We call it black mud here in Nebraska. I remember crossing a section of it when I was 12 on a hunting trip. Got stuck up to my thighs and had to crawl my way out ( I got most of the way there, the opposite dry shore was in reach). Thankfully my gear was ok, but I will confess, quite a scary moment.
Exactly what I mean! I'm glad someone gets it. Maybe it takes experience for this idea to "sink in". It could be especially dangerous if you're alone and way out in the boonies (as I often am).
Actually I've never thought about sinking very deep into mud here in Michigan but I can see that could be a real life or death situation for sure. I mean if your in 2 foot of cool water but sinking above your knees in muck/mud you just might not be able to get back in your boat or walk out of it. Hope I don't get in that situation. Thanks for the warning.
I was sailing my laser and kept running my daggerboard into sandbars 😂also dry rolled 3 times that sail, pretty happy with being able to dry roll now, after so many capsized I’ve learned
New Jersey has som very dangerous mud also. It’s no joke. Something I learned is if you get one leg unstuck, don’t plant that foot down to pull out. Put your knee down and use the length of free leg for leverage to pull out .
I know exactly what you mean. A few weekends ago, I went sailing on Lake St. Claire on my experimental scow. The lee board arrangement did not work, and I was steadily driven downwind from my starting point. The lake is surrounded by steel breakwalls that are about five feet high. I spotted one section that didn't have one. Instead, it had a stone one that was made of a pile of broken concrete. And it was about four feet high. It even had what looked like dry land in front of it. Land plants were growing on it. I figured it was there or never. So I beached my boat there. I got a nasty surprise once I stepped out on it. I sank up to my knees in muck.
That's what I'm talking about. That mud will grab you and take hold. Usually it's just an annoyance, but in a perfect storm situation, it could be a serious problem.
If you want to be walking over mud, just make yourself some splatchers. They work in the same way as snowshoes. Distributing your weight over a wider surface area. I grew up sailing on the river Orwell (UK) and the mud there is very deep and dangerous
Interesting idea! I've never heard of splatchers. That would help immensely when landing on shoals and islands here. At low water, I often have to walk a good distance from the skiff through mud before reaching solid ground.
@@cumberlandrover you could definitely make your own. Might be a good side project for your channel. I tried googling for some images for you but it's pretty much lost knowledge at this point in time.
With a lug sail I have had the yard spin around the mast winding up the mainsheet. Once the mainsheet is all "used up" and wrapped around the mast, with the stopped knot hard against the block, the boat will tend to sail away into the sunset ... without you! I don't use a boom and can generally grab a flailing mainsheet without having to unwind a figure of eight sail billowing on the mast. I use a whisker pole, but only on calm days. One end propped in the halyard, the other in the sail's clew. If things go "pear shaped" it's easy to unpeg the whisker pole and sort myself out.
@@cumberlandrover I enjoy your videos and you have given me a lot of encouragement for river sailing and kayaking. I do a lot of coastal sea sailing. Perhaps in some situations and with your kind of rig, it can be better not to tie a knot and let the mainsheet escape and then recover it once your problem of a sail wrapped round the mast has been resolved. I had a lot of experience of capsizing in small dinghies at sailing school, and I know what it is like to try to walk in mud. Those creeks are more hazardous than they look. Watch out for unexpected jibes!
Also, I come from the north-west of England, near Morecambe Bay and Arnside, where the quicksand is treacherous. Also here in France around the Mont Saint-Michel. You can get sucked down very quickly!
1 mile to the shore is damn long swim if the water is cold, most of the people will not make it and may die of hypothermia. I was taught that if there is any chance of capsizing you have to dress according to the water temperature, ignoring warm weather which may give you false perception of safety. I knew an angler who capsized 400 meters from the shore and didn't make it.
It is a long way. I would prefer not to repeat my dad's experience haha. That's probably good advice. Everyone has a different level of risk tolerance. Physical fitness, experience, age, and health are all factors in determining a person's vulnerability to cold water/exposure.
Obviously the specific water temp/conditions determines the risk of hypothermia. 7 months of the year, that's not a big concern on these waters. If your vessel is unrecoverable, you may indeed be taking a swim (hopefully with a pfd). It happened to my dad. As I said, worst case scenario.
We call it black mud here in Nebraska. I remember crossing a section of it when I was 12 on a hunting trip. Got stuck up to my thighs and had to crawl my way out ( I got most of the way there, the opposite dry shore was in reach). Thankfully my gear was ok, but I will confess, quite a scary moment.
Exactly what I mean! I'm glad someone gets it. Maybe it takes experience for this idea to "sink in". It could be especially dangerous if you're alone and way out in the boonies (as I often am).
Actually I've never thought about sinking very deep into mud here in Michigan but I can see that could be a real life or death situation for sure. I mean if your in 2 foot of cool water but sinking above your knees in muck/mud you just might not be able to get back in your boat or walk out of it. Hope I don't get in that situation. Thanks for the warning.
