Drying Out with Legs - in the day!

[Gludy]

My expereince of drying out with any boat of any type is zero.

I am shortly to have the new boat fitted with legs - the boat weighs 32 tons so she is no lightweight but she does have an extra deep keel. Trader are going to experiment with the boat in a sling before deciding where to fit the legs - these are being fitted after she arrives at Emsworth in a mere 11 days .... 11 long. long days .... anyway back to the subject.

I realise that in a perfect world legs do not carry much load - the keel carries the load, the legs balance the boat. Now that the subject is becoming real I would like to know what experience any of you have had with drying out and legs. Hints, tips or just plain comfort would be appreciated.

[LeytonC]

Lets take her to illfracome and experiment! - i am up for it [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Gludy]

Lets experiment then take her to Coombe [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[LeytonC]

Would be more exciting the other way around!

But, i would have thought 90-95% thru keel and 5-10% thru legs to keep them from moving, but then again, i dont tend to dry out!!!

[Gludy]

The legs are designed to take the whole weight providing they stay uprightish .... this is one hell of a mistake to make, 32 tons keeling over on her side with all that nice blue hull ..... but I have to take those first steps - probably on a nice sandy sloping beach like Tenby with an insignificant offshore wind blowing.

Also can you use legs to dry out alongside a wall? The outside leg - yes but do you put the inside leg down or just rest on multiple fenders on the wall?

[hlb]

No experience. But think it might be fine for old fishermen types, drying out in same old harbour all there lives. Were it might be a problem, is unknown areas, where there may be a big gully to one side, or the sand is not just as hard as thought.

Seems a bit risky to me!!

[LeytonC]

i would not want all that weight thru the legs, contact patch on the ground is way to small, i think you would just sink to the sand (then fall over)

Same for a wall, if you come down on the leg - and it starts to sink... with walls you need to lean on them - personaly i would not cos of the messing around with ropes.

I would try for most of the weight thru the keel then only use the legs to stabillise <sp> like the broom in MBM, have the legs set 2 inches before ground so keel settles in then the legs to the remaining weight, but these things need to be tested...

[jhr]

Not in the same league as your new boat, but if you can get a copy, it would be worth having a look at Libby Purves' "One Summer's Grace" where she talks about drying out their boat (a 32 ft GRP gaffer) on legs. I think they used both legs, even when alongside, and took advice from harbourmasters about holes in the seabed etc.

[andyball]

you can practice at East Head perhaps? since you'll be nearby

[Gludy]

I just ordered the book - seems a good read anyway. Thanks for the advice.