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Shallow
Water Woes (19-4) by Dusty
Miller
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 When
the military storms a waterfront during war or training,
the vessels they use are designed to take the punishment
of being rammed up on shore. They are durable enough
to hit rocks or other damaging obstructions that lay
below the water's surface.
Recreational boaters often run up on shore - sometimes
on purpose (sometimes not) and there are things you
should know in either event. After all, your fiberglass
runabout is a little more vulnerable to shallow-water
damage than military vessels.
Let start with beaching. Many sport boats have features
designed for this popular pastime. Ladders fold away
under the bow deck to offer easier beach access, while
many deck boats incorporate a bow entry or step pads
to provide even more convenience. Remember, though,
sand can be abrasive and the sand you're landing on
can take the finish right off your hull and allow water
to seep in. If you go up on the beach often, it's a
good idea to let the hull dry out over the winter, then
refinish the fore section before launching it again
in the spring.
You should also be aware of other wakes or a change
in the wind when you're pulling up on shore. A friend
of mine once took his jet boat out of Gloucester Pool
for an island picnic in Georgian Bay. He tied up on
shore thinking the water was deep enough so his boat
wouldn't hit bottom. Unfortunately, he didn't account
for the wake from passing boaters. Every time a wave
came along, it picked up his boat and dropped it on
a boulder that was protruding from bottom. Eventually
it drove the engine right through the hull for an expensive
repair.
However, when boats go up on shore unintentionally,
or you hear the crack of a prop hitting something, it
can easily ruin your day - or worse...
(Read full article in the magazine.)
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