Ran aground!

[jdpromo33]

I guess in Barnegat Bay you dont break your cherry until you've run aground, which is what I did on Saturday.

With a boat load of people I tried to avoid a lot of boats but taking a wider route towards Tices, then in a split second I saw the depth go from 9 feet to 1.9 feet and suddenly the boat came to a sudden stop.

I trailer up the alpha's and heard a knocking sound coming from the starboard outdrive.

I lowered the drives just in the water and slowly put her in reverse and backed out into deeper water.

Once in deeper water I lowered the drives fully and got under way.
The knocking sound seems to have stopped but I wonder if I may have caused some damage that I'm not aware of.

Anyone have some ideas and should I have the drives checked by the mechanic?

Thanks guys

 

[Summer Fun II]

I trailer up the alpha's and heard a knocking sound coming from the starboard outdrive.

Yep that was your ujoints screaming for HELP !!

Once in deeper water I lowered the drives fully and got under way. The knocking sound seems to have stopped

DON'T do that again !!. :smt021

 

[Dave S]

If you put the drives all the way up into the trailer position then you may have been hearing the u-joints. When your engine is running your drive shaft is spinning even when in neutral. I cringe every time I see somebody start their engine with the outdrive in the trailer position. The u-joints are at a severe angle in the trailer up position and many times they will make a knocking sound.

It could have been something else but what I described can be tested again if you want to be sure.

Dave

 

[PMC]

When we try and anchor out close to the shore, there is lots of people running in trailer mode. Makes me cringe every time.

 

[jdpromo33]

Yep that was your ujoints screaming for HELP !!
DON'T do that again !!. :smt021

But I had to raise them to get them out of the sand no :huh:
and why only the knocking sound from the starboard side and not the port?

It was my first experience of this so I guess I should have just raised them but not to trailer height?

 

[Summer Fun II]

and why only the knocking sound from the starboard side and not the port?

Get ready to replace the ujoints on that side.

 

[Firerooster]

Yeah operating the drives while up that high really pounds the u joints. Just keep an ear and eye on them. Maybe get in the water and inspect the props, skews, and lower units. But u should be good

 

[jdpromo33]

Well from what your all saying it does sound like it was the Ujoint and thankfully I think I didnt cause any real damage.

I was a little panicked to be stuck in sand and had to raise the drives to free up the boat

I guess you learn something new every time

JD

 

[skolbe]

Did you suck sand into your motor? You may want to flush your motor if you did.

 

[jdpromo33]

Did you suck sand into your motor? You may want to flush your motor if you did.

Not sure, dont think so but I'm gonna get the motors checked out to be on the safe side

Thanks everyone for the help

 

[320Bob]

Not sure, dont think so but I'm gonna get the motors checked out to be on the safe side

Thanks everyone for the help

I ran aground 3 weeks ago and tore up my underwater gear. Part of the repair estimate included flushing the engine and generator coolers along with replacing the impellers. Whether insurance covers this or not, I'm having it done. Also I was due to replace the impellers on the engines anyhow at the end of this season.

 

[billnpat]

But I had to raise them to get them out of the sand no :huh:
and why only the knocking sound from the starboard side and not the port?

It was my first experience of this so I guess I should have just raised them but not to trailer height?

What happens when one has V drive in-boards like me and can't raise anything???, just sit and wait for the water to rise?? i know from what i hear that one should never back up because of sand ingesting
:huh:

 

[jdpromo33]

Well put it down to first time boaters experience. :smt100 like I said, I will get the boat checked out either way.

 

[chumbley]

What happens when one has V drive in-boards like me and can't raise anything???, just sit and wait for the water to rise?? i know from what i hear that one should never back up because of sand ingesting
:huh:

Everybody gets out and pushes!

 

[billnpat]

Everybody gets out and pushes!

IM 73, WIFES 68 who's gonna push us???? :grin::grin:

 

[rcknecht]

Bill,

First, you a are young 73 :smt001 What I have done when I have run a ground with inboards and outdrives, is jump the water and pull the boat off... If you ran a ground, you will be able to stand... As an alternative... lower your anchor and walk it out ot the deep water and use the windlass to pull the boat off. You really don't want to power off... Wait for the tide to rise is an option, if you are at low tide... I don't like to wait, so I usually jump in... When pulling a boat your size, I would tie a rope on a bow cleat and use my weight to turn the bow... Once loose, I would use the windlass to assist me...

What happens when one has V drive in-boards like me and can't raise anything???, just sit and wait for the water to rise?? i know from what i hear that one should never back up because of sand ingesting
:huh:

 

[Summer Fun II]

IM 73, WIFES 68 who's gonna push us????

Bill, My friend Capt.Wally is near you. He's a tug boat Capt.
If you get grounded call me & I'll call him to get you ungrounded. :smt001

 

[rondds]

Last (and only) time that happened, I called TOW/BOATUS and they pulled me off.

Oh, and, BTW, Rod (rcknecht) IS the man to talk to about running aground. He has it down to a science.

 

[M&M's_Beach_House]

I run aground just about every time I go into the F-Cove! I wish they would dredge that just a little, I know the city hates us there though.

 

[Bridog]

I run aground just about every time I go into the F-Cove! I wish they would dredge that just a little, I know the city hates us there though.

I agree! The section getting in and out is a real PITA. I'm bringing a shovel next time and doing it myself. :grin: It's only about a 3' section that's causing the problem.