Beaching a Pontoon Boat

[C_M_25]

Ok guys. This seems simple, but I'm struggling with beaching my boat. We have some awesome sand beaches at Keystone, but I can't seem to ever beach it like some of these other guys. One of two things usually happens:

1) I'll beach, and the ass end of the boat tries to swing around broadside to the beach. I end up using my anchors. I have almost gotten stuck when this happened once. I don't see other people dealing with this.

2) I'll beach and the boat stays put, but it seems like the boat bounces on bottom especially when big waves come in. I don't really like seeing this because I don't want to screw up my fish finder sensor. Too much of that, and it may snap off.

Am I not getting the boat far enough on the beach? Do you guys just run up on the beach fairly fast or do you power on with your motor in a foot of water or less? Does the rear of your boat float while beached? Thanks!

[MH Hawker]

i run mine up on the beach, and give it a bit of power, then after ever one is off i add a bit more just cause

[PlaynDoc]

Here's what I use...

Anchor Buddy takes the shock out of your anchor line and makes it much easier to anchor offshore. Simply drop anchor about 30' out and proceed to shore; Anchor Buddy stretches, while your anchor stays set. As you pay out your bow line, Anchor Buddy retracts, anchoring your boat safely offshore. Stretches from 14' to 50'


no damaged logs....


these are not my videos...

[JerEazy]

If you know the slope of the island or beach you're going to there's a few thing you can do to make it easier.

Know which way the current is going to push you - this is important for your rear anchoring.
Is the tide coming in or out? This will help you with your front anchor set up.
Trim the motor up. When powering onto the beach your stern is going to squat. Don't want it in the sand.

Ok - so now your idling your way towards your spot. (Turn the music down so you can see better ). Tie off your rear anchor and when the bow is about 10 feet out have your mate toss that guy down.

Once you hear that first "squish" of sand give it a second for what little wake you generated you pass you. Trim up the engine a bit more and give it a few good "taps" to set the logs.

Kill the engine.

Make sure the rear anchor is caught and tie her off tight.

Leisurely stroll to the bow. And step off with anchor in hand. Walk up a bit and anchor it good and tight.

Get back on boat. Trim engine up a bit more.

Unload crew and booze.

Grab the bow eye you use for trailering and give the boat a real good pull further up onto the sand and re tie your lines again. Less weight on the boat will get it to float.

Depending on your tides you will have to re secure your anchor lines from time to time again.

The key is to not let the wakes slap you into the sand, and not let the current push you around.

In severe situations you can tie both anchors off to the rear cleats and hook them in on the beach in sort of a "V" from the boat. Makes it easier to adjust as needed.

[C_M_25]

Thanks for the tips guys. Basically, I don't want the stern sitting in the sand, and I don't want it so shallow that the toons are bouncing off the bottom anytime a small wave comes by?

My boat is only 20ft and the slope as fairly flat. I'm guessing the longer pontoons allow their sterns to sit in a little deeper water than mine.

I think I'll either anchor a few feet from shore and use both anchors or find a different area with a steeper slope.

[zoom650]

If wind, waves, or current makes it difficult to beach, I use two anchors in deep enough water to keep the boat off the bottom.

If conditions are calm, I've no problem nosing into the sand, then driving forward as if to load on a trailer.

[curtiscapk]

trim down so skeg pegs the bottom... good to go! If it is real rough or windy I'll walk or swim an anchor out.

[JerEazy]

trim down so skeg pegs the bottom... good to go!

no only no on this. But really really really no.

[rancherlee]

trim down so skeg pegs the bottom... good to go! If it is real rough or windy I'll walk or swim an anchor out.

no only no on this. But really really really no.

I honestly don't see a problem with it as I also do the same thing, once the engine is off. I get everyone off the toon, walk up front and lift/pull it up as far as a can, walk around back and make sure there are no rocks, and trim the motor down with the switch on the motor. It never gets buried deep enough to get sand in the intakes. 20+ years of boating and never had an issue doing this. If the water is too deep to do this I run lines from the back off each side to shore with sand anchors

[JerEazy]

trim down so skeg pegs the bottom... good to go! If it is real rough or windy I'll walk or swim an anchor out.

no only no on this. But really really really no.

I honestly don't see a problem with it as I also do the same thing, once the engine is off. I get everyone off the toon, walk up front and lift/pull it up as far as a can, walk around back and make sure there are no rocks, and trim the motor down with the switch on the motor. It never gets buried deep enough to get sand in the intakes. 20+ years of boating and never had an issue doing this. If the water is too deep to do this I run lines from the back off each side to shore with sand anchors

In theory it's fine - the odds of a current pushing you hard enough to bend the skeg is minimal. But what is more likely is a passing wake lifting the stern of the boat and having it crash back down into the sand/mud. And packed sand can be hard enough to bend a skeg. Or you get mud/sand into your water passages.
If you're on a tidal river or body of water the tide coming in will cause the skeg to no longer work as an anchor.
Tide going out sinks it further in than you think.

