- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 385
- Messages
- 2,885
For the first time in 50 some odd years, I ran aground. Fortunately not fast and hard. Lake Lanier is down 8 feet. Historically low levels. I pride myself in knowing the lake pretty well and I knew I was in a shallow area. I slowed down because there was a fisherman to my starboard, as well as shallow markers to my starboard. I thought remaining to the port would be "good enough". I then saw the depth decreasing rapidly, I pulled into reverse and as the depth touch zero, I cut the engine to save the props. When I went aground it was "-0.3 feet" which means I have the keel offset set accurately. It was a gentle halt, but I was aground. I raised the drive to "trailer position" Inspected the props. I thought about hailing the fishing boat to give me a gentle tug as I was not hard aground. Then I thought about Towboat US. I smiled at my wife and told her she might have to go in the water to lighten the boat. She was not impressed with that plan. Anyway, I think God said, "Give you a second chance son" as a breeze came up and pushed me off the shoal. I looked at the depth and it said, 1.5 feet. That was enough. I dropped the drive, fired up and went astern. I then shut down, pulled the drive up, little scrape on the keg, no damage to the props. A quick interior inspection revealed no hull damage. So off I went.
