Beaching

[Phil Nersessian]

Does anyone run their boat up on the beach(intentionally)? I remember being told when I purchased my Cutwater 30 that the hull and prop was designed to do this, there is even a ladder at the front of the bow to allow for beach access,but I'm nervous about damage to my hull,prop and bottom paint.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We did this in Lake Powell. One of went onto the bow to watch for a sandy spot to land, watch out for anything unwelcome (rocks mostly) and gently placed the bow onto shore We brought a stern line from the port stern as well as the starboard stern up to shore and secured it with a spare anchor, tied a lie to a rock or tree and then brought the bow anchor up onto shore and buried it into the sand. At the time we did not have bottom paint but I would guess beach landing would wear off the bottom paint. While in Lake Powell we saw many boats that had a rubber hull protection piece adhered to the hull. The piece started on the bow at the water line and run at the center back as far as you want. It was about 4 inches up each side from the center of the hull at the bow. This attachment was used by those boats that did a lot of beach anchoring so if your plans are to do this check it out. We have not beach anchored since.

Jim F

 

[JamesTXSD]

It would depend on the slope of the bottom from the shore (enough depth for the prop), having a soft shoreline (as opposed to rocky), and going in easy so you don't scuff off the bottom paint, and knowing what to expect with tides or other water level changes (and potential wake from passing boats). We did that with our CD-25 at Lake Powell, but never saw a place in the Pacific Northwest where we would consider doing so.

It would take the right circumstances for me to consider it.

 

[pleeson]

The main use for my bow ladder is to climb aboard from the trailer at the boat launch to back the boat off, when there is no wharf. I would consider beaching in the right spot at Lake Powell or on other fresh water sandy sites with the right gradient, but always thought I would drop a "crazy carpet" or similar flexible plastic sheet down in front of the bow as the beaching process started for the hull to ride up on, before stern tying both sides to beach anchors. With my whitewater canoes I always epoxied Kevlar rub strips on the bow and stern - they extended up each side a few inches and were an appropriate length to take most of the impacts associated with dropping over a too shallow ledge/falls, or hitting an unseen rock with the bow.