MG Spring 25 - drying out?

[andytrombone]

Is it possible/advisable to dry out on an MG Spring 25?
Are Yacht Legs required or is the wing keel stable/sturdy enough to support the boat on a level bottom?
All comments appreciated....

 

[Seajet]

I'd think a lot depends on how often you plan to dry her out, the odd trip or a half tide mooring ?

I really wouldn't fancy it myself, even with legs; they put a serious strain on the topsides of course, and the twin rudders would be very vulnerable.

At my half tide, soft mud moorings the twin keel boats usually settle at an angle, due to inconsistency of the mud or wind changing when settling, which is normal.

The obvious worry with the wing keel is if she settles at an angle and the wing holds her over, potentially filling with the flood tide.

It may be OK occasionally on a known level ( billiard table like ! ) seabed when one is there to look after her, but personally I wouldn't consider it as a long term proposition.

 

[andytrombone]

I've just found a thread from 2009 asking the same questions via Google - the same keywords I used in the Forum search to no avail!!
However, I am still interested in peoples opinions if they wish to comment...

 

[Modulation]

If it's for a one off operation and you are there forr the full period then i'd be inclined to say yes. I dried out a couple of years ago on a slightly bigger winged keel boat and came to no grief. I was changing impellers etc.
What I WOULD advise however is that you check the area where the keel is going to come down very carefully beforehand and clear it up if needed. the last thing you want is the boat to settle on one of the wings resting on a piece of rock or whatever. If you can't do that I wouldn't risk it.
Oh. And don't overincline the boat "inwards" - very tempting but not good with a wing keel.

 

[E39mad]

Iirc the rudders are shorter than the keel so on hard sand for instance I would very wary of the boat leaning backwards. Also you might want some shoe/protection on the rudder ends. Personally I would be wanting legs as well.

 

[Tranona]

I really wouldn't fancy it myself, even with legs; they put a serious strain on the topsides of course, and the twin rudders would be very vulnerable.

Not if they are properly fitted. All the weight is on the keel and the legs just stop the boat from falling over. Have a look on Vyv's website for examples. The mounting point is just under the gunwhales which is a pretty strong part of the boat (or should be).

Wing keel might pose problems if drying out unattended on an uneven bottom so caution still required.

 

[Seajet]

Not if they are properly fitted. All the weight is on the keel and the legs just stop the boat from falling over. Have a look on Vyv's website for examples. The mounting point is just under the gunwhales which is a pretty strong part of the boat (or should be).

Wing keel might pose problems if drying out unattended on an uneven bottom so caution still required.

Tranona,

that is assuming the boat dries out dead upright !

I have noticed on my half tide mooring that the wind varies with the tide; it increases with the higher water level and then often swings around changing direction to beam on as the boats settle on the mud on the ebb.

Legs on boats are just about alright if the topsides are reinforced to suit and one is present to keep an eye on things, but still place a nasty load on that part of the hull; if leaning on a leg through the usual inconsistencies in the mud and one side going deeper than the other, the loads will be horrendous.

As I'm sure you've seen, drying harbours like St Helier old harbour and Looe use complete heavy wooden cradles as 'floating berths' to let the boat dry out safely.

Also, if the seabed is firm enough to support legs, it's probably too hard and will pound the boat savagely as she settles, then again when she rises...

 

[wiggy]

I had a spring for a good few years and regularly dried on Itchenor hard for a scrub off. The rudder ends are vulnerable so one time I sat the stern on 2 props, lowered over the stern before the rudders touched.
I would be carefully on a soft surface as the risk of one blade sinking and staring both would worry me. There is an active users group here http://mgspring25.webs.com/ loads of advice and knowledge, a great site (I set it up ). Great boat, sail like a demon with loads of room below.

 

[Tranona]

Tranona,

that is assuming the boat dries out dead upright !

I have noticed on my half tide mooring that the wind varies with the tide; it increases with the higher water level and then often swings around changing direction to beam on as the boats settle on the mud on the ebb.

Legs on boats are just about alright if the topsides are reinforced to suit and one is present to keep an eye on things, but still place a nasty load on that part of the hull; if leaning on a leg through the usual inconsistencies in the mud and one side going deeper than the other, the loads will be horrendous.

As I'm sure you've seen, drying harbours like St Helier old harbour and Looe use complete heavy wooden cradles as 'floating berths' to let the boat dry out safely.

Also, if the seabed is firm enough to support legs, it's probably too hard and will pound the boat savagely as she settles, then again when she rises...

Read the OP again. Don't think he is talking about using a drying mooring.

Anyway hundreds of boats dry out on legs in Brittany harbours - and despite what you might think properly designed legs like Yacht legs do not put strain on the topsides. Have a look at Vyv's photos of his Sadler 34 dried out regularly on just its fin keel and Yachtlegs.

You are right, drying moorings with irregular bottoms or where the boat may dry out in different places are perhaps not ideal for legs, but in a controlled situation, for example when moored fore and aft as in the Brittany harbours mentioned above, and on firm bottoms legs are a good solution - either somewhere near the shrouds on a sailing boat or even either side of the transom on a motor boat.