We noticed from our dock, that only 100 yds away was a trimaran “careened” out on the sand bar in the middle of the estuary. Carlos and Alex thought we too should consider “beaching Beach House” on the central sand bar. We spoke a bit with the owner of the trimaran. Blaze was happy to give us advice as he had done this several times. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
First, Cindy, Carlos, Alex and I went at low tide to peruse the proposed haul out spot. It had to all work just right. Enough water to get on (AND OFF), a nice sand bottom with a drop off for the rudders and sail drive to clear as well as a deep water channel to approach. Wind protection and other benefits would be a plus. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
With the mangrove behind us as a nice wind break, Carlos set to putting out two tall bamboo poles that we would come up against as markers. We wouldn’t be able to see the bottom when he towed us in here, so we needed some definitive markers to know where to “beach the house”…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Carlos had a nice tool to dig out and bury the bamboo while Alex and I went over the logistics. Including bringing two anchors out and getting them pre-set just before Carlos was to pull us over here at 5:30 am the next morning. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Here, Cindy was looking over the surreal scene….We were actually going to intentionally beach, “Beach House” to do our repairs. This type of “haul out” is actually fairly common world wide, but like I said….it’s all gotta be just right. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
So at the appointed hour, alex and I went out to preset two of the four anchors. The incoming tidal current can be up to 3 knots and we would be across it. Alex was going to use our dinghy as a “bow thruster” to hold us in place while we secured the anchors. Remember the beach you saw in the previous photos? Well that’s it behind Cindy, now covered by 5 1/2 feet of water with a 15 foot deep water channel just this side of the mangrove. Note the volcano in the back ground!…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Carlos tied his panga up to “Beach House’s” starboard side (real tight) and with his 50 hp outboard had pretty good control of us. That’s his son Carlitos in the panga behind standing by to assist as needed. Carlos has done this dozens of times. Alex said he’d done about a dozen or so of these type of haul out’s in here, but always back at “the office”, not out here on “the bar”. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Hiero is on the bow and will help me with the anchor lines. Alex is leading us with a GPS which we took yesterday that has our course laid out so we don’t go aground too soon. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Here, we’re setting up to go down the deep water channel which will bring us right up against the mangroves on our right. Note all the water on the left. In 3 1/2 hours, it will be all sand for 250 yards!….The local kids play soccer on it at low tide!.. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Carlos brought us to the appointed spot marked with the bamboo and made a hard left turn. We tied up the port side anchors and quickly set the two too starboard as when the tide started to drop, the current would come from the opposite direction. Blaze showed up to give advice. It was good advice too. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Once the four anchors were set. Carlos held us fore/aft where we wanted the boat to end up and we just waited for the tide to gently set us on the sand bar. We dropped our bow anchor to help prevent our being pushed astern in the current as well. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Here’s what it looked like from the boat. But there was only 4 1/2 feet of water below the water line which was 4 feet deep. Most everything you see that is wet on our front left will be a sand bar in two hours. The exit to the estuary and back out to see is on the far back left, about a mile away. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Here you can see our port bow anchor, one of the ones that Alex and I pre-set. We’re just waiting for the tide. The brouchure on our boat said that it was a “beachable catamaran”. We’re about to find out! Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Brave young Alex jumped into the water and is standing next to the boat. You can see our port stern anchor and our bamboo marking stick. Alex put a piece of tape on it so we could gage the tide as it went out and came back in. He also wanted to make sure that the rudders and sail drives would not touch bottom. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
To assist us in our endevor, we have a tide program called “WX TIDES”. It is really accurate and as you can see from this photo, “Beach House” is starting to sit on the beach!…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
In the back ground is our marina with the dock we were tied to just a few hours ago. Note our starboard bow anchor is now exposed in the mid right portion of the photo. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Where you see water in front of us will soon be high and dry sand….. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
You can see the strength of the tidal current out in the estuary. A “Papagayo wind” was blowing 25 knots up high, but the mangrove protected us and we only felt 5 knots on the deck of “Beach House”. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
The tide receded and we went to work. Much to our DISMAY, we discovered the transmission had only minor damage and the PORT PROPELLER had come apart entirely on the inside front. We could not have easily seen this underwater. The boat is on hard pack sand, we’re “in the mud”. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Alex was inside the boat after having swapped out the transmission. I was getting things ready below for our refloat. We would have no propeller on this side and I ordered two new ones. If the left one had this happen, why wouldn’t the right one have it happen too? We did not hit ANYTHING!….Two new “variprops” are on their way from Germany. These are approved by our engine/transmission maker “Yanmar” for use on the sail drives. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Alex was a real trouper. He absolutely went the extra mile and made this happen. We even had time to drain the other transmission and do a full oil change on it. Note the dive ladder on the back of the boat. It made it easier to get up and down. Just call me “pig pen”. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
This was the old transmission. We will replace a few minor parts and store it for later use. Frankly, it’s not a question of “if”, but of “when”….. 96 lbs. We are probably the only boat I know of that will be carrying a spare transmission. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
In most boats, you would not have to have the boat “dry” to replace the transmission. But we use “sail drives” as we don’t have room for a traditional shaft which would hit the rudder. the white part that hangs down to Alex’s left is like an outboard motor’s bottom end, just in front of our rudder. The rudder isn’t touching. Carlos and the boys dug out a nice hole for each side and here, the mud is very soft. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
“Beached House”….Never in my wildest imaginings did I expect to see this scene! Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Starboard bow anchor, high and dry….everything is in this photo except me and Alex!…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
You can see our bamboo marking pole and four of the five anchor(s), lines in this photo Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
You can see the Cindy gives nice perspective to this scene…. You can just see the advertisement. ‘Beach House in El Salvador, great view, basement cleaned by salt water twice daily” Bahia del Sol, El Salvadordinghy floating off the stern. The deep water channel off our stern could even keep us wet if we were in it at low tide. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
Starboard bow anchor, high and dry….everything is in this photo except me and Alex!…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
You can see the dinghy floating off the stern. The deep water channel off our stern could even keep us wet if we were in it at low tide. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
The water is starting to rise with the incoming tide which will be about 1 foot HIGHER than the morning high. You can see our anchor almost wet and the marina in the back ground. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
The boat is nearly afloat adn the port bow anchor is almost wet. NOW HERE’S THE RUB OF IT!…AS WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE PROPELLERS……WE GET TO DO THIS AGAIN AT THE END OF THE MONTH WHEN WE GET BACK FROM OUR STATESIDE VISIT WITH TWO NEW PROPELLERS!……Stay tuned for “Beach House goes to the beach…..redux”…. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
You can see the dinghy floating off the stern. The deep water channel off our stern could even keep us wet if we were in it at low tide. Bahia del Sol, El Salvador
