In a message dated 8/29/03 12:03:32 AM, Terry writes: << I'm currently pulling together everything I might need to control damage from grounding, or some other similar unfortunate incident. >> Terry, I trust that you mean UNINTENTIONAL grounding. When I lived in Wales, the tidal range was 26 feet and all boats were grounded for half a day. A boatsman could slog out to his boat at low tide, put his muddy boots in a locker, brew a nice cuppa tea, and wait until the tide came in. After a half day's sail, he would repeat the process in the reverse direction. Dinghys were regarded as unessential as long as you had an accurate tide table. In our local boating area with lesser tides, we regularly used to ground our boat on a sandy beach on a falling tide to scrape barnacles off. If your boat bottom configuration permits, this is an easy alternative to diving for cleanup. An essential precaution for intentional or unintentional grounding is to set a stern anchor in deeper water as soon as possible, carrying it out in a dinghy on a long line. This prevents wave and wind action from forcing you harder onto the shore or rocks and serves as a way to tug the boat free when damage is repaired. Other than that we simply carry a small waterproof tarp with lines attached to all corners, a block of soft toilet flange wax to plug the leak, and plugs for thru holes. Everything fits into a large shoebox. So far we havn't had to use it. Knock wood. Larry Z