And those are just a few of the potential issues. Let alone the whole list of "What-If's" that could happen ranging from forgetting to trim it out before you back off the beach, to someone bumping your boat while they are pulling in and causing damage to now not only your boat, but your engine as well.

A $20 mushroom anchor or slip-ring danforth style and $20 worth of rode is cheap insurance compared the potential issues of using your skeg as an anchor.

[kryptonite]

If you have any current or wave action, I always use a shore spike to tie off the bow, this keeps movement to a minimum.

[curtiscapk]

[I honestly don't see a problem with it as I also do the same thing, once the engine is off. I get everyone off the toon, walk up front and lift/pull it up as far as a can, walk around back and make sure there are no rocks, and trim the motor down with the switch on the motor. It never gets buried deep enough to get sand in the intakes. 20+ years of boating and never had an issue doing this. If the water is too deep to do this I run lines from the back off each side to shore with sand anchors

In theory it's fine - the odds of a current pushing you hard enough to bend the skeg is minimal. But what is more likely is a passing wake lifting the stern of the boat and having it crash back down into the sand/mud. And packed sand can be hard enough to bend a skeg. Or you get mud/sand into your water passages.
If you're on a tidal river or body of water the tide coming in will cause the skeg to no longer work as an anchor.
Tide going out sinks it further in than you think.

And those are just a few of the potential issues. Let alone the whole list of "What-If's" that could happen ranging from forgetting to trim it out before you back off the beach, to someone bumping your boat while they are pulling in and causing damage to now not only your boat, but your engine as well.

A $20 mushroom anchor or slip-ring danforth style and $20 worth of rode is cheap insurance compared the potential issues of using your skeg as an anchor.[/quote]

wow after 8 years not one of these have happened.... I'm glad I don't boat around you....

[JerEazy]

[I honestly don't see a problem with it as I also do the same thing, once the engine is off. I get everyone off the toon, walk up front and lift/pull it up as far as a can, walk around back and make sure there are no rocks, and trim the motor down with the switch on the motor. It never gets buried deep enough to get sand in the intakes. 20+ years of boating and never had an issue doing this. If the water is too deep to do this I run lines from the back off each side to shore with sand anchors

In theory it's fine - the odds of a current pushing you hard enough to bend the skeg is minimal. But what is more likely is a passing wake lifting the stern of the boat and having it crash back down into the sand/mud. And packed sand can be hard enough to bend a skeg. Or you get mud/sand into your water passages.
If you're on a tidal river or body of water the tide coming in will cause the skeg to no longer work as an anchor.
Tide going out sinks it further in than you think.

And those are just a few of the potential issues. Let alone the whole list of "What-If's" that could happen ranging from forgetting to trim it out before you back off the beach, to someone bumping your boat while they are pulling in and causing damage to now not only your boat, but your engine as well.

A $20 mushroom anchor or slip-ring danforth style and $20 worth of rode is cheap insurance compared the potential issues of using your skeg as an anchor.

wow after 8 years not one of these have happened.... I'm glad I don't boat around you....

Good for you guys!!

Just because they haven't happened doesn't mean they can't or wont. Let's look at some other famous boating quotes:

"I never strap down the rear of the boat to the trailer. Been doing it like this for years and never had an issue."
"I always use regular fuel with ethanol from the gas station. It's easier to get and less expensive. Been doing it for years and haven't had an issue."
"There's no need for a fuse on that wiring. I direct wired mine to the battery and haven't had an issue for years"
"It doesn't get really cold here. I didn't winterize the engine last year and it was fine."
"I never turn my blower on before I start and haven't blown up my boat yet." (For those who have I/Os)
"You wont hurt anything by running your engine out of the water. As long as it's not for too long."

Moral of the story is, don't use your skeg as an anchor. Use an anchor as an anchor.

[jrolin1]

I use two screw tie downs (meant for dogs from the dollar store) off the front with harbor freight quick pull strap tie downs. No knots to tie just hook on each end. Also I tell the ballast (wife and kids) to go to the back of the boat when beaching. Worked great for 20 plus years. We put a foot tub with water off the front to rinse your feet for the people that insist on getting on from the front. When we leave I put the tie downs and strap in the tub.

[ron nh]

Gun it, shut it down, trim it up...Land hooo... been doing it 20yrs, what could possibly go wrong?