Does GRP deteriorate when submerged in mud ?

Yes the bow winching eye should be the strongest point. Usually the hull is really thick at the the bow. I would not bother with cleats etc as I think they will just pull off damaging the GRP in the process. I woulod say that the boat should be pulled in a straight line in the direction it is pointing. It looks like the hull is essentially upside down so it is possible some of the mud will fall out of the cockpit. It would be really helpful if you could lift the stern in some way perhaps with buoyancy drums when the tide comes in. Difficulty would be gatting an attachment at the stern.
In any case if the tide comes up quite deep it might be practical to attach drums to the exposed part of the hull and close to the hull so that the buoyancy works to slowly lift the hull. Not much good if the water is not more than 3 metres deep of course. I wish you lots of luck but suspect it may all fail. olewill
 
I have all the time in the world to get it out... My plan is to apply as much tension on the ropes as I dare and leave it 24h and see if the ropes have slackened (i.e. whether it's moved at all). I have plenty of time between tides - I'd say at least five hours. If the boat shifts even a centimetre, I can just keep retensioning the rope over weeks if needs be. From what everyone here seems to be saying though, I think I've just wasted my money on a cable puller and some rope ! :-(

Ah well, as long as I don't end up on the receiving end of a 200mph chunk of GRP and a bow eye, it'll be an adventurous afternoon if nothing else !
 
Apologies but I have not read through all the thread....

Idea....

Get hold of the front end of a pantomine horse.

Put it over the bow of the boat....

Call the coastguard (unless some innocent walker passing by does it sooner) and tell them there is a large animal looking thingy stuck in the mud at......

You will get the boys with the little orange boat out and they will have all the best gear for releasing it.

Of course this is total rubbish and I will now be accused of wasting resources, putting lives at risk etc etc..
 
There is erosion in the mud due to tidal flow, could that be used to help.
How deep is it at high tide, could floatation be used to assist your pull?
Do you have a local sea scouts or such like, they usually enjoy a challenge.
With a bit of determination it can be done, good luck to you.
 
macnorton said:
Do you have a local sea scouts or such like, they usually enjoy a challenge.
Click to expand...

The health & safety considerations probably rule this option out!

I'm increasingly wondering whether buoyancy might be of help. Strap as much buoyant stuff as you can lay your hands on to the wreck at low water, stuff expanded polystyrene into any voids you can get at. Come back at the next LW and see if she's shifted. If so, move the buoyancy lower for the next tide. Old oil drums, poly bottles, cider flagons, etc - as long as there's a way of fixing them on.

Taking out a few spadefulls of mud from next to the hull at LW might also be helpful. I doubt they'd completely refill at HW but it might make the mud a bit more liquid and co-operative!

Above all, keep us posted.
 
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Explosives.... thanks. :D

I can tell some of you lot aren't taking this seriously :D

Alas, the buoyancy route of attack is also a non-starter. Even on a spring high tide I doubt there is more than a few inches covering the bow !

Nope... the only option is to shovel what I can away from the hull, poke lots of holes in what I can't shovel away and pull the thing as hard as I can from the bow eye. I suspect the mud may not refill on the next tide as my footprints from the previous day were still visible in the mud 24h later. I have no problems taking my time and digging away a bit at a time, but I am very wary of getting into difficulties in the soft mud - especially if I'm shovelling the stuff around. I'm planning on making myself a pair of mud flip-flops as per the picture below, but the thought of sinking chest deep in that disgusting stuff gives me the creeps. If I can remain stable on my wooden flip-flops and not sink, then it's just a question of time and effort. I don't think each tide will be able to replace the mud I can shovel out each day.

I just know I'm going to go arse over t*t and end up looking like a cross between Al Jolson and something from Dr Who.


Mud_Pattens_zps811dd9dd.jpg
 
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What about planks or old shattering ply, those shoes may be ok to get to the site but I doubt they would be much cop whilst digging.
I assume you will not be alone out there, someone has to film it or you won't get YBF to give you the £250 to hire a pump.
I dug two sterndrives out from 3ft of mud once from a dingy with bare hands once, that HAD to be done between tides (don't ask!) so it can be done.
If all else fails don't discount explosives.
 
macnorton said:
What about planks or old shattering ply, those shoes may be ok to get to the site but I doubt they would be much cop whilst digging.
I assume you will not be alone out there, someone has to film it or you won't get YBF to give you the £250 to hire a pump.
I dug two sterndrives out from 3ft of mud once from a dingy with bare hands once, that HAD to be done between tides (don't ask!) so it can be done.
If all else fails don't discount explosives.
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In my experience of getting muddy, a rubber dinghy is what you want.
It will slide over the mud or float when the tide comes in.
Don't discount buoyancy. Is the bow section air tight?
If not, start collecting empty plastic bottles etc.
 
That mud looks like it should be taken very seriously: We use mud shoes ('Splashers') to cross the soft bits in Essex, but if you put too much load on them while digging or pulling you'll find them extremely difficult to lift back out of the mud due to suction, while still allowing bambi-type sliding around sideways. Amusing to watchers, not to you.

Normally we put a criss-cross of batten beneath to stiffen them up, provide grip, and help break the suction.

Re the buoyancy methods: some knob tried to lay a mooring right on top of mine - just a car tyre filled with concrete dumped in soft mud. I tied a large mooring buoy, about 1m diameter to it, on a very short line and waited for the tide. All that happened was the buoy disappeared! Suction is a very major force indeed.

Good luck though!
 
:(

the more I read of this escapade, the more concerned that I become, just would like to suggest that you always take at least 2 people along with you, just in case you do get stuck in the mud; we lost a fella down here in SW last year, got stuck in the mud on rising tide and Lifeboats could not reach him in time.:(

Just think of the Morecombe Bay tragedies of past years, we want to hear / read of the final result, if you do get stuck, we might not :(
 
I don't know a great deal about mud and my big fear is that it's a million feet deep and if I start to sink, I will continue down to a muddy grave. Is mud like that, or does it get denser the further down you go ? (i.e. if I get in trouble, I'll eventually stop sinking !). Whilst having a bash at digging, I intend to have a friend on the shore and have a rope around my waist - just in case.

This is insane isn't it ? I must be out of my mind....

As with most things, it's just a question of having the right gear isn't it... This would be an absolute doddle if I had a fire hose and the council didn't mind me plugging into the nearest hydrant ! I could just blast all the mud away with no effort at all.
 
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I don't have a dinghy. I think I'm going to revise my plan. Make some mud pattens, go out there with the rope, tie it to the bow eye, and - depending on how the pattens work out - I'll have a little go at digging. If I find it's too hard or the pattens don't give me the support I need, I'll get back on shore and just try my initial plan of putting a s**tload of tension on the rope, leave it overnight and see what happens. If it doesn't budge or the bow eye rips out, I'll abandon the whole thing. I'm not willing to risk putting myself in danger for a knackered old speedboat. I can't allow any situation to develop where I get stuck and start to get panicky. I had a heart attack last year and I don't need a bucketload of adrenaline running through my veins !
 
aneng said:
.....and I don't need a bucketload of adrenaline running through my veins !
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So, with the greatest respect, WTF do you want a speedboat for?

TBH, I think the damn thing looks quite photogenic in the pictures, but maybe catch it with a bit of water in shot and light at a better angle.....
 
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