How to best beach a jet boat

[NewBoater]

The wife and I our little one and some friends and their kids will be taking the boat for the first time to beach it this weekend to a sandy little beach around the corner that tons of boats and jet skis pull up to and hang out. Seems like a pretty cool place to spend a few hours.

It seems as having the back of the boat in the sand is best to load and unload for passengers to use the swim platform. But I realize you would have to turn engines off and pull it about 15 feet or so when depth gets low when getting close. Or maybe pull it in straight and then spin it by hand with rope? Or just leave it pulled in bow first? Which is best way? What do you guys like best and also what is the best way to tie it off/use anchor once you've got it situated. Pull hull in and use ladder up front and then tie it with anchor under the ladder into the sand straight ahead on the beach?

Someone mentioned to me the sand may damage the hull when beaching it but I'm not sure?

I'm guessing most go in bow/nose first.

Any tips and help is much appreciated!

And on a side note for those of you that Seadek installed does it get as hot or hotter than carpet? My carpet was so hot today when cleaning the boat at the Boatel I had to wear sandals in the boat.

 

[2nazt]

SeaDek still gets hot I never used my carpet but cooler than the factory black material on swim deck.

As far as beaching. It depends on the approach to beach I think. I always pull in figure out depth. Swing around and pull out to drop anchor and then reverses and set front anchor kill engines at waist deep and pull and set rear anchor. I may pull the boat out closer to front anchor and lengthen rode on rear anchor for tide.

It's personal preference as bow or stern to beach. I like to walk on and through the boat. And I don't have a bow ladder.

Here is a video from @JetBoatPilot on setting up anchors.

 

[NewBoater]

Thanks for the reply. Off topic does Seadek snap into the snaps from carpet or glue in?

 

[njmr2fan]

Seadek glues in with 3M adhesive backing. You clean your floors with acetone, fill the snap holes and lay it down.

 

[haknslash]

Just don't try it like this

 

[NewBoater]

Haha that's funny

 

[LyonsAR210]

I always go stern to beach, the swim deck is one of the best features and I think this setup takes advantage of it. I use a small box anchor off the bow. It is attached to an anchor buddy (recommend highly). I use a slide anchor and danik hook for the beach. This allows me to bring the boat in closer or let out some rope for distance, and the anchor buddy helps with wakes. I back in till it's about knee deep, kill the engines, jump out and set my slide anchor...then pull the boat in back to where I want it.

 

[njmr2fan]

Do you think Georges dad is wondering how the impellers sustained so much damage from small rocks and sand through them?

 

[Gym]

You don't mention where you boat @NewBoater. It differs between salt and fresh water as tides are a big consideration for anchoring/beaching. You may want to update your profile to reflect your city/state. That will also place you on our member map automatically.

I boat in the ocean. I highly recommend the anchor buddy and the keel guard to protect your keel from sand and stones. Sometimes I drive up on the beach bow first for a short stay but generally I stern in to within 2 boat lengths of the beach, toss in the anchor with anchor buddy attached. I pay out enough anchor line to get the stern to about 2-3 feet of water and shut down engines. Then I walk the shore spike to the beach and plant it firmly claiming the beach for myself and entaurage. To offload people and gear just pull the boat to shore using the rope attached from the stern to the shore spike. When all ashore, release the rope and the anchor buddy pulls the boat back out. You don't have to worry about fluctuating tides or some idiot generating a wake near the beach bouncing your boat off the bottom.

 

[Ronnie]

I do both it now first and stern in, it depends on where I'm at, how long I want to stay and what I want to see. Most of the time we are just hitting the beach for the kids in which case I will be on the beach looking outward not on the swim deck looking at the shore. For those instances I just gently drift into the shore (sometime I lock the boat in place with a shore spoke but most of the time I don't need to), deploy the bow ladder and find a spot on the beach to relax. A shore spoke is not a must especially if there is something fixed nearby to tie off to but a keel guard is a must, at a round $20 a foot it will save you money in repair costs should you decide to beach without one.

Using an anchor, anchor buddy and shore spike will give you better access to the swim,deck but setting that up properly takes some practice and time plus you can always beach bow in and spin the boat by hand when you are ready to take on passengers. I do this for my mom and her friends .

 

[Murf'n'surf]

If its more than 6" of wave you should back in and hold the stern in 1-2 foot of water. If its dead calm and no other boats wakes will be rolling in, you can beach it bow first. Get a keel guard on because one beaching can eat through the gelcoat fairly quick.

 

[Bennie]

If its more than 6" of wave you should back in and hold the stern in 1-2 foot of water. If its dead calm and no other boats wakes will be rolling in, you can beach it bow first. Get a keel guard on because one beaching can eat through the gelcoat fairly quick.

We boat in brakish bays and in the Gulf of Mexico -- I highly recommend what @Murf'n'surf said!! I just installed my keelguard after a year of using/beaching my boat and thank god I did... there was a dime size gash in the bottom right on the keel!! Easy install as well. I do recommend having a mechanics creeper to get around under the boat, helped a lot!!

When we decide to go stern to beach I get close, release the child with the rear anchor in hand and bitter end secured on boat. Go out a few feet and drop the bow anchor. Then I have him pull me in. Don't get too close remember waves/wakes will have you banging against the bottom. Whenever you're ready to go just release the rear anchor and use the bow rode to pull yourself out... or use the kid power to push yourself out.

Kids = free labor

 

[NewBoater]

It's a no wake zone but lots of boats still going by not too far away. Here's a picture for reference.

 

[Scuba_ref]

We boat in brakish bays and in the Gulf of Mexico -- I highly recommend what @Murf'n'surf said!! I just installed my keelguard after a year of using/beaching my boat and thank god I did... there was a dime size gash in the bottom right on the keel!! Easy install as well. I do recommend having a mechanics creeper to get around under the boat, helped a lot!!

When we decide to go stern to beach I get close, release the child with the rear anchor in hand and bitter end secured on boat. Go out a few feet and drop the bow anchor. Then I have him pull me in. Don't get too close remember waves/wakes will have you banging against the bottom. Whenever you're ready to go just release the rear anchor and use the bow rode to pull yourself out... or use the kid power to push yourself out.

Kids = free labor

I would love to see the release mechanism you use. What kind of height and distance does the child get upon release?

 

[Scuba_ref]

It's a no wake zone but lots of boats still going by not too far away. Here's a picture for reference.

Looks like a great spot!

 

[Bennie]

release = push out of my boat I usually get a curdling scream and about 3-4 feet. LMAO

 

[Bennie]

Just kidding (kinda) - Once we're in waist deep water he normally just jumps and walks to the beach.

 

[Sotally Tober]

I typically go stern in to the sand bar due to our "Dancing Pole." I did bend one of my Fins a few years back while stern against the sand bar. Ever since then I have been holding them in the up position by shoving a noodle in the nozzle. I have a keel guard installed the entire length of the boat and always use 2 or 3 shore spikes paired with a danik hook to secure the boat.

 

[LyonsAR210]

I typically go stern in to the sand bar due to our "Dancing Pole." I did bend one of my Fins a few years back while stern against the sand bar. Ever since then I have been holding them in the up position by shoving a noodle in the nozzle. I have a keel guard installed the entire length of the boat and always use 2 or 3 shore spikes paired with a danik hook to secure the boat.

Bent fin could be caused by over the weight limit on the "Dancing Pole"...be careful there!!

 

[fairpilot]

I never beach, why would you need to, I mean all you need is 6-12" water to float. Just end up scratching bottom. When I buy or look at used boats I always spend time underneath, it does say alot..