If you’re caught high and dry, here’s what to do

Running aground happens even in perfect weather with the latest navigation equipment. Fortunately, most groundings are more inconvenient and embarrassing than anything else. The key is to know how to respond so that you don’t make a bad situation worse.

The first thing many boaters do when they’ve run aground is throw the engine in reverse and give it a lot of power. This could damage your rudder and propeller, or pile up more sand and mud, putting your boat harder aground. If you have holed the hull, moving into deeper water puts you at risk of sinking.

Instead, take a moment to thoroughly assess the situation. If your boat came to a sudden stop, make sure no one on board was injured. That’s your first priority. If you’re not wearing a life jacket, put one on and instruct everyone else on board to do the same. Then check to see if you are taking on water. Next, determine what type of bottom the boat is sitting on — sand, mud, rocks, coral, etc. — and how hard you’re aground.

If you were traveling slowly and you’ve just touched bottom lightly on sand or mud, another boater may be able to pull you off. You will need to check the wind and current to get the best angle on the pull. Also, be sure to keep all persons far away from the line at both ends. Lines can recoil like a slingshot if they snap or pull out a fitting.

You can also try to free the boat yourself. With the motor off, lift the outdrive and try to push off with an oar or boat hook. If it’s safe to do so, you can have someone go over the side and push the boat into deeper water.

Depending on the number of people on board, it may be necessary for more than one to get out and push. You might also try shifting the load away from the point of contact, reducing draft by emptying water tanks or moving heavy gear into a dinghy, or pushing the boat from side to side to free it up. If that works, load everyone back on the boat, tilt the motor down just far enough to submerge the propeller, start the motor and proceed at idle speed toward the nearest channel.

If your boat is really stuck, but otherwise seaworthy, it’s often best to simply wait for the next high tide to float it off. This is especially true if you find yourself hard aground on rocks or coral, where attempting to extricate the boat can result in additional damage to the hull. Floating off with the tide is less stressful to the boat, and to your passengers. Be sure to set out a “kedge” anchor as far as possible in the direction of the wind and waves (use a dinghy if you have one). This will keep your boat from being pushed farther aground as the tide rises.

If the tide is falling, try to determine how far it will fall and whether your boat’s hull needs support and cushioning as it lies over on its side. While you wait for assistance, or the next high tide, do a more thorough inspection of the hull to check for damage.