Techniques for getting heavy twin keelers across the mud
- Thread starter dylanwinter
- Start date
AndrewB
Well-known member
Not seen this mentioned so far, but often when I ran into the mud in a bilge-keeler it was not on flat ground but caused by straying to the edge of a narrow deep-water channel and getting one keel stuck. (Particularly, in my case, in places like Sandwich and Faversham). Methods similar to that for getting off a single-keeler can then be used, once you've established where the deep water is. It is really urgent to get off before the tide drops, because there is a risk of the yacht going right over, and you can't force it to fall towards the bank, as you can with a single-keeler.
I did manage to do this once, in Bembridge. Actually it was less traumatic than it sounds, as we went over and then came back up quite gently with the tide. With the yacht over at 90 degrees, we feared that water would flood the cockpit and into the saloon when the tide returned, but the yacht, a Kingfisher 20, was corky enough that it never did come over the coaming. I think though that we were very lucky, even if we did spend six very anxious hours.
I did manage to do this once, in Bembridge. Actually it was less traumatic than it sounds, as we went over and then came back up quite gently with the tide. With the yacht over at 90 degrees, we feared that water would flood the cockpit and into the saloon when the tide returned, but the yacht, a Kingfisher 20, was corky enough that it never did come over the coaming. I think though that we were very lucky, even if we did spend six very anxious hours.
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DJE
Well-known member
A couple of weeks ago I managed to put my twin keeler aground on a falling spring tide in Blood Alley in Poole Harbour. I still had the mainsail up and the wind swung the boat beam on to the tide where she stuck fast. No problem we thought as it was 90 minutes to low water - we'll just cook dinner here and move up on the rising tide just before dark. Then the boat started to heel. The tide must have been about 3 knots and as it sluiced around the boat it was scouring out the mud from under the up-tide keel. A bit worrying for a moment but quick look at the tidal curve confirmed that there was only about 0.6m to drop to low water so we cooked and ate dinner at about 10 degrees heel and eventually anchored in deeper water just after sunset. With a bigger tidal range I wonder how far she would have gone over.
OldBawley
Active member
In Burchsluis, on the Oosterschelde, a lovely restored wooden yacht was moored next to us.
Next morning they wanted to leave, the wind was pushing their boat hard onto ours.
I explained the skipper I would push their bow off with the aid of my big long boat hook.
That boat hook is a mean looking weapon with a rusty sharp hook / point on it. Fifteen feet long and wrist thick, it looks so menacing I always warn people before using it.
It was going to be a tricky departure, two varnished yachts and a mean crosswind.
The skipper started his slow Sabb engine, I was standing ready with my boat hook.
At his command lines ware thrown off, then his wife or girlfriend standing on the coach roof started pushing their mast with all her power and both hands.
In disbelief the skipper looked at her, then at me, rolling eyes. Did not say a word.
With all my power I pushed the bow of the boat away, and off they went.
She looked around and was clearly amazed how well she had pushed.
Searush
New member
Walking works on hard sand and ploughing works in
in soft mud, but neither will work once depth gets just a little less. I regularly use both techniques for short distances. As already mentioned, strong currents help as does prop wash and rudder scour.
in soft mud, but neither will work once depth gets just a little less. I regularly use both techniques for short distances. As already mentioned, strong currents help as does prop wash and rudder scour.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
I don't think I understand your question, Dylan. Is the Centaur hard on the mud?
Pardon me Sailorman, but how would Dylan's dilemma be eased or solved if his yacht had a deep fin?
Heel the boat, reduce the draft, but maybe someone has said that already?
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-known member
Heeling the boat with twin keels will increase draft. Twin keels work in the opposite way to central/fin keels; this is why all the controversy