Ran aground!!!

[96TL]

I never thought it would happen to me, but it did this Saturday. I was in a tight channel with a large NYPD (New York Police Dept) boat coming right towards me. This boat was at least 75 feet long. I went alongside the edge of the channel to give him some room and not get slammed by his huge wake. I was cruising at about 30MPH when I felt my boat losing speed on its own. At first I thought I bumped the throttle with my arm or something, but then realized I had hit bottom. I cut the throttle, shut the motor, and came to a complete stop. I raised the motor out of the water, hoping we’d be able to drift away, but I felt the hull rubbing on the bottom. The huge wake from the passing NYPD boat slapped us right on the side so hard I thought we were going to flip over. We must’ve been in maybe 1’ of water, no more than that, and the bottom looked like mud. I lowered the motor until the prop was just under water, started it up, made sure she was peeing okay, gave some gas, and crossed my fingers. I felt the boat moving along slowly, rubbing on the bottom, and then all of the sudden I felt it speed up. We made it out. I lowered the motor and let her run at low RPMs for a bit before taking off. She ran fine for the rest of the day.

The only damage I can see it just to the skeg and prop. They both look sanded and polished now. I guess there must’ve been some sand under that mud? I definitely felt the hull rubbing on the bottom. Do you guys think I should have it hauled so I can make sure there’s no damage to the hull? It’ll cost me $200.00. I think most likely I just scraped off some bottom paint, but I want to be sure. If I haul it there goes my Memorial Day weekend on the boat though. What do you guys think?

Also, is it worth trying to re-paint the skeg? I can probably get the prop polished.

Dom

 

[rangerdog]

I personally don't think its necessary to pull her. I ran aground last year in Cincoteague where the channel is very narrow and instead of believing the bread crumb trail on my GPS, I turned at a stake. I had 4 men on board and was moving at perhaps 15 MPH. We stopped instantly, were thrown foward hard and lucky no one got hurt. It took maybe 1/2 hour of moving bodies around, and gunning the motor to rock her out of the sand. You can hardly tell where the keel was "sanded". I did have to clean and flush the motor good and unclog the speed pitot. But then again I trailer the boat and you don't.

 

[cbigma]

I'm with John.

I don't think I would be pulling her after a "soft grounding" like you describe. I have mostly rocky bottom up here, so the odds of me having a "soft grounding" are pretty slim.

Grab a face mask and do a quick "look see" for peace of mind.

John

 

[96TL]

I'm just gonna leave it in for now. I really doubt I did any damage. I'll grab a set of goggles like cbigma mentioned and check it out this weekend. 8)

Dom

 

[Megabyte]

Everyone polishes a prop from time-to-time. If you haven't, you've been spending too much time in the slip.

Be thankful you had a soft bottom. :shock:

 

[jeffnick]

A scoured skeg is a badge of courage. What I hit wasn't so soft.

 

[96TL]

Ouch! :shock:

Dom

 

[esfishdoc]

Sorry for the experience you had to go through.... someday it will be nothing... what you describe as possible damage is just normal wear and tear around here.