Can you beach an inboard?

sjp · Criminal Joined: 09 Apr 2003 Posts: 81 City: Mesa, AZ

I have been toying with the idea of replacing my little 16.5' I/O with a bigger boat.

Originally, I thought I would make the switch to an inboard-- preferably a good multipurpose ski/wakeboard boat. I would probably prefer the layout of a v-drive, but I think I like the versatility and simplicity of an pure inboard.

But I am little worried about the limitations that an inboard would have. My little girls love to spend significant time at the beach swimming and playing around. With my little I/O, it is real easy to raise the outdrive and gently beach the boat in the sand --- and let the girls play.

Can you do this with an inboard? It sure seems like the prop and rudder of an inboard would be fragile and a cause for concern. I guess you could always use a anchor and stay further out, but that might be a significant pain.

If I don't buy an inboard I will probably look at some of the water ski centric I/O's-- I have heard that SKI PRO made a an I/O that was a good allround watersport boat.

sjp

siuski · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 12:15 pm Post subject:

That depends on how much extra draft you have at the rear of your current boat at a particular beach and/or if it is protected from waves. Also it is important to consider what kind of sand it is, very powdery, coarse, coarse w/ shells or rocks. I've seen it done a lot. If the beach dropped off pretty fast I wouldn't worry about it, but if you can stand waist deep at the stern of you current boat I wouldn't do it, especially if there is a lot of boat traffic at that beach. Now if you get a typical DD, made mostly for slalom skiing, those boats only draft 2-2.5" MAX unweighted. I would worry more about the turn fins on inboards. I damaged my fins (not by beaching) and the boat ran like crap. I think even if you have a very shallow beach, don't let that limit you to an I/O an inboard (DD or V) is much more versatile than a I/O (I've had both I/O's and DD's), and putting a stake on the beach and dropping and anchore is not that big a deal IMO

moblsv · Outlaw Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 228

My friends always want to go to the beach for some wierd reason. I just anchor the boat out a ways and run a mooring line to a stake on the beach. As long as I'm in waist deep water I'm not too concerned.

BIGMAC · Posted: Jun 24, 2003 12:37 pm Post subject:

Get an anchor buddy.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

gryffin · Criminal Joined: 10 Jun 2003 Posts: 89 City: SoCal

I would recommend just going with the anchor. If you have to beach it, just check the sand, and check how shallow the water is, but its possible to beach it, without damage.

YellowDog · Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 29 City: Portland

Gusthecat,

I am heading to the Cove in a week and was wondering what kind of anchor works best for that rocky bottom.

ballsagna · Soul Rider Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 276 City: oc

i think its stilll anoying having to clip the anchor to the front of the boat. But it might also be my dads crappy ars job of dropping the anchor and all that crap.

southbayboarder · Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 39 City: Milpitas

I beach my v-drive all the time, as long as the beach is sand, dirt or vegitation. The only things I worry about is the tides going in and out rocks and roots.

Leggester · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 9:08 am Post subject:

The same reason I did not go with an inboard drive boat.

If you want to beach and not worry about the boat, stay with an I/O

rjva · Posted: Jun 26, 2003 10:16 am Post subject:

Beach mine all the time. Just look for a no rock area. Your probably doing more damage to your gell coat than anything. The bottom fins and prop shaft really have to hit something hard to bend... Plus the draft is only about 16-20 inches.

Phaeton · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 572 City: Redding

YellowDog, One that doesn't get cought up in the rocks. Mr. Green

I use to dive there and we always found stuck anchors.