South Coast Beaching

[Reggie]

We're relatively new to RIB's after coming from a motorcruising background. Having more fun than ever and def using it a lot more.
Anyway i've not been adventurous enough to beach the RIB yet (6m ribeye) due to being worried about what the bottom is like, will I scratch the gel coat, how to get passengers off more or less dry and being left high and dry!
So from leaving Portsmouth can anyone advise on the best, easiest beaches to start of with. I'm thinking of the Witterings just inside Chichester Harbour as we used to do that with a much smaller boat that if it did start to dry up we just pushed it - not so easy with the new boat though.
Do you beach on a rising tide only? Will the hull scratch easily? Do you offload and then push back and anchor? whats the best way to get passengers get back on board?

Lots of questions and I guess practise will make perfect but all advice appreciated as always. (being in a drystack probably makes it worse as i am not even used to launcing and recovering from a trailer either!)

Thanks

[Tedskee]

This is a hard one and is totally dependent on your location and your plan for that day. We have 8m tides and we dried out yesterday on a Sand Bar with a 5.5 Zodiac. Point to note we beached on a dropping tide, because we wanted to go ashore and explore, we knew what time low tide was so we could wonder off and get back ready for the returning tide (6 knot tide). If doing it on a rising tide you will need to be with the Rib unless you are prepared to get wet getting back to it. Chichester Harbour no doubt will be calm so next bit is if you go further afield such as Sandbanks or Studland.
It is always worth visiting the location at low tide if possible to check ground and also see how quick or slow the tide is. The warning bit: if there is any waves this could be an issue getting back afloat, waves plus wind could mean you are pushed up the beach as the tide rises. With your size Rib I expect you have a heavy lump at the back which will add to the issues and you may have a few waves over the back. You will be surprised how hard it is to move a Rib when its grounded or half touching, the transom end is heavy.

I will never beach on a lea shore or anything with waves more than a foot. (Chicken I know)

Lastly I carry to anchors a large one which I use as a Kedge when running in and smaller to run to shore. Both are Bruce as we generally have mud and sand. That said if you are high and dry you can walk the kedge out and take into account the tide direction if there is any.

[Reggie]

Thanks Tedskee - very helpful.
I think Witterings will be best bet to have a go as i know the bed there is mainly sand.
I havent been there but heard Priory Bay is good as well as Colwell Bay - any other sandy safe places to beach i'd love to know about them

I just need to make a plan and go for it

Thanks

[Neil Harvey]

Bembridge harbour just inside entrance on left. Jave dried out there a few times without worrying about scratches.

[paulbrown22]

I've dried out, admittedly in our aluminium lift keel sailing yacht, at Wittering beach, Bosham against the quay, just inside Bembridge on the left (very technical description, but it's beside the Bembridge sailing club!), far up Newtown Creek, up the Beaulieu River, Christchurch Harbour, and most commonly given we are Poole-based, Studland beach, Swanage Bay and the south side of Brownsea Island.

With the aluminium hull I don't worry too much about the bottom, but would certainly prefer sand in the GRP-hulled RIB. We always go in on a falling tide, work out how much it has to fall, and depending on how long we want to be dried out, anchor in the appropriate depth of water. As per previous comments, worth checking the area in advance if you can at a lowish tide, so you 1.) know what's on the bottom (sand, stone, rock, mud, etc) and 2.) know how steep it is, is it a flat drying area, etc. if we're staying on the yacht, we don't really want to be leaning over for 6 hours in the night!

And definitely pick a calm area and weather window - the last thing you want to be doing is trying to get off a beach as waves keep lifting you up and depositing you back on the beach. Doesn't do the boat, or you, any good! Preferably anchor where the wind is blowing you off the beach, and/or put out a stern/kedge anchor as well to help you get off, and ensure you don't end up further up the beach as the tide comes back in.

Once you've done it once, you'll probably find you do it again! We certainly regularly do in the sailing yacht all along the South Coast, over in Brittany, and find some wonderful sheltered places to hide in.

[gary222]

How about a tiny tender or paddle board so you can nose in and drop off your crew then anchor off and paddle in yourself. On holiday we take a 2.3 sib behind or on! our 4.8 Ribcraft and use that. The 3.5 aux is easy to transfer to it so we even motor in hahaha

[Tedskee]

This might be a better picture, did not realize how small the dot was in the center of the other

[Poly]

Originally Posted by gary222

How about a tiny tender or paddle board so you can nose in and drop off your crew then anchor off and paddle in yourself. On holiday we take a 2.3 sib behind or on! our 4.8 Ribcraft and use that. The 3.5 aux is easy to transfer to it so we even motor in hahaha

I've seen people use a Ringo. works OK in calm weather.

[cornishcoote]

Tide wind and waves as well as the amount of rocks as make the decision whether to land and anchor up on the beach or anchor off. I agree about waves. even small waves over a 1ft can make it tricky. nothing worse then seeing a boat bashed against the beach. Beaches change over the seasons as well with big shifts of sand. Look how others have done it and how their boats are sitting. Same beach on different days may need different tactics.
Flat off shore anchor near shoreline boat sits out to sea.
Cross wind or waves - anchor out to sea, (can use 2nd anchor with line from stern back to beach).
Safest is drop off then anchor out in the bay with a quick swim back😁