Keel grounding

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John Waldhausen

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Oct 12, 2025, 5:09:49 PM (7 days ago) Oct 12
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I have a question for the group. This past summer I had a hard grounding in the San Juan Island of Washington, but was only going perhaps one to 2 kn at most. I was able to back off the unmarked rocky shoal and dove beneath the boat and looked and everything seemed to be fine. The bilge was dry and remains dry three months later. The keel bolts all look fine as well. I had the bottom of the boat cleaned the other day, and the Diver said there was some lead exposed at the bottom of the keel. Could anyone tell me whether this is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately or whether it could wait until I have the next bottom repainting done, which will probably be about two years from now since I just had it done last year. thanks very much for your thoughts.
John Waldhausen
N36
Northern Star #57
Bainbridge Island WA

Joe Valinoti

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Oct 12, 2025, 5:18:42 PM (7 days ago) Oct 12
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If it was my boat, I'd wait till it's next hauling. Just remind the diver
to check it when it get's cleaned.

Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA

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Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT

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Oct 12, 2025, 6:17:10 PM (7 days ago) Oct 12
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I agree, the next hauling would be the time to do a more complete inspection.  

I did some keel work on Soave last winter.  ( HERE ) is a link to my notes.  The process of of prepping the lead may be of interest for you.

In Soave's past someone had used fairing compound on bare lead.  It lost adhesion and came loose in spots allowing water to get between the fairing and lead.  

The prep I followed was :
  1. Sand to bright lead with 80 grit.  In places where the lead was pitted, I did my best to clean the pits, but avoided removing too much lead.  Lead oxidizes fast so be ready to prime immediately after prep.
  2. Prime.  Lots of options and opinions.  I choose thinned epoxy.  Making sure any pits in the metal get filled no bubbles.
  3. Next fair with a compound that is compatible with the primer you used.
  4. Finally bottom paint.
I also addressed a weepy keel joint also and replaced some corroded keel washers and nuts.

Good Luck,
Rob
s/v SOAVE
NS33 #009
Cedar Point YC
Westport, CT
 

Richard Têtu

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Oct 13, 2025, 12:52:07 AM (7 days ago) Oct 13
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Just curious where the incident happened. I live on Lopez Island by Spencer Spit and our NS260 is at Spencer’s Landing, a mile south of the ferry terminal. Although we have lived here for 39 years, we are new to sailing and always eager to hear of hazards.

John Waldhausen

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Oct 13, 2025, 10:42:34 AM (6 days ago) Oct 13
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Coming out of deer harbor just south of McConnell island. We were looking for a place to anchor to have lunch. The chart said 10 feet of water, so did my depth finder until suddenly there wasn’t. 
John Waldhausen
N36 #57
Northern Star

On Oct 12, 2025, at 9:52 PM, Richard Têtu <richa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just curious where the incident happened. I live on Lopez Island by Spencer Spit and our NS260 is at Spencer’s Landing, a mile south of the ferry terminal. Although we have lived here for 39 years, we are new to sailing and always eager to hear of hazards.
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John Waldhausen

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Oct 13, 2025, 10:52:17 AM (6 days ago) Oct 13
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I have one final question on this thread but it’s unrelated to my keel. Could someone inform me how to get an invitation to join the Discourse group? The instructions say one must be invited but not how to get an invitation. I’d like to be on that group as well. Thanks.
John Waldhausen
N36 #57
Northern Star
Bainbridge Island

> On Oct 12, 2025, at 2:18 PM, Joe Valinoti <joes...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If it was my boat, I'd wait till it's next hauling. Just remind the diver to check it when it get's cleaned.
> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/INA-Nonsuch-Discussion-Group/520CE758906B48388D107221DFE2006F%40DESKTOPAL8QCME.

Jonathan Lewit

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Oct 13, 2025, 11:28:57 AM (6 days ago) Oct 13
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Hi John,

Here is a link to join the Discourse site - it will work for a few hundred people, so folks, get on board - 


When you click the link, you will arrive at a web page that will collect some info - 

invitation page.png

After you click Accept Invitation at the bottom,  you will very shortly get an email back to test if your email address works.  You have to click on the link in that email to confirm that your address is good, and complete the signup process. If you don't get a return email, check your SPAM folder - sometimes emails that contain links end up there...  
(Note - if you cram your name, boat and location info in the Name box, they will appear on top of every post). 

