Has anyone kept their CP16 on the hard for any length of time? I have access to a beach cabin next to a tide flat of very firm mud/sand.
I see no structural reason the CP hull can't sit on such ground between tides. I would of course be stowing the rudder and motor.
Opinions?
-Tim
Sounds ok. Would there be an issue of the cockpit flooding before the boat floated?
Bob23
Tim,
Like Bob I would be concerned about the cockpit flooding before the boat floats but with the fairly short keel on the 16 the lean shouldn't be too bad. If all worked out well the keel might simply settle into the sand/mud and it would stay mostly upright, but I wouldn't count on that happening.
The other concern would be just abrasion against the hull as it was transitioning to floating and not floating.
Shawn
For what its worth, a few years back i came home from work to find they had lowered the lake water for dam maintenance, and the cp16 was high and dry. It was balanced on the keel upright. I eased it over so it didn't fall, and there was no problem refloating (no wave action though). You could rig some simple beaching legs to keep it upright, and I don't think you'd have any issue at all. Since the CP16 has such a small draft, you could easily make them from 2x4s and paint them. $15 at most, and you could stow them in the quarter berth when not needed. Just a thought.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/Gregwpl/port.jpg)
Kevin
Thanks a lot for the input all.
-Tim
with no waves and a soft bottom you should be fine.
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af237/billybbingham/untitled.jpg)
I doubt the cockpit would flood. The scuppers are above the standing waterline.
Sitting on the keel is not ideal. Like Shawn, I too would be concerned about abrasion. Short term seems fine. But twice a day tide action over time would most certainly be hard on the bottom.
An idea--and I know this sounds a little crazy, but what about building a small treated lumber cradle which would be sunk under the boats resting spot? A baseboard to keep the keel off the mud (perhaps covered in carpet)and some bunk boards to keep it level while the tide is down. It could be anchored like a mooring. Just a thought...this is what I would do anyway (or at least think hard about it.)