Long keel boats on drying moorings

[Gordy M]

Sorry for such a newbie question, but as I am now exploring more and more in my little 25ft motorsailer with a long keel 3.5ft draft, I would like to stop limiting myself to marinas that do not dry, maybe go to newtoen creek for the evening etc...

But I have been scared of what would happen when the tide goes out, would she sink into the mud and sit nicely, or is there a danger of her tipping over?

Thanks
Gord

 

[prv]

Newtown creek doesn't dry! Lots of deep fin boats either moor or anchor there.

If you do go somewhere that dries, it will depend on the bottom. Soft mud you will sink into and be fine. Sand or gravel or harder clay you won't. In a solid long-keeler you're unlikely to come to any harm, but you'd probably lean over uncomfortably far without legs so probably not something you want to do deliberately.

Pete

 

[dave_gibsea]

Hi Gord,

We had a lift-keel-with-stub boat some years back. You will definitely tip over even in quite soft mud. The worry is usually more along the lines ot what's under the water that you might come to rest on - someone's anchor, an old post etc.

The answer is to get some legs made up; they won't need to be too long, if made using a couple of tubes they can be adjusted to the right length and stored easily when not required. This is the system we had. Local welding shop/blacksmith (are they still called that?) should be able to help. You need a flat plate on the bottom to stop the tube sinking in and/or filling up with mud/stones.

Don't be put off going into Newtown, lots of water in the channels, just need to be sure you don't drop the anchor in the deep water then swing onto the mud! Best option is to pick up a buoy but that's not an option on a very busy summer week-end.

Dave

 

[VicS]

Sorry for such a newbie question, but as I am now exploring more and more in my little 25ft motorsailer with a long keel 3.5ft draft, I would like to stop limiting myself to marinas that do not dry, maybe go to newtoen creek for the evening etc...

But I have been scared of what would happen when the tide goes out, would she sink into the mud and sit nicely, or is there a danger of her tipping over?

Thanks
Gord

This is what happens.

Marie of Itchenor on her mooring at low tide a few years ago ( Sold and moved away now)

 

[Pye_End]

Plenty of long keels on East Coast that dry in their berths upright.

Guess it depends on how deep and gloopy the mud is.

 

[Seajet]

Hi Gord,

We had a lift-keel-with-stub boat some years back. You will definitely tip over even in quite soft mud. The worry is usually more along the lines ot what's under the water that you might come to rest on - someone's anchor, an old post etc.

The answer is to get some legs made up; they won't need to be too long, if made using a couple of tubes they can be adjusted to the right length and stored easily when not required. This is the system we had. Local welding shop/blacksmith (are they still called that?) should be able to help. You need a flat plate on the bottom to stop the tube sinking in and/or filling up with mud/stones.

Don't be put off going into Newtown, lots of water in the channels, just need to be sure you don't drop the anchor in the deep water then swing onto the mud! Best option is to pick up a buoy but that's not an option on a very busy summer week-end.

Dave

Gordy,

This disagrees with with my experiences - 37 years on a soft mud drying mooring with a lift keel boat which has a ballast bulb...

Said lift keeler sits completely upright, moreso than twin keelers.

Boats with more keel showing when the tide recedes, such as Etap 26 lift keelers which leave a fair bit of keel extended, and boats with a significant single keel such as yours, will go over to quite an angle.

Legs should not be used on soft mud, as when not if one side sinks in the boat will lean on that leg with horrible loadings on the leg and the hull; legs are for reliable firm ground, and then with the owner aboard.

Where you will be able to dry out safely on soft mud is alongside a pontoon at a drying marina; I wintered a 5' draft fin keeler at such a place ( Hayling Yacht Co ) and she stayed upright 100% of the time.

It is essential to check the mud is deep though, if there's firm stuff just underneath the mud, the boat will still heel alarmingly, and at marinas there's the added worry if heeling of masts clashing with neighbours.