Jon 
N26C #115 - Inua - Kingston, NY

John Waldhausen

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Oct 13, 2025, 11:34:00 AM (6 days ago) Oct 13
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Thank you Jon

John Waldhausen
N36 #57
Northern Star
Bainbridge Island 

On Oct 13, 2025, at 8:28 AM, Jonathan Lewit <jon....@gmail.com> wrote:


Hi John,

Here is a link to join the Discourse site - it will work for a few hundred people, so folks, get on board - 


When you click the link, you will arrive at a web page that will collect some info - 

Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.

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Oct 14, 2025, 3:50:47 AM (6 days ago) Oct 14
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John have you marked the location on Navionics?
Mark Powers

John Waldhausen

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Oct 14, 2025, 10:55:18 AM (5 days ago) Oct 14
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No I did not . I’ve heard of navionics but don’t have it. I have Aquamap and my Garmin but didn’t think to mark it. I didn’t know one could do that and make it public. 
John Waldhausen

On Oct 14, 2025, at 12:50 AM, Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. <r...@shaw.ca> wrote:



John Waldhausen

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Oct 14, 2025, 11:12:42 AM (5 days ago) Oct 14
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Well I wish I’d known about Navionics or been using Aquamap at the time. The shoal is on both maps ( I just checked). It was not however on my chart plotter and marked as less than 10 feet. Lesson learned. 

John Waldhausen
N36
Northern Star
On Oct 14, 2025, at 12:50 AM, Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. <r...@shaw.ca> wrote:



Thor Powell, Nonsuch 26, Victoria BC

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Oct 14, 2025, 11:48:49 AM (5 days ago) Oct 14
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Depth surveys are done with the commercial vessel in mind. Anytime you are in less than 20 feet , close to shore all bets are off.   Digital charts and paper charts vary widely . Those of us using Aqua Maps can switch between the two. I have seen differences in the order of 30 feet in bays any inlets.   Wrecks and obstructions also show variation. 

A bow watch it a good idea in unfamiliar waters  close to shore less than 20 feet 

I have been using Aqua Maps for 4 yers and Debbie and I are very happy with it.  To a point I may discard my  Garmin 76Map at the helm and replace it with a  waterproof android phone I can pick up new for under %150.  We mount the Aqua Map on the dodger rail so it is visible to both Debbie and I.  One person can concentrate on steering and the other can easily be checking things like ferry lanes, reef distances etc...

Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.

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Oct 14, 2025, 3:46:10 PM (5 days ago) Oct 14
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I use Navionics app on my iPad as a backup navigation tool. It allows users to place community edits on the chart. For example there is an anchorage off of Thetis Island, known as Clam Bay. I snagged my anchor on an old ships windlass. The anchor rode wrapped around the windlass as we swung at anchor over 3 days. While waiting for the diver to come and release the anchor (I had installed the anchor and rode two weeks prior to the event) I marked the location on the Navionics chart. In Clam Bay you now see people stay away from that spot.
Mark Powers

John Waldhausen

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Oct 14, 2025, 6:57:04 PM (5 days ago) Oct 14
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I go to Clam Bay. I’ll look for it. 
John Waldhausen

On Oct 14, 2025, at 12:46 PM, Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C. <r...@shaw.ca> wrote:

I use Navionics app on my iPad as a backup navigation tool. It allows users to place community edits on the chart. For example there is an anchorage off of Thetis Island, known as Clam Bay. I snagged my anchor on an old ships windlass. The anchor rode wrapped around the windlass as we swung at anchor over 3 days. While waiting for the diver to come and release the anchor (I had installed the anchor and rode two weeks prior to the event) I marked the location on the Navionics chart. In Clam Bay you now see people stay away from that spot.

Mark Powers La Reina 26C Vancouver, B.C.

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Oct 17, 2025, 2:16:14 AM (3 days ago) Oct 17
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Look in the south west corner.
Mark Powers

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