Beaching vs dinghying

[tparrent]

Do you find yourself beaching your boat when the conditions are appropriate rather than anchoring out and dinghying to shore?

I've sidled up to shore with my 16 several times in order to just step off. I have not done that yet on the 22 in part because I wondered about the ease in pushing off again. On the 16, I just use the boathook to give a little shove that refloats the boat.

Yeah, I'm still struggling with the dinghy issue and wondering how much I can use the 6-9 inch draft to my advantage in just getting up close. I would use a dinghy on my northern explorations but once I get back home, all the shorelines are sand and quite easy to beach on so I would seldom if ever use the dinghy in home waters. Plus, I' m less than nimble around inflatables and worry the hassle of embarking/disembarking.

So, if you do not have a dinghy or sometimes leave it ashore, do you feel that miss out on all that much or can you get to shore with just the boat when you want to?

Thanks

 

[rogerbum]

Out here in the PacNW, there's not too many beaches that are suitable for beaching a boat. Mostly rocky and sometimes with oyster beds. Also with 12' tidal exchanges, beaching is either a very short operation OR one has to time it just right (centered on the low). However, many have used the anchor buddy or a similar system to anchor out a bit while still allowing one to jump or wade onto shore.

 

[JamesTXSD]

Hi Tom,

Just like on the TSBB - it depends. Some places, like Florida and the PNW, a dinghy is essential. On the Erie Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway, we hauled the dinghy around, but never had a need for it (plenty of docks and lock walls to tie off to). At Lake Powell, there were plenty of places to beach the boat, but we still used the dinghy to get into an area with stumps in the water. I consider the dinghy an important part of our cruising gear - it expands your options. If we don't have to use it, that's OK, too... kinda like the spare tire for your truck... when you need it, nothing else will do.

We haven't had an issue with getting into or out of the dinghy when tied alongside Wild Blue. Easy enough to put it up or take it down from the cabin top.

Probably not the definitive answer you were looking for. If you were determined to not have a dinghy, I'm sure you could make it work. When the wind howls, putting a boat on the beach is often not a good option.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[jennykatz]

I usually just back the boat into the shore letting the windlass out as I back up . then just throw the rear anchor out and pull myself in to about a 1 ft of water and walk of the swim platform that way the boat is always foating no sand or rock abrasion . Backing the boat into shore must be done very carefully and one must know the shore (sand ,mud rock etc ) This usually works for me offcourse if there is strong currents or tides all bets are off .