chesapeake Bay:
those who have gone aground, and those who soon will.  That said, we've had
a number of "scrapes" with the bottom (pun intended.)  We've found that the
best course of action is a quick change to reverse and try to power off the
way you came in.  That is, of course, unless you are on rock which isn't too
often on the bay.  Once, we were stuck on rock and opted to wait out the
tide for fear of doing damage.

If grounded hard on a soft bottom, healing over, as you said, is useless. If
a tow is necessary, try pulling out the way you went in with all possible
weight on the bow to raise the rudder.  Another approach is to sound the
bottom around the boat to find the deepest way out. Remember, it's less than
5' deep. Often, it doesn't take a great force to pull you off. Another
sailboat or small power boat is often able to do it.

We also avail ourselves of Tow BoatUS unlimited insurance that is the best
bargain on the Bay.  The one time I had to use it was with an overheating
engine, stuck on the bottom, and storm approaching. The retail cost of that
tow was over $900.  Cost us nada other than the annual premium of about
$125.  Presence is important and fortunately BoatUS is all over the
Chesapeake. 

Warren & Pattie Updike
1994 C320 #62 "Warr de Mar"

-----Original Message-----
From: Amirault Family - S&B [mailto:amiraults at sympatico.ca] 
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 2:58 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Boat Draft and Grounding (Wing Keel)

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