Shallow Water Dangers; Running Aground - Chris-Craft 2015 21 Carina Owner's Manual

Shallow Water Dangers

The minimum depth of water you are able to run your boat is determined by several factors. The draft is
affected by the loading of the boat including the fore and aft trim, the propeller size and even by the
salinity of the water. When your boat is fully loaded, measure the maximum depth from the waterline to
the deepest point and note the number. It is the owner/operator's responsibility to maintain a comfortable
margin over the bottom. Should you run aground, visually check for water intrusion. If serious damage
has occurred, it may be prudent to stay aground until the damage can be assessed and controlled. After
re-floating, check the running gear for damage and feel for any unusual vibration. Perform a thorough
inspection after trailering the boat.

Running Aground

If you encounter shallow water and run aground:
1. Immediately place the transmissions in neutral.
2. Ensure everyone has, and is wearing, a PFD.
3. Perform a head count. Confirm everyone is present and accounted for.
4. Check out the bilge and all hull penetrations (transducers, engine mounting bolts, pod flange rings,
rudder posts, shaft logs and any fitting that penetrates the hull below the waterline) before trying to
dislodge and, as a result, possibly making a bad situation worse. You might have put a hole in the
hull, ruptured a through-hull fitting or bent an outboard or stern-drive mounting bolt. Aground is better
than sunk.
5. No leaks? Next make sure the engine's cooling water intake won't suck up mud and sand. Kill the
genset. Many an engine overheats when the operator tries to power off a grounding and clogs the water
intakes. Raise the drives, shift weight to raise a through-hull off the bottom, and proceed slowly to stir up
as little muck as possible. Playing African Queen isn't out of the question.
6. If the vessel is undamaged, decide on an appropriate course of action:
a. Determine the water depth and the type of obstruction you are lodged on: sand, mud, rock, etc.
b. Is it possible to dislodge the vessel?
c. Do you need to lighten the load by removing passengers or equipment?
d. Is it possible to push the vessel off the obstruction?
e. Is it possible to use reverse thrust to free the craft?
f. Determine tide, current, and wind velocity. Will they help or hurt your situation?
7. Once off, go easy on the throttle. A bent shaft or propeller can cause more damage in operation than
most groundings will.
8. If necessary, seek assistance from any nearby vessels and/or signal for help using an appropriate
signaling device.
9. If damaged it may be safer to leave the vessel aground and seek professional help.
NOTE: There are two kinds of boaters: those who have run aground and those who refuse to admit it.
The facts are, navigational aids can, and do, drift off-station; every sounding on every chart isn't accurate;
and, well, we've all suffered distractions. Here's what to do if your boat's draft should suddenly exceed the
water's depth.
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Safety And Operations Safety And Operations
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