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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Getting Unstuck

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knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/06/2010 : 19:26:55

Hi Guys.
Been a while since I've posted but this'll be my third season sailing the C25 now. Last year the waters of Lake Erie were high (around Port Dover, ON) but this year its down 1-2 feet. So I worry about running aground on this pesky unavoidable sandbar at the marina entrance. (Like I did numerous times my first and second season)

I heard somewhere that a "good trick" is to grab the rope(I know sorry I said rope...I forget the proper name...the one that runs from the top of the mast to the tip of the boom.) unhook it, and wade out or "row" out beside the boat, pulling the mast down towards you, and "tipping" the keel up so the boat can float free.

Does this method have your blessing?

Regards,
Pete

Peter Keddie
Turkey Point, ON
79 Catalina 25 Fixed Keel #1050

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/06/2010 : 21:10:59

The general term is "kedging". Rather than using the topping lift (the line to the boom end), the more popular method is to set an anchor off the beam from a dinghy (toward the deeper side). Then you tie the anchor rode to one of the halyards, and use a winch to tension the halyard, pulling the top of the mast over and lifting the keel. Given that the rig is designed to handle even greater heeling forces, it's safer than it might sound. (I suspect it's unlikely you can walk out and pull a C-25 over enough, unless you're a <i>lot</i> bigger than I am.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 05/06/2010 21:17:31

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5897 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 00:19:01

It sounds like you're suggesting using the topping lift to heel the boat. Some topping lifts aren't strong enough for that purpose. A halyard would be a better choice.

If you aren't too deeply buried in the sand or mud, you might be able to heel the boat enough to get free by simply standing on the gunwale, grabbing the upper mast stay, and leaning backwards. Or, if the wind is blowing from a favorable direction, you can use the sails to heel the boat and drive it off. The sails are much more powerful than the outboard motor.

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 04:55:42

Not that I've ever needed this.. ( right ) but I've always heard to first power in reverse and have everyone stand on the bow. Kedging is worth learning. I've never tried it.

Don't get on the sand bar in the first place, that is the skill to learn. We usta use a little creek to get to the Gulf connecting Lake Powell to the gulf and we would go out on an incoming tide, with clear water. Our 17 ft Starcraft draws about 1 foot but the creek was wide and the deeper channel would shift every time it rained. On the way out the water was clear with the incoming tide and we could see the bending channel, so we would stick lattice sticks on the edge of the channel on our way out. Then when we came back in in the afternoon, and the dark brown tannin water of the outgoing tide would turn the creek black, we could follow the lattice sticks to the deeper water and pulling them back out as we went.

If you can get to it, take the time to sit and drink a beer and watch that channel and see where everyone is going, and if anyone runs aground. Heck, throw out the anchor outside the entrance and watch them come and go. Watch the water and currents and see if you can figure out where that sandbar is. Better yet, figure out where the channel is and why it moves where. Think about what your landmarks are that tell you where you are relative to the deep water.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 05:34:07

Ray - love the lattice trick !

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 06:38:23

What I'm doing now is grabbing Google maps images with Pixlr grabber ( an add on with Firefox ) which allows me to save the satellite images of my lake.

These were taken when the lake was down 15 feet 2 years ago, so I get a good look at the bottom near the shore line.

I have charts of course, but I look at these and try to get the locations in my mind and then correlate the landmarks when I'm out on the lake. It really helps, especially with the shallow crossings, night sailing, and anchoring.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 06:47:16

Adding to Steve's point about using the sails, if the water astern and leeward is deeper, if you backwind the main by literally pushing the boom as far to windward as possible, you can get the boat to heel further and move sideways and backward. This can be in addition to running the engine in reverse. Backwinding the jib will tend to push the bow around--that may or may not be helpful.

Of course if you ran aground sailing downwind, fuggetaboutit... Get the sails down as quickly as possible.

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 10:41:15

I have a wing keel so heeling the boat does not work...at all.

I grounded on a fairly soft mud bank for the first time two years ago. I was by myself but got off by rowing my anchor out about 100' into deep water at an angle and behind the boat. I then cranked the anchor road using the primary winch on that side. It worked great.

If a dingie is not available, the anchor can be swum(?) out using life jackets for the swimmer and anchor.

I believe this operation is called "kedging".

Edited by - aeckhart on 05/07/2010 10:42:57

Delilah
1st Mate

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USA
35 Posts

Response Posted - 05/07/2010 : 19:47:44

Pretty much all of the options have been covered here and I have tried them all! I grew up on a Hans Christian 43' that drew 6'6" that we did a circumnavigation on. We had the luxury of having a tender with a 25 HP engine on it. We could get the main halyard hooked to the bridal and headed away from the boat in minutes. We also had to a time or two take a 66lb Bruce out and "kedge" ourselves off but this was kind of a last resort when we were drug further on with a several knot current.

That was 20 years ago. It is amazing how one remembers some things. Last year in the local Mug Race on an Etchels 22 we were on the correct side of a particular green marker and smacked hard with the current pulling us further on, going down wind with an asymetrical shute up. Instictively my brother, dad and I all jumped to the down wind side dropped the shute and sheeted the main and jib in tight. She spun around, heeled over and with a few more bumps got back to deep water. We threw the shute back up with only losing maybe 5 minutes at the most.

Having a good plan that everyone knows what they are supposed to do and putting it in action quickly but safely can be the key!

Edited by - on

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 05:49:03

Another trick that works really well when you run aground: raise the keel a couple turns. :)

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 05/10/2010 : 08:16:59

I push off with a pole.

I run aground once in a while on the sandbars or mud banks in my sailing area, usually when I'm thinking of something other than sailing. I should know better. Then I release the sheets and get out my trusty ol' 9' aluminum pole to push off to deeper water.

I use this pole also as a handle for my 8' long, hand-carved, homemade, gondola sweep (my last resort for propulsion), and for a temporary davit in the cockpit for lifting the 100+ pound outboard when it's not high tide at my fixed dock.

If I had rocky shores or big rocks to bang into, I would not be so lackadaisical about running aground.

Edited by - on

wmuchmore
1st Mate

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USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 14:57:04

A benefit of having the fin keel with an outboard motor is being able to push the motor to one side, turn the boat around and sail off the bar the way I went on. I sail on the Great South Bay of Long Island, which has a shallow, sandy bottom, and run aground a couple of times a year. No problem, since no rocks.
Mike Muchmore
1980 TR/FK

Edited by - on

triley
Captain

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USA
251 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 19:29:33

I shouldn't admit this, but I ran aground on mud in a C&C 29 with a couple of crew. All sails down and went to kedge her off. Got into the dink and she floated off without me weight. Just needed me in the dink is all. Pushed her back into deep water and we were off. With my SK, it would have been a crank or two up. I AM a little heavy!

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.