Prevention
Obtain charts of local waters and learn
how to use them. Install a depth sounder
on your boat. Even with a depth sounder
you must anticipate water depth becoming
shallower. A depth sounder measures what
is below the boat, not what is coming.
If You Run Aground
If you run aground, first tend to any crew
injuries and ensure all are wearing life jackets.
Then check the hull for damage. Engines
should be turned off to prevent the cooling
system from ingestion of damaging matter
such as sand. I/O and outboard powered
boats should lift outdrives to prevent propeller
and lower foot damage. If the hull
is watertight, you may decide to refloat the
boat. This may be accomplished by shifting
weight such as passengers and movable gear
away from the impact point then pushing
the boat into deeper water. If watertight
integrity has been breached, you should
consider remaining aground to prevent
sinking, and seek professional assistance.
If you run aground on a rising tide,
time will work with you. If it is a falling
tide, you must work quickly, or you may be
stranded for several hours.
A small boat with shallow draft is easier
to free than a large, deep-draft boat. Tilt
out board motors or stern drives into an up
posi tion to reduce draft at the transom. Do
not run your engines; you may pump sand
or mud into them.
With larger powerboats it may be possible
to get afloat by shifting weight to the
stern. Adults can sometimes push the boat
into deeper water. Before attempting this,
howev er, always make sure there is an easy
way back into the boat. You may be able to
float the boat off by rocking it from side to
side to create wave action. Small sailboats
with their centerboards raised may also be
freed in this manner. Be certain to wear life
jackets and attach safety lines to you when
attempting any of these maneuvers.
Larger sailboats are more difficult to
free when grounded. Several methods may
be tried.
• Hoist a mainsail to a beam wind; the wind
may help push you off.
• Place an anchor in deeper water and provide
a steady strain on the anchor rode
using block and tackle or winch(s) for leverage.
This is known as “kedging” and may be
used with assistance from another boat or
use of your dingy to place the kedge anchor
some distance from your boat in deeper
water. The grounded boat may come free by
slowly hauling in the anchor rode.
Heeling (leaning) a sailboat over to one
side may reduce draft enough to free the
keel from the ground (Figure 11-7).
124 Chapter Three
Figure 11-6. Grounding
Figure 11-7. Heeling a sailboat to raise keel
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