New Years Day, luck is on my side so far..

Todd320

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2016
1,508
St. Petersburg, FL
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 320DA
Engines
Twin V-drive 5.7L 350 Horizon
Beautiful day, started out with me running aground and taking 2.5 hours to go what amounted to 15 miles! Fortunately, after running aground, and running the props through sand on several occasions, we were able to get to deep water and the boat ran great at all RPMs, even 5,000. Knock on fiberglass!
598CD2CE-36A9-446B-A22E-57666E7493EC.jpeg
 
Two kinds of boaters. Those who have run aground and those who lie about it. Welcome to the club.
 
Beautiful day, started out with me running aground and taking 2.5 hours to go what amounted to 15 miles! Fortunately, after running aground, and running the props through sand on several occasions, we were able to get to deep water and the boat ran great at all RPMs, even 5,000. Knock on fiberglass!
View attachment 78364

I personally have never, ever run aground. I have however discovered several uncharted sand bars. I'm just sayin.
 
I checked my tracks, the “30 minutes” of being stuck turned out to be only 10, we just waited it out. Fortunately, we were not technically in too shallow of water, just too shallow when at the bottom of the 1-2 ft rolling swells. The waves were pushing us to deeper water, so I used the bow thruster to point towards deep water, then used the engines but only as we were being lifted up by the swells, then quickly back to neutral.
 
Todd, now THAT is what I would call using one's noggin to get out of a "situation". Just think, your props probably don't need polishing soon.
 
Beautiful day, started out with me running aground and taking 2.5 hours to go what amounted to 15 miles! Fortunately, after running aground, and running the props through sand on several occasions, we were able to get to deep water and the boat ran great at all RPMs, even 5,000. Knock on fiberglass!
View attachment 78364
If you have never run aground you have never left the dock! lol
 
I have never run aground. Came close once while distracted (conversation with the admiral) but reacted quickly enough that I just ended up stirring up some mud on the way out.
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The next time it happens.....!!.......spend 30-45 minutes cleaning the sand out of your strainers (takes a bucket and a wrench to remove the plug in the strainer bottom) but it may save you ruining your seawater pump impellers. That small investment in time could save you $150-$300 in impeller cost.......more if you have Mercruiser's new bright idea: i.e. plastic pump housings.
 
Here on the South side of Long Island 5 feet its good water for the most part, If you have ever gone through Moriches Bay Even when your in the channel you seem not to be. There's what i like to call an occasional Speed Bump so when I'm in that area i crawl!
 
Beautiful day, started out with me running aground and taking 2.5 hours to go what amounted to 15 miles! Fortunately, after running aground, and running the props through sand on several occasions, we were able to get to deep water and the boat ran great at all RPMs, even 5,000. Knock on fiberglass!
View attachment 78364

Couple years back I took that back water route between St Pete and Marco Island in my 400DA. There was a few place along the way I was wondering why I chose that route in the first place.
 
I make sure to always go slow and keep a close eye on depth and color of my churn water when im in anything less than 10 or 12 feet. I have noticed at 7 feet we are churning chocolate milk. Not a good feeling.
 
Beware the Northeast winds on the Gulf Coast, especially during winter tides (like tomorrow will be)
 
Beware the Northeast winds on the Gulf Coast, especially during winter tides (like tomorrow will be)

That’s not just a west coast thing. Extends all the way down into Florida Bay.

Takes a day or two on the west coast. 2-3 days blowing to push FL bay out.

Icw east of marathon headed back to Miami can lose a foot.
 
And around here, a foot is the difference between getting in, and waiting it out.....
Quote from a sailing book a looooong time ago:
Aground: when the draft exceeds the depth
class dismissed.
 

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