Beaching (not the bad kind)?

[LetsRock]

Being a south shore Long Island boater there are many little beaches and sand bars surrounding us. I have always wanted to pull the boat up to one of them and get out and have some fun with the family. We have anchored and swam in the bay many times but never gotten to a beach or sand bar.

My question is, what is the best way to get the boat close enough (obviously without getting stuck) that we can walk right onto the beach. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Bucit]

We head to beaches (or little spoil islands) all the time. I back in while setting the front anchor and once I get close and still in 36" of water I throw out a rear anchor. Once the boat is set you can get out in roughly 3 feet of water, unload the beach chairs and enjoy!

 

[LetsRock]

We head to beaches (or little spoil islands) all the time. I back in while setting the front anchor and once I get close and still in 36" of water I throw out a rear anchor. Once the boat is set you can get out in roughly 3 feet of water, unload the beach chairs and enjoy!

Ahhh so you back it in, never thought of that. I would assume you need to watch the tides as 36" of water can disappear during the outgoing right?

 

[Skuza]

I wouldn't wanna beach any fiberglass boat just to avoid scraping the bottom. The sand may appear soft but the stray large object mixed in there grinding under the weight of the boat as you beach would scare me off. Unless your in totally calm waters with no one around I would just anchor offshore and walk/dinghy in. Tides or the wake of a passing boat making the boat bounce off the bottom is always a concern.

 

[Bucit]

Ahhh so you back it in, never thought of that. I would assume you need to watch the tides as 36" of water can disappear during the outgoing right?

Definately! We have tide swings up to 4 feet, especially in the summer. I will leave quite a bit of front anchor line out and when the tide starts to go out I have a friend grab the rear anchor while I sit at the helm and bring in some anchor line. He resets the rear and I'm good for an hour or so (depending on the tide). This is how we boat around Tampa Bay and the Gulf and have been doing this for 20+ years.

 

[gerryb]

Definately! We have tide swings up to 4 feet, especially in the summer. I will leave quite a bit of front anchor line out and when the tide starts to go out I have a friend grab the rear anchor while I sit at the helm and bring in some anchor line. He resets the rear and I'm good for an hour or so (depending on the tide). This is how we boat around Tampa Bay and the Gulf and have been doing this for 20+ years.

Same here in the NJ coastal areas. Only the newbies beach the bow of the boat..not a good idea at all for several reasons. Backing in allows the boat to be in the safest position for tide, current and waves. Just be aware of the depth, look at where the other boats are, and go slow.

 

[LetsRock]

I wouldn't wanna beach any fiberglass boat just to avoid scraping the bottom. The sand may appear soft but the stray large object mixed in there grinding under the weight of the boat as you beach would scare me off. Unless your in totally calm waters with no one around I would just anchor offshore and walk/dinghy in. Tides or the wake of a passing boat making the boat bounce off the bottom is always a concern.

Great points, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Definately! We have tide swings up to 4 feet, especially in the summer.

Wow only 4' tides? Today in Cook Inlet Alaska we had a -3.5 low time with a +23 high tide later today......

 

[rondds]

Bow beaching takes the paint right off, probably by the second time.

How do you "beach" the part of the boat that has the largest draft (the stern). I'm confused...

Is this only for outdrives?

 

[Bucit]

Bow beaching takes the paint right off, probably by the second time.

How do you "beach" the part of the boat that has the largest draft (the stern). I'm confused...

Is this only for outdrives?

You don't beach anything, rather you anchor (bow and stern anchor) close to the beach by backing in but allowing yourself enough water for the drives. In my case I need roughly 3 feet of water. This still allows you to get off the baot in waist high water and unload your boat and bring it up to the beach.

 

[garryowen]

 

[annie]

View attachment 20195

 

[Ka1oxd]

Done both, both bow in and out. With my 19', I used to set the anchor off the front, drive in while holding the rope, then let the anchor go where it needed to be and as the boat got almost where the bow should be, held the anchor line and the boat would pivot, kill then engine and raise the out drive. I would walk to the back tie off the line and take a stern line to shore. I always ended up just deep enough to keep the out drive from hitting. With the 340, I back it, too much weight to drop the line then swing into place. I back it in but keep the extended swim about 2.5 feet depth, which puts my props about 4 feet of water.

 

[330DA]

Back in and set bow and stern anchors like Bucit described is what we do.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

Got the beach... gonna do it... :smt001 bow to beach ladder attached on front for easy on and off. The guys build up the glass a bit before repainting bottom.

We get some wake parked there all day but not often. We'll have 10-15 boats usually and if wind and wave action is too much, there is a quiet cove we'll beach.

 

[Jay Gadsby]

You guys are better than me I do not like beaching my boat at all. Normally I watch the depth and shut her down when the water is no longer over my head. I drag her to where I want her to be with good ole man power. I grew up in Rhode Island where are all the beaches are made of broken shell and painful rock formations lol.