Ran Aground Today

GeeBee

GeeBee

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For the first time in 50 some odd years, I ran aground. Fortunately not fast and hard. Lake Lanier is down 8 feet. Historically low levels. I pride myself in knowing the lake pretty well and I knew I was in a shallow area. I slowed down because there was a fisherman to my starboard, as well as shallow markers to my starboard. I thought remaining to the port would be "good enough". I then saw the depth decreasing rapidly, I pulled into reverse and as the depth touch zero, I cut the engine to save the props. When I went aground it was "-0.3 feet" which means I have the keel offset set accurately. It was a gentle halt, but I was aground. I raised the drive to "trailer position" Inspected the props. I thought about hailing the fishing boat to give me a gentle tug as I was not hard aground. Then I thought about Towboat US. I smiled at my wife and told her she might have to go in the water to lighten the boat. She was not impressed with that plan. Anyway, I think God said, "Give you a second chance son" as a breeze came up and pushed me off the shoal. I looked at the depth and it said, 1.5 feet. That was enough. I dropped the drive, fired up and went astern. I then shut down, pulled the drive up, little scrape on the keg, no damage to the props. A quick interior inspection revealed no hull damage. So off I went.
 
boatbum said:
There are two kinds of boaters. Those that have run aground and those that will eventually. BTDT on the ICW in South Jersey. Bent a prop a little but no big deal. Glad you got off easy.
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Which is why I try to avoid that area between Great Bay & LBI and down in Ludlam Bay.
 
boatbum said:
There are two kinds of boaters. Those that have run aground and those that will eventually. BTDT on the ICW in South Jersey. Bent a prop a little but no big deal. Glad you got off easy.
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Yup - Barnegat Bay can be a real prop eater! Tho I've done worse (many moons ago) on the Hudson at LL Tide. . ..
 
I've done exactly what Greg did before. The thing with the southern lakes like Lanier, Norman, Hartwell, Keowee is trees and stumps. It's generally a clay bottom, but the lakes were not cleared before they were flooded, they cut the trees to a depth of about 30 feet or so. What remains is stumps, fallen trees and standing trees in deep areas. Mainly southern pine trees - I've pulled plenty up with my anchor over the years.
 
Back during the summer I was out headed to a routine cove to hang out. Somewhere I have been dozens of times. I knew there was a shoal in the cove going in, but I was not paying close attention, enjoying the ride and blindly following the boat in front. There is a second shoal area that is not a problem except when water levels are low like they were this summer. Before I realize it, my depth alarm goes off at 10ft, but I am on plan going 30 - look down I am in 2.5ft of water going 30mph. Daughter laughed when she saw me lift my feet up! Luckily I skated over it without hitting - if I had not just stayed on plane would have been much different. The problem there is in these lakes, your in 2.5ft of water, bad enought, but there could easily be a 1.5ft stump there!
 
On Long Island we have mostly deep water on most parts of the north shore where I live & shallow areas are usually well marked, but we have big rocks in many areas. The South Shore is much more shallow but it’s all sand no rocks…,
 
I'm on the south shore of Long Island. I have a 40' boat that draws 30". I regularly run in 4'-5' of water on plane. You just have to know where you are, and yes it's all sand. I have had my share of "touches".
 
HappyKamper said:
I'm on the south shore of Long Island. I have a 40' boat that draws 30". I regularly run in 4'-5' of water on plane. You just have to know where you are, and yes it's all sand. I have had my share of "touches".
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I grew up boating on the GSB during the 50s and 60s. We kept my dad’s 38 foot boat on the Patchogue River. I had a 15 foot Lyman. What a great way to grow up !
 
I've run around a few times around Galveston Bay complex but never so bad I needed to call SeaTow. And, fortunately, they were all during the summer so the water was warm. ;)
 
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