Beaching your boat is an important skill to have on deck, especially for boaters who wish to explore remote beaches and islands. Not sure where to start? This guide from Dalton Marine explains how to safely land your boat on a beach or sandbar!
Need more advice on how to beach your boat? Feel free to ask the team here at Dalton Marine. You can find us in Acworth and Dalton, GA.
1. Examine the Water Depth
As you approach the shoreline where you would like to drop anchor, take stock of the situation. How deep is the water, and how quickly does it become shallow? If you have a depth finder, this is a good time to use it. To start with, you should aim for an area with waist-deep water.
2. Plot Your Course
When you find a good spot to beach your boat, approach it slowly, and take care to avoid obstacles in the area – including swimmers and snorkelers!
3. Pull the Boat Ashore
When you have reached that area of waist-deep water, turn off and trim up your outboard motor or sterndrive. Then, have a crew member or two hop out and pull the boat ashore by its bow.
The more gear and passengers you unload, the easier it will be to pull the boat. However, make sure to leave the keel partially in the water. Because the keel is the heaviest portion of the boat, this will make it much easier to get underway again.
4. Secure the Boat
When the boat is pulled ashore to your satisfaction, you can either drop anchor or secure it to a stake or nearby tree.
5. Check On It
Once you feel confident that your boat is secure, you can head out and explore – just remember to monitor the tide and weather conditions, and head back to check on your boat if you have any reason to be concerned.
If you plan to beach your boat overnight, make sure to choose a campsite that is located near the beach where you landed, so you can keep a close eye on your boat.
6. Disembark
Ready to head out? Simply pull the boat free of the shore until it floats. Then you can load it up with gear and passengers, raise the anchor, and lower the outboard or sterndrive back into the water. You are now free to go!
As you can probably tell, beaching your boat is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. We hope you found these tips helpful!
Dalton Marine is your trusted boat dealer in Acworth and Dalton, GA. If you need a new boat, come shop with us today!