Fathers Day --- opps
17 June 2012 | Lake Erie
Sunny & warm
Well I’ll keep this short… What was suppose to be a special day with my Father, Mother, Wife, & kids started a bit SHAKY. Let me explain. So; new to sailing, minimal to no rain, and winds out of the east make for shallow water in the channel. How do I know this you ask, KEEL meet Sand, Sand meet Keel, yes it happened, with my parents on board. Heading out motoring through the channel markers, I felt a bump? What could that be a log or debris? Not sure. Continuing to motor along, wait for it; BUMP, BUMP, Shake, 3.5 water levels. I immediately dropped to neutral, then reverse and gave it her all; I managed pretty easily to maneuver free from the nice sandy bottom. Not the way I wanted to start the day off. I put the boat through some maneuvers all seemed well; I guess I was lucky they dredge the channel, and it wasn’t a reef or rocky bottom. Now in my defense the water levels are pretty shallow anyway usually about 6 to 7 going out, with a rain forest of seaweed growing. Now I’m not sure if I'm reading the true bottom or the top of the seaweed. We made the best of this trip with my Father & family and all was well. The lesson learned is that I watch other sailboats go out first, then I proceed, and if the winds out of the East then it’s a no go. I will however be finding a new marina next year, one that’s keel friendly.