{"id":1370,"date":"2013-07-17T12:10:04","date_gmt":"2013-07-17T16:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/?p=1370"},"modified":"2013-07-17T12:10:04","modified_gmt":"2013-07-17T16:10:04","slug":"why-sailboats-go-aground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/2013\/07\/17\/why-sailboats-go-aground\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sailboats Go Aground"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sailboats are commonly victims of grounding. Their design is the main reason. Unlike powerboats, sailboats go aground because of their deep keel or rudder. Many of these groundings are avoidable as sail boaters often fail to recognize the reason frequent groundings occur, which is panic.<\/p>\n

If a sailor finds himself suddenly in shallow water, he often turns the rudder sharply to one side or the other. If the rudder is turned quickly, it can throw the hull aground. If the rudder were turned slightly or slowly, it might glance off the bottom and avoid a hard grounding. Most sailboat keels can withstand a slight grounding and suffer little or no damage, but the harder the grounding the greater the damage. Keel design, of which there are many, often dictates the amount of damage. <\/p>\n

Most sail boaters quickly learn the consequences of shallow water. Many sailboats have depth indicators, but if they are not properly calibrated, they can lead to greater problems. If a depth indicator is installed on any kind of vessel, it needs to be calibrated to match the deepest running part of the boat. This enables it to read the depth of the bottom below the keel or rudder, not just the hull. In a few designs, the depth of the running gear may be an issue.<\/p>\n

There are factors to consider when removing a sailboat from grounding. What is the keel design; is it fixed to the hull or a drop centerboard? One design is the sump keel, which has a deep well-like area into which excess water can run. The area where the sump is located can be weaker than the rest of the keel and, if the boat encounters a hard grounding, a hole can occur. <\/p>\n