beaching legs and long keelers

[dabbertamsin]

Hi all.

Has anyone any experience of or advice on using beaching legs on a regular basis for keeping a long keeler on a drying (mostly sand with some mud) mooring? Or is that an unsafe / inconvenient option? I have seen some designs of beaching legs which are reputedly quick to rig / unrig and easy to stow. Or am I really going to have to limit myself to bilge or lifting keelers?

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[halcyon]

Our Hurley 27, pior to our purchase, for two years was layed-up in a drying creek with legs on a mud shingle beach. This never caused any trouble or damage, all depends on leg design and picking the right spot at the end of the day.
Our current Halcyon 27 was fitted with legs, and we are looking to replace them for our cruising, giving us a better choice of moorings.
If you look around a lot of long keelers are fitted with legs, some have steps fitted to leg to allow access with no water.


Brian

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[petery]

I fitted legs of the 'quick fit' type just to dry out when visiting drying harbours - they are the telescopic aluminium type with lines fore and aft to keep the angle of the legs about right when taking the ground. My permanent mooring is on a deep water pontoon.

The same kind of 'quick fit' legs are used by another boat in our harbour that has a half-tide mooring and his legs and lines come adrift at least once every season when the wind direction sends a strong swell into his moorings.

..but boats with the more traditional bolt-on heavy wood or metal legs seem to fare better.

I'm sure the 'Yacht Leg Company' would give you an honest opinion about whether their type of leg is suitable for your particular application.




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[graham]

Your description of the bottom as "mostly sand,some mud" sounds a bit worrying.If one leg lands on a bit of soft mud a disaster will occur.When a boat with legs fitted falls over major damage occurs .

Speak to people with moorings in the same area but I think a bilge keeler will be your safest bet.

Not all bilge keelers are slowcoaches. Well designed ones can be almost as quick to windward and probably no diffeent down wind.

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[Niander]

some ppl use cradels..but thats alot of makeing
and it needs anchoring
i leen against a wall with my hurley 22

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[snowleopard]

in some harbours e.g. penzance all the boats dry on legs but it's essential to have a firm bottom. in places with softer bottoms they use cradles, e.g. st helier.

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[dulcibella]

I agree with comments about needing a firm, fairly level bottom, but I was very happy with the wooden legs that I used with my Halmatic 30.

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