Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:13:05 GMT, "TC" wrote:

Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

http://www.hambys.com/

http://www.fishclix.com/fishing/4375.htm

http://www.greatoutdoors.com/go/prod...tersworld.com/

Of those, Hamby's is thicker, but the others are good also.

Later,

Tom
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

"TC" wrote in message
...
Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

Yes...years of beaching will take its toll on the gel coat. You could put on
a Keel Guard, which would protect the most effected area, and practicing
"soft landings" would minimize the effect, but other than that, abstinence
is the only way to avoid the sandpaper effect.


--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

Most of us in FLorida have barrier coats and bottom paint so not a real
long term issue. If you think it is a problem, just carry 2 anchors and
drop one on the way in and the other after you back in (carry it to the
beach). This also helps if you happen to go to the beach on a falling
tide.



Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:13:05 GMT, "TC" wrote:


Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?


http://www.hambys.com/

http://www.fishclix.com/fishing/4375.htm

http://www.greatoutdoors.com/go/prod...tersworld.com/

Of those, Hamby's is thicker, but the others are good also.

Later,

Tom
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

In article ,
TC wrote:


Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

Its very common, and very stupid. Its done all the time around here and I
cringe when I see someone do it with a really NICE boat.

Most of the time, I see it done by people who don't know any better - as
evidenced by not only their beached boat, but their choice in vessel in the
first place.

--
--
Karl Denninger ) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net My home on the net - links to everything I do!
http://scubaforum.org Your UNCENSORED place to talk about DIVING!
http://www.spamcuda.net SPAM FREE mailboxes - FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
http://genesis3.blogspot.com Musings Of A Sentient Mind

Netsock wrote:


: Yes...years of beaching will take its toll on the gel coat. You could put on
: a Keel Guard, which would protect the most effected area, and practicing
: "soft landings" would minimize the effect, but other than that, abstinence
: is the only way to avoid the sandpaper effect.


A trick that we used to use on the Colorado River lakes:

Get an old tire and cut a hole (about 1" x 3") in the tread area to drain
water.

Put the tire on the beach and "beach" the boat on the tire. Tying it to
a stake pounded in the sand will keep it from drifting out.

Better yet, use an anchor (with a float on the end of the line) and clip it
to the bow eye. Keeps the bow in to the waves and eliminates the possibility
of a wake sloshing over the transom.

b.

"TC" wrote in message
...

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat?

It will certainly scuff up the bottom. It is unlikely that the scuffing
will cause any serious structural damage, just cosmetic so if you like the
bottom side of your boat to look nice then I would not recommend doing this.

As others have suggested you can apply "keel guards", which will also mark
up the gel coat except you won't know about it until you eventually want to
remove the keel guard. The keel guard can really help out if you attempt to
beach on something a little harder than soft sand, such as gravel or hard
rock.

There are several significant hazards in beaching that you should be aware
of. First, if you boat in tidal areas you have to constantly readjust the
boat so that you don't end up high and dry or have the boat float away.

A beached boat is very vulnerable to waves/wakes. At a minimum, a wake
coming in can cause the boat to pound against the beach, which can cause
serious structural damage. Being beached means you are in very shallow
water which means a significant size wave will be breaking. Having the bow
supported on the beach also means that the boat can't tip with the wave
which makes it even more likely that a wave/wake can crash over the transom.
Keep in mind that if the boat was beached and you take a wave over the stern
the boat will REALLY be beached!

I would certainly never beach an inboard. Just not risk the damage to the
shaft, strut, prop and rudder.

I would recommend pulling up on the beach to unload the gear and then
anchoring the boat out a few yards.

Rod McInnis


Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 21:53:54 GMT, (Karl
Denninger) wrote:


In article ,
TC wrote:


Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

Its very common, and very stupid. Its done all the time around here and I
cringe when I see someone do it with a really NICE boat.

Most of the time, I see it done by people who don't know any better - as
evidenced by not only their beached boat, but their choice in vessel in the
first place.

Well, that was certainly helpful.

Later,

Tom

"Beware the one legged man in a butt
kicking contest - he is there for a
reason."

Wun Hung Lo - date unknown

In article ,
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:


On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 21:53:54 GMT, (Karl
Denninger) wrote:


In article ,
TC wrote:


Here in Florida, it's common practice to bring smaller boats into the
shallows to "beach". Then everyone gets out and plays, lounges, BBQs,
etc.

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

Its very common, and very stupid. Its done all the time around here and I
cringe when I see someone do it with a really NICE boat.

Most of the time, I see it done by people who don't know any better - as
evidenced by not only their beached boat, but their choice in vessel in the
first place.

Well, that was certainly helpful.

And honest.

Really, how hard is it to drop two hooks a few feet off? C'mon.

Sheesh - is another $10 - $50 worth of ground tackle (you already have
ONE hook, right?) too much to buy so your gelcoat doesn't look like someone
took a 4" grinder to it in a couple of years?

I beach my jetski - its 10 years old and I don't give a tinker's cuss
what the bottom looks like.

It, as might be expected, looks like someone took a 4" grinder to it.

I NEVER do that to any of my "real" boats.

BTW, keel guards don't stop the abrasion either - they stop some of the
damage, but not all of it.

--
--
Karl Denninger ) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net My home on the net - links to everything I do!
http://scubaforum.org Your UNCENSORED place to talk about DIVING!
http://www.spamcuda.net SPAM FREE mailboxes - FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME!
http://genesis3.blogspot.com Musings Of A Sentient Mind

What damage does this do to the boats hull? Doesn't the sand
eventually sand away the protective gel coat? Is there anything you
can do like good wax?

If sand is going to damage gelcoat, a coat of wax isn't going to help much.


Karl Denninger wrote:
Its very common, and very stupid. Its done all the time around here and I
cringe when I see someone do it with a really NICE boat.

Most of the time, I see it done by people who don't know any better - as
evidenced by not only their beached boat, but their choice in vessel in the
first place.

Now this is a very unhelpful remark.

I beach nice boats all the time, including some racing sailboats that
have mirror perfect hulls. If you do it right, it is fully possible to
not damage the boat at all. Another option is to not obsess, but simply
renew the gel coat in the forefoot every season.

DSK