I was sailing my laser and kept running my daggerboard into sandbars 😂also dry rolled 3 times that sail, pretty happy with being able to dry roll now, after so many capsized I’ve learned
I take a mask and snorkel with me at all times when I sail my kayak.
I can swim for hours with them.
Love your channel.
New Jersey has som very dangerous mud also. It’s no joke. Something I learned is if you get one leg unstuck, don’t plant that foot down to pull out. Put your knee down and use the length of free leg for leverage to pull out .
Those that haven't run aground haven't been around
I know exactly what you mean.
A few weekends ago, I went sailing on Lake St. Claire on my experimental scow. The lee board arrangement did not work, and I was steadily driven downwind from my starting point. The lake is surrounded by steel breakwalls that are about five feet high.
I spotted one section that didn't have one. Instead, it had a stone one that was made of a pile of broken concrete. And it was about four feet high. It even had what looked like dry land in front of it. Land plants were growing on it.
I figured it was there or never. So I beached my boat there. I got a nasty surprise once I stepped out on it.
I sank up to my knees in muck.
That's what I'm talking about. That mud will grab you and take hold. Usually it's just an annoyance, but in a perfect storm situation, it could be a serious problem.
On my reservoir muck is the norm, strange winds, I've turtled several times. Now I'm confident of several escape strategies 😅 !
Experience will definitely give you confidence.
If you want to be walking over mud, just make yourself some splatchers. They work in the same way as snowshoes. Distributing your weight over a wider surface area. I grew up sailing on the river Orwell (UK) and the mud there is very deep and dangerous
That sounds like something I need walking in deep beach sand all day. I don't suppose you can link us to a picture?
I've seen snow shoes like those slatted mats used to roll sushi, something along those lines would be easier to stow and provide good grip?
Interesting idea! I've never heard of splatchers. That would help immensely when landing on shoals and islands here. At low water, I often have to walk a good distance from the skiff through mud before reaching solid ground.
@@cumberlandrover you could definitely make your own. Might be a good side project for your channel. I tried googling for some images for you but it's pretty much lost knowledge at this point in time.
Tie a figure-of-eight knot at the end of your mainsheet after threading it through the block.
Obviously. Basic seamanship 101
With a lug sail I have had the yard spin around the mast winding up the mainsheet.
Once the mainsheet is all "used up" and wrapped around the mast, with the stopped knot hard against the block, the boat will tend to sail away into the sunset ... without you!
I don't use a boom and can generally grab a flailing mainsheet without having to unwind a figure of eight sail billowing on the mast.
I use a whisker pole, but only on calm days. One end propped in the halyard, the other in the sail's clew.
If things go "pear shaped" it's easy to unpeg the whisker pole and sort myself out.
Good advice. It was a long time ago. I knew even less about sailing than I do now haha
@@cumberlandrover I enjoy your videos and you have given me a lot of encouragement for river sailing and kayaking. I do a lot of coastal sea sailing. Perhaps in some situations and with your kind of rig, it can be better not to tie a knot and let the mainsheet escape and then recover it once your problem of a sail wrapped round the mast has been resolved. I had a lot of experience of capsizing in small dinghies at sailing school, and I know what it is like to try to walk in mud. Those creeks are more hazardous than they look. Watch out for unexpected jibes!
Also, I come from the north-west of England, near Morecambe Bay and Arnside, where the quicksand is treacherous. Also here in France around the Mont Saint-Michel. You can get sucked down very quickly!
1 mile to the shore is damn long swim if the water is cold, most of the people will not make it and may die of hypothermia. I was taught that if there is any chance of capsizing you have to dress according to the water temperature, ignoring warm weather which may give you false perception of safety. I knew an angler who capsized 400 meters from the shore and didn't make it.
It is a long way. I would prefer not to repeat my dad's experience haha. That's probably good advice. Everyone has a different level of risk tolerance. Physical fitness, experience, age, and health are all factors in determining a person's vulnerability to cold water/exposure.
A small wake board is a handy safety tool to carry on shallow water and/or being a distance from shore. Offering assistance in muck or swimming.
🛶⛵️👽
It’s also a good campsite table...
Cool idea
Thanks for the warning. My lake is shallow, weedy and, in places, very muddy. I'll keep this in mind as I begin to explore it.
I thought it was those who have run aground and those who will. I'm both, I think. 😅
Well, that too haha. But as far as dinghy sailing, most will capsize at some point.
Not in any danger?! Simply swim ashore? You REALLY need to do some research on hypothermia.
I tried to tell him that a year ago. He ignored me. I get the feeling that he doesn’t want to know about it. 🫤
Obviously the specific water temp/conditions determines the risk of hypothermia. 7 months of the year, that's not a big concern on these waters. If your vessel is unrecoverable, you may indeed be taking a swim (hopefully with a pfd). It happened to my dad. As I said, worst case scenario.
@@Chris.from.1950 I'm all ears. Please enlighten me.