Unless you do your boating exclusively in the shipping lanes of the major oceans, any time you go out on your boat, there's a chance you'll find yourself in shallow waters. It happens to just about all of us, and it can happen with virtually no warning. So, if and when you do find yourself in the shallows, you'll want to be able to get out and back to deeper water safely and with as little damage to your boat as possible - preferably with no damage at all. You can get out safely and in one piece if you simply take things slow and easy.

Take The Measure

When you find yourself in shallow water, the first thing to do is stop the boat as quickly and safely as possible. Alert the passengers, then put the throttle in neutral and trim the drive up as high as possible. Let the boat glide to a stop. Once you're stopped, determine the water depth and the safest exit path. If your boat has a depth finder, use it. If not, take a visual reading: If you can't see the bottom, be aware that shallow water will generally look lighter in color than deep water. If you don't think you can accurately determine the depth visually and you don't have a depth meter, use a fishing pole or a weighted line. You need to know the depth so you'll know if you can safely power your way out of the shallows, or if you'll have to push to get back into safe waters.  

Tilt The Whirl 

If the water is deep enough for the prop to operate safely, driving away is the preferred method of getting out of the shallows. But don't just jam the throttle and try to blast out - that's a recipe for potential disaster. First, trim the drive as far up as possible. This not only reduces the prop's effectiveness, but it also reduces the chances of the prop hitting the bottom. Next, have your passengers put on PFDs and sit near the bow (or stern if you have to back out) to keep watch and alert you if the water gets shallower. Apply just enough power to get the boat moving; if you happen to run aground, you'll want to be going as slowly as possible. Finally, be aware that you'll have greatly reduced maneuverability, so don't expect instant steering response. Plan your moves well in advance and make them as gentle as you can.

Push The Boat Free

If your boat has become grounded, or if you believe that the water is too shallow to safely power away, you're going to have to push. Use a gaffing pole if available; otherwise, use whatever is long enough for you to safely reach the bottom without getting out of the boat and sturdy enough for pushing. (A slalom ski will work in a pinch.) If you don't have anything to push with, try to flag a passing boat for a tow, alerting them, of course, to the shallows. If all else fails, get out of the boat and push by hand, but only as a last resort, and be sure to turn the engine off and take the key out of the ignition, remembering to push from the bow and away from the prop. Once the boat is sufficiently in deep water, make sure everyone is back on board and wearing a PFD before tilting the whirl and powering to deep water.

Break Away

As a rule of thumb, the best path out of the shallows is the path that you followed to get there. After all, you got to the shallow end, hopefully without tearing anything up, right? If you can't retrace you path exactly, remember that darker water usually means deeper water, so aim for the dark. Proceed at a snail's pace, using just enough throttle to keep the boat moving steadily along. But don't rush. Someone may try to convince you that going faster will reduce your boat's draft and is therefore the smart play - it's not. Until you're in deep water, go slowly, keeping an eye on the depth meter and the water's darkening color. Once you're back in safe-depth water, lower the drive and get back to having fun  out on the water.