Taking the ground

[R400]

Hi all, right the search starts this autumn. Boat up to around 30 ft. I’d always fancied a nimbus and that was the plan until I found a thread here that said they are not capable of taking the ground, despite the prop protection on the 320. Bugger Dream shattered. It’s important the boat can dry out for me due to the touring I do as I enjoy coasteering and playing with the family. Love fast semi displacement hulls, deep V as well. Seaward and aquastar probably my favourites but now I need more accommodation than they can give as retirement decrees I spend nights away. Probably explains the nimbus fixation. I would consider out drives in say an Aquador, but single shaft would be nice.
Had a few bennetteau and jeanneau but build quality not up to muster.
What does the panel think?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

When you say ‘take the ground’ do you mean deliberately beaching for short periods between tides? Or keeping on a drying mooring?

 

[R400]

Only intermittent grounding or possibly when travelling and having to stay in a tidal area

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Ok so boats with a single shaft would need a deep skeg to protect the prop. Mitchell maybe. Or look at outboard power, if outdrives don’t appeal. Beneteau Antares single has a protected prop but you might want to use beaching legs anyway.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Or what about a motor cat? Swift, or Cheetah. Or similar.

 

[PCUK]

If you don't mind outdrives then it is a simple job to fit small bilge keels right aft to keep her upright when grounded.

 

[R400]

Absolutely love the Mitchell but sadly a bit cramped and if you want them to trap on a bit they can be very noisy in my experience. The extended cabin model is great but I’d have to re engine with something modern and more powerful than most of those on the market.
With regard to the Benneau types I’ve had 2 805 and the prop/ keel / shaft protection skeg from the shallow keel worked perfectly. Don’t think a cat can fill my bill due to the size.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Might have to compromise somewhere. I like PCUK's idea of adding small keels to a single outdrive boat to enable drying out reasonably upright.

 

[colhel]

Here's my Nimbus "taking to the ground"

 

[Sticky Fingers]

What about this:

Thread 'Power cat, a bit different'

14 Sep 2025

build 2008, I recon its a great boat, what do you all think

• simonfraser
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Motor Boat Forum

 

[R400]

Colhel
What model is your nimbus and do you do that regularly ?
Sticky fingers I followed one of those round Beardsley in awful tide over wind chop and it seemed unfazed.
Hmm. Instead of bilge keels I guess you could fabricate a pair of stainless skews, less drag.

 

[colhel]

Colhel
What model is your nimbus and do you do that regularly ?

A Nimbus 3003, where was the thread that said it couldn't be done? I do it occasionally to scrub and jet wash the bottom and prop.

 

[R400]

It was an old one , possibly posted by whiteliter.

 

[oldgit]

It could depend where you intend keeping and using your proposed purchase. ?
Sticky mud or Rocks and Sand.

 

[colhel]

It may be dependent on the type of drive. I think if it was shaft drive, single or double, they're protected by a skeg. Our model of Nimbus is fairly old but the hull shape and drive stayed near enough the same for a number of years. The far more recent models look a lot more sporty and possibly have outdrives

 

[R400]

Colhel it was a post by SimonD august 2015

 

[R400]

Interestingly he says you can’t dry out even with legs. Can’t understand why not providing the anchor points are well engineered. Maybe he’ll see this and elucidate

 

[colhel]

Don't know if it's relevant really but I'm curious, why's drying out so important to you?

 

[R400]

Family likes to move close inshore for playtime, local marinas all dry out apart from ours(Holyhead) and it’s good to be able to stop over, it’s nice to be able to beach and scrape. Also when pottering around close in it’s reassuring to know a clout on a solid isn’t going to bend something whizzing round. Don’t intend to dry out unless sandy or muddy though.

 

[colhel]

We kept ours on the River Frome for a year where our mooring would dry out and the boat would sit in mud for a few hours. We've never tried drying out on a beach as you describe.