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

[Warren Updike]

No need to apologize, Allan, heeling may be useful with 5-6 crew; but, for
just me and mate, which is usual, it's not an option. The locations you
mentioned are convenient for TowBoatUs locations, so if well stuck, I'm
going to call them.

I agree with you on the suction issue, if you can get enough heel.  See
Chris Burti's response.  I'm rarely surprised by a grounding as I'm usually
aware of where I am (see below) and take all precautions to avoid or
minimize the issue. So, when we do touch, it's usually a light touch.III

As for the grounding on rock, and it was the only place I've found rock, it
was near the entrance to Taylor Cr. On the Sassafras R.  We were West of the
proper entrance and I wasn't quite aware of our position when we touched.
The keel was grounded and I could feel the rudder touching.  Tide was
falling.  We did try some assistance; but, were concerned about moving on
the rocks.  As we were with a group that was anchoring on Taylor Cr. We
opted to wait out the tide.  All was not lost as we met some curious
passers-by we chatted with through the cocktail hour.  When at last we
floated off, we anchored in the deep water outside the entrance where we
enjoyed more breeze than did our group back on the creek.

I didn't know about the break-away rudder; but, after the Turner Cr.
Incident, I did find the bottom of the rudder open and had to repair it.

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Allan S. Field [mailto:allan.field at verizon.net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 10:10 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boat Draft and Grounding (Wing Keel)

Sorry Warren but healing over is not useless.  We went aground in Knapps
Narrows a few years ago.  I had 6 people on board.  I asked 5 of my crew to
stand on the side deck, hold onto the shrouds, and lean out as far as they
could.  I was behind the wheel and also moved to the same side.  The boat
heeled over and I was able to power off very easily.  Before I put everyone
on the side, I could not power off in any direction.

3 months ago under sail, we went up on an uncharted bar on the Miles River.
This time I had 5 people on board.  I could not back off under power so once
again, we all hung out the leeward side, the boat heeled over, and I easily
powered off in reverse.  We also had 30 knots of wind on the beam so had a
lot of help from the wind in getting a good heeling effect.

The above 2 paragraphs are facts.  Now for the opinion.  I think what
happens with our wing keels is that when we plow into mud, the entire wing
goes in.  Between the mud and the suction effect, we are stuck.  But by
heeling over, we break the suction and, instead of trying to move the entire
keel out of the mud, we are now only trying to move one edge of the keel.
While that edge probably buries deeper from the heeling effect, it still
takes less power to power the boat off.  Until proven otherwise, that's my
story and I'm sticking with it!

If stuck and going in reverse is the only way out, an incredible amount of
mud and sand are shipped forward and gets sucked into and through the
seawater cooling system.  I always take the seawater pump apart after such
an action and make sure the impellor is OK.

Finally, our rudders are designed to breakaway a foot or so up from the
bottom before the entire rudder is destroyed in a grounding.  The Gerry
Douglas breakaway-rudder-theory is that enough of a stub of rudder is left
that one can get home.  Fortunately I have never had to test this theory and
know of no one who has.

As for getting stuck on rock, I'd love to know where that happened.  I have
been sailing the Chesapeake for over 40 years and the only rock I am aware
of is White Rock on the Patapsco, and that puppy sticks out of the water
maybe 20 or so feet high.  I always thought that any other rock (other than
manmade jetties and such) were long ago covered by sediment.  Regardless, I
have never heard of anyone going aground on rock in the Bay.  Did that
happen to you on the Bay or somewhere else, like Lake Erie?

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Warren Updike
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 4:18 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boat Draft and Grounding (Wing Keel)

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