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Seaplane Skiplane Flying Menu > Seaplane Operations ? Landings >Postflight
Procedures >Beaching
Success in beaching depends primarily on the
type and firmness of the shoreline. Inspect the beach carefully
before using it. If this is impossible, approach the beach at
an oblique angle so the seaplane can be turned out into deeper
water if the beach is unsatisfactory. The hardest packed sand
is usually near the water’s edge and becomes softer where
it is dry, further from the water’s edge. Rocky shorelines
are likely to damage the floats, especially if significant waves
are rolling in. Mud bottoms are usually not desirable for beaching.
To protect them from damage, water rudders
should be up before entering the shallow water near a beach.
Sand is abrasive and erodes any protective coatings on the bottoms
of the floats. If possible, beach the seaplane by sailing backward
with the water rudders up. The aft bottoms of the floats do
not dig into the sand as deeply as the forward bottoms, so backing
onto a beach is not as hard on the floats as going in nose-first.
Do not leave the seaplane unattended unless
at least a tail line is fastened to some solid object ashore.
Moderate action of the water rapidly washes away the sand under
the floats and lets the seaplane drift. An incoming tide can
float a beached seaplane in just a few minutes. Likewise, a
receding tide may leave a seaplane stranded 30 or 40 feet from
the water in a few hours. Even small waves may alternately pick
up anddrop the seaplane, potentially causing serious damage,unless
the seaplane is beached well out of their reach. Flying boat
pilots should be sure to clear the main gear wells of any sand
or debris that may have accumulated before departing.
If the seaplane is beached overnight or higher
winds are expected, use portable tiedowns or stakes driven into
firm ground and tie it down like a landplane. If severe winds
are expected, the compartments of the floats can be filled with
water. This holds the seaplane in very high winds, but it is
a lot of work to pump out the floats afterward.
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