Thanks for all of the ideas. To give you a few more details, Gene, you will
know the place, the boat is beached on Masonboro island. Ocean on one side,
creeks and marsh on the other. Reachable only by boat. It is public land,
and the boat is on the creek side. As I said before, about 15 yards from a
navigable creek. It wasn't put there on purpose; likely it broke from its
mooring and drifted there on its own. It is a bit of a mystery because we
didn't have any storm surges that you would expect capable of putting it
there, but there it is. It would appear fairly recently stranded from the
condition, and someone has stripped her of mast, tackle and rigging. At this
point, from my limited understanding of salvage law, I'd say she's fair
game. She'll float I believe, hull looks intact, but putting her right would
be quite an undertaking. My desire is to refloat her, take her up river to
another island on the Cape Fear, pull her up on that island, and use it like
a ersatz camper. Crazy, stupid, insane? sure, just like I like things. And
it will make a great story. So what the hell.

But it is an intellectual challenge nonetheless. All the equipment to do the
job must be readily available, at little cost, and must fit on a 18ft boat
to make it up the creek. So no cranes, helicopters, or elephants. And it
must be a simple plan, because yes, there will be much drinking involved.
And I am not overly concerned with the mechanics of putting her on the new
island, if I get that far, I can work that out.

For this phase however, I'm leaning toward an anchor array, a block and
tackle set-up, a come along, a really high tide, and a case of Rum. Should
be a hoot.

Thanks



"rcoleman" wrote in message
. ..
Out goofing around yesterday, and found a 23' sailboat high and dry, maybe
15yds from a navigable creek. I'm guessing it could be dragged over the
marsh and into the water, but even with a really high lunar tide, it's
going to take some force. There isn't anything across from it to secure a
winch, and the creek isn't deep enough to get a big boat in to drag it
off.

Any idea how I can do this?

Ironically I want to float it to another location and beach it there.