Beaching a sib

[timhawkfs40]

Hey was just wondering how other people beach a SIB with inflatable keel, do you use wheels or just drive it onto the beach?

be good to get some ideas

[willk]

Stop a safe distance from shore. Kill the motor and drop the wheels. Lift the motor to the shallow water drive position and restart. Tool in to the beach and turn off at the last moment while killing the motor. If you are sitting forward a bit, your weight keeps the keel and wheels off the bottom, but they ground as soon as you step out.

Stepping out into 4 inches of water and wheeling the SIB up the beach/slip is a moment to be savored in a SIBy Lotus Espritish kinda way!

[thornbackflound]

I check the depth with my fishfinder ,alarm goes off when in 3 ft of water, engine off ,cocked up ,wheels down and a safe landing,with not too many scraps underneath,job done

[Max...]

If I tried to kill the engine in three ft of water at many times where we launch/recover we would be a long way from shore and blown all over the place. A SIB has so little grip on the water even compared to a RIB you need power on until the very last moment - I run it in on slightly more than idle with engine in semi-raised position, jump out and manhandle it in.

[m chappelow]

Slip I use gets a lot of wash from passing ships
So even on a calm day I keep the bows pointing out to sea and come in astern or turn it around with the engine tilted

One advantage is the slip has a chain running out to the old lifeboat mooring bouy so you can pull yourself out or in .

[m chappelow]

Don't forget if you are in really shallow water eg sand banks or flat beaches you can always deflate/reinflate the keel when beaching to give you the extra draught,

One other advantage with a deep inflatable keel is on some beaches and the engines not too heavy the Keel will ground and the boat should pivot or weather cock its bows to any waves or wind.

[sinner]

Originally Posted by timhawkfs40

Hey was just wondering how other people beach a SIB with inflatable keel, do you use wheels or just drive it onto the beach?

be good to get some ideas

Rocks or sand? I drive mine up at speed until last moment, kill the engine and tilt and let it ride up onto the sand.

Around rocks I come in slow, kill and raise the engine, use paddles the last little bit and then jump out.

[Bieny]

Originally Posted by sinner

Rocks or sand? I drive mine up at speed until last moment, kill the engine and tilt and let it ride up onto the sand.

Me too, I use the momentum then jump out and pull up the sand abit.

[timhawkfs40]

Hey doesn't beaching it fast that way damage the inflatable keel? I've only seen proper RIBS beach in this fashion

[willk]

It would certainly damage mine, but it's very light fabric.