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

[Chris Burti]

I have several comments:

1.) As a broad generalization, the difference in depths of the various wing
keel 'editions' is that the early models with the shallow bilge drew abut
4'6". When the deep bilge model came out, the keel was the same and the
depth went to 4'11". After the C-310 came out Catalina started using that
keel on the C-320 as well and the draft went back to 4'5" on the keel, but
as the rudder wasn't changed, we have a bit of an overhang on the rudder. i
think most of this is documented on the website or archives and there is
even a pictorial comparison.

2.) In mud/sand, rapidly reversing course and powering out usually works
best unless you have really hit hard.

3.) Heeling will increase draft on a wing keel...but only to a certain
point, after which it reduces draft.

4.) The following is a risky maneuver and not recommended...you can lose
your rig...but it is one every skipper should be aware of. If you have a
skillful power boat operator willing to assist, you can hand off a tied off
halyard, have them move off abeam pulling the masthead over until the keel
is free. Then you both head to deeper water slowly at the same speed and on
parallel courses until clear of the shoal. Steering is tricky. Your vessel
will try to veer away from th etowbaot because of the hull's shape and you
have to maintain a straight course. The powerboat will have to steer
slightly away to maintain the degree of heel as the halyard, leveraged by
the mast being pulled upright by the weight of the keel, is steadily pulling
it toward your hull. This is made even trickier because you have no traction
in water, so the relative position of the towboat maintined by steering and
throttle. Of course you both need to be travelling in the same parallel
direction at the same speed. So...you can easily see why we "recommend that
you don't do this at home". That said, I have accomplished the
manuever successfully without damage on more than one occasion.

The Admiral suggests that I wouldn't need to learn to be such an
accomplished pilot if I was a more prudent navigator.


On Fri, Aug 13, 2010 at 4:18 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:

> 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
>
>
>


-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC