Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

Okay guys dumb question but have to ask. I have owned V Drive for month now, prior to that IO's and Even Jet Drive. This is my first "New" boat and so I am a little particular about keeping it nice. Its all black, so scuffing it up will be easy.

Question is, Beaching boat. I was told not to, but see V-Drives and Direct Drives somewhat doing it from rear side. Other words anchoring from front, and tied up in rear to shore. What is your opinion on it?

I am alos thinking of getting a Box Anchor, I hear those are one great anchor with a shore line or spike if it is not going to damage anything. I know water depth is a big question, but do you all anchor close to shore? if so, the cleats on the boat are near driver side, nothing up front middle. where is a good location on boat with out tearing it up to anchor off of?

Thanks everyone.

You can drive your bow up on the sand and beach it but it's not healthy.

If the shore isn't steep there is a change you can injest sand into your impellar though. Worst part is, you'll sand blast the hell out of your gelcoat on the keel. Especially if it's black. If you look at some other black boats, you'll see a big white stripe on the keel... That's the black sanded completely off from beaching.

When you see ooats with the transom towards the shore, it's not beached... They usually have an anchor on a bungee of the bow. A rope tied to the transom gets the boat close enough to shore manually without touching, you can climb into the boat and take off.

I wouldn't beach unless there is a sharp drop off from shore to rear of boat. you want to keep rear of boat as deep as possible. box anchors are the junk get the small one its amazing, and any of the cleats would be good I usually use the rear ones but have done middle before. be careful tying off to the front grab bars because the line will rub the top gelcoat.


reason I don't beach is because if its rough waters bouncing prop / rudder of ground can cause damage. old Moomba had to buy new prop

You've got the right idea anchor out front-rear tied to shore.

It's your boat so beach it if you want. Personally, I've never beached any of my boats to include my bass boats years ago. As you've said, you'll see inboard boats beached everywhere. Its just a choice you'll have to make. You'll notice that verteran inboard boat owners will beach in reverse if only to keep the hull from touching the bottom. However, if you beach in an area with constant rollers it really doesn't matter if you beach forward or in reverse. I always anchor in 3'-4' of water off the shore and almost always 2-point anchor to keep my boat from swinging side to side. The box anchor is amazing. In light winds I have no problem holding 3 wakeboats. In medium winds (10-15mph) it can hold 2 wakeboats easy.

IF you beach, and that is a big IF, then bring your boat in super duper slow, like 1 mph. stop it short of touching any sand. Get everyone off the boat as you hold it. then have another strong male help you lift the bow as you pull the boat up on the sand as far as you can. i only do this if it is a sandy beach where there are absolutely no rollers and I am not staying very long.

I would never ever power beach or come in hot and drive up on the sand. No good at all. to get off the beach, 1 dude lifting and push it off, start the boat well away from shore as to not suck up sand or sand blast your hull as previously mentioned.

Better option:

Need:

1 box anchore, 1 shore spike, 100-150' of rope, anchor buddy rope or comparable stretch rope, 2 caribiners, 2 prusik loops (google it, you can easily make them with small rope), one small bumper/bouy (or anything that floats, cushion, orange life vest..)

Drop anchor out far from shore (100-150' depending on how long your anchor rope is)
attach the other end of your rope to your shore spike and pull rope very tight.
Wrap #1 prusiks as instructed to the anchor rope and slide it towards the anchor, attach anchor buddy rope to this prusiks. attach floating bumper or whatever to end of anchor buddy and put on caribiner #1. You can adjust how far out your boat will be anchored by sliding prusik #1 on the rope towards the anchor. Once you get your distance, attach bow hook to your anchor buddy rope using caribiner #1.
bring back of boat to shore so that your anchor buddy rope is tight but NOT stretching yet. this is where you will attach the rear of your boat to the anchor line.
wrap #2 prusiks on the anchor line even with middle of swim step (approx 2' from rear transom hook)
Attach prusiks #2 to your transom hook with caribiner #2 and slide prusiks towards shore until the prusiks is tight and front anchor buddy is tight but NOT stretching. You should be deep enough that you are atleast to your waist or naval area, this will ensure your prop and rudder are not in sand/rocks. You can adjust the boat depth by sliding the front prusik loop forward or backwards.
Prusiks will hold the boat in that position. When it is time to go for a ride you unhook caribiner from transom, pull the boat towards shore, stretching the front anchor buddy, to help load people/gear/food. Then unhook from front anchor buddy and you are off. Your anchor, lines, prusiks etc... all stay there, and when you come back, front anchor buddy caribiner will be easy to grab due to the fender/bouy you attached.

You can also scrap that stretching anchor line for a static line of approx 15' if you don't care to be able to pull your boat into shore closer when loading and unloading.

Pretty much what I was thinking but its nice to get confirmation. I think if I do anything I will stay far enough off keep boat deep enough it does not touch. Box anchor front, and spike back John good write up. I have been eying those box anchors ever since I saw one other day.

We dont do it much, but there are times when we catch bite to eat, meet up with others it would be nice. Beaching was wrong term I guess but best way I could describe. If swim platform is off to rear it would be easy for passengers to get off and on.

Thanks everyone. I love my boat, love the colors but Black is going to be a pain to keep nice.

I beach mine, but always on an old car tyre, and if you boat at the same place all the time, as we do, I've lashed 2 tyres together with rope, and I can pull the boat up perfectly between them, and never get any damage.