Can you pull up to a sand beach with a Super Air 230 and not hurt the prop and Fins?

[sheltonpg]

I have a Nautique Super Air 230 and am taking it out for the first time this weekend. I am worried that If I pull up to a sand barge/beach that it will hurt the fins or prop on the bottom of the boat? Should I just pull up as close as I can get and then drop anchor or can I pull up to the beach?

[HS]

"Nosing" up to the beach (as seen in some of the Nautique promotional / advertisement photos) does pose some risks, besides the wear on the gel coat, such as fouling the prop, running gear or skegs (fins), so if its an unfamiliar area or if there are submerged stumps or boulders you'd want to use a lot of caution.

For this reason I use a river style anchor on an "Anchor Buddy" from the bow eye, and then a shore tie with a sand spike that has about 20 - 25 feet of line off the aft tie down point, and that holds the boat in a minimum of waist deep water while we are at a beach. I set it up bow-out and stern-to the beach and I make sure that the stern is always in deep enough water for my draft (28" for my 210). So, once she is settled, if I wade into the water from the beach and I am in crotch or waist deep water when I get to the swim platform, I know that with the slope of the bottom, the running gear should be OK. This is for an area that we vacation, so I am familiar with the conditions. You can go bow in if you want. . .I go bow out so the boat will ride over any large wakes that happen by (some boaters insist on towing close to shore at this spot) and with the bow in, it makes it nice for accessing the boat in waist deep water at the swim platform.

What I do is scope out the area so I am aware of the depth and look for obvious trouble spots (rocks, boulders, ledges). Then once I find our spot, I pull in, turn a 180, reverse the engine and let the reverse gear prop walk pull the stern to stbd, then switch off the engine when the sounder reads 3 - 4 feet. The momentum glides me in -- my lines are set up -- I have a bow man drop the anchor when I've started my pivot or when I've reversing in, and then I simply step off the swim step and walk in to the beach with my shore tie and sand spike. Takes some practice. The elastic on the Anchor Buddy is stretched at this point, I then set the spike and the elastic on the Anchor Buddy does its thing and the boat "settles" into place. Boat never touches the sand.

Another reason for this is its a dam controlled lake and the water level can fluctuate throughout the day. Just a few inches drop in water level is enough so that if I were to "beach" it could cause a soft grounding, or if it rises, she could float with the current.

[super01]

HS what lake are you on when you tie up like this? Obviously not Lake Sammamish!

[sheltonpg]

HS

Thanks for the post that helps alot!

[shag]

HS gives great info. Know the area well before you nose up to it, and at no more then idle (bumping in and out of gear).

[Sac Surfer]

I follow the same exact process the HS outlined above. It allows you to also point your speakers at the beach!

Nice write up HS!

Example of how to anchor

[HS]

Super01: right, you are. What I described is for when we are on "Lake Wanupum" on the Columbia.

[HS]

and with the bow in, it makes it nice for accessing the boat in waist deep water at the swim platform.

I meant to say "stern-in" for access to the swim platform from the beach!

[HS]

I have a Nautique Super Air 230 and am taking it out for the first time this weekend. I am worried that If I pull up to a sand barge/beach that it will hurt the fins or prop on the bottom of the boat? Should I just pull up as close as I can get and then drop anchor or can I pull up to the beach?

Don't know your experience level, so here's a bit more for what its worth: This holiday weekend is sure to be busy, so give yourself lots of room as you maneuver in "close quarters" . . .and know that the direct drive and V drive boats handle very differently than stern drive I/Os do. For example, when you lose "way", you also lose "steerage", so plan way ahead. Take some time to practice way out in open water, so you can anticipate what the boat does when you take it out of gear at very low speeds, or what happens to the boat when you put it in reverse and give a small boost of throttle (i.e., why are we pivoting? That's called "prop walk").

Another way to make it easy on yourself is to come in real slow, almost nose in, turn off the engine and then spin her in place with the help of some capable adults. This will give you a hands-on opportunity to know the real water depth and get set up.

If the beach you want to go to this weekend is really busy (boats lined up like a parking lot) you could get some help or just walk her in. In my experience, your soon to be neighbors at the beach would surely rather pitch in to lend a hand by taking your stern line than see you bump into their boat or drive over their kids. . .or if you are meeting friends, have your more experienced buddy land first then once he's set, have him help you come in and get set.

On busy holiday weekends at "the dune" it can be two boats deep, and dozens side to side all afternoon. Labor Day, 4th of July, etc. Some of this is shown on You Tube (search Crescent Bar Labor Day). Looks like an miniature Lake Havasu, I am told.

[HS]

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=349 (Sand Spike, shore ties, Anchor Buddy).

Note the sand spike has 3 different sized (I use the medium size), I am pretty sure my anchor buddy is the long one and the shore tie is 40' (easily shortened by doubling it back to the boat through the spike).

My anchor is a river style (mushroom anchor with flukes) about 15 or 20 lbs, I think (have to look to make sure).

Have a safe, and fun, weekend!

Double check your gear so you're ready for your courtesy inspection / safety stop!

[GCSuper]

I'm on my fifth boat in almost 30 years of ownership. When each one was new, I promised I wouldn't head in and beach it, but over time, the first four managed to get beached. On the fourth boat ( DD ) I had started to notice a slight vibration. Knowing that I had'nt hit anything, I really didn't suspect the prop being bent, but after eliminating other areas, I noticed one blade was slightly bent, but there was no obvious visible damage. Then I remembered when it happened. We were parked on the beach on a busy day and a big wake came in and raised the boat up farther on the beach and when it landed it came down hard and bent one blade on the prop. Now, we're starting our 3rd season on our 210 and it's still a virgin. Especially since we discovered a box anchor and it's ability to hold in the wind, it will remain a sand virgin forever.