Soft/Hard Grounding

3D Model

Two kinds of boaters exist, those who have gone aground and those who won’t admit to it. Fortunately, grounding is more often a minor inconvenience than a true danger. Here’s what to do if you get stuck in the mud.

• Don’t Panic, Assess the Situation - Panicking won’t help any grounding situation, no matter how minor. And, hasty reactions can end up causing further harm to your boat and crew

• Backing Off - If you’ve grounded lightly and hull damage appears to be minimal, you can try to free yourself

• When to Stay Aground - If you’ve sustained serious hull damage, you’re better staying put than reentering deep water

• What To Do In An Emergency - If you or your vessel are in immediate danger, hail the Coast Guard over VHF Channel 16 using the standard Pan-Pan or Mayday call depending on the urgency of your situation. This may also bring nearby boaters to your aid

More information can be found - https://www.boatus.org/study-guide/prep/aground/