We ran aground this morning for the fourth time this summer. All four were cases that could have and should have been avoided -- in other words, operator error. Two of the groundings were clearly my fault, two were my wife's.

I worry that at age 67 and after 7.5 years of continuous cruising we are so used to the boat that we have lost the fear that makes us cautious. Call it lack of caution or complacency -- it's all the same thing.

This morning's incident is particularly worrisome. A few weeks ago, coming up Otter creek, the depth alarm started buzzing. Our W32 draws 5+ feet, and the alarm was set for 7 feet. The response to the buzzing should be to immediately slow down to dead slow speed. My wife was at the helm and I was below. I heard no change in engine speed, so I yelled NEUTRAL. I waited, still no response, so I yelled louder SLOW DOWN. To be heard over the engine noise we need to yell. It does not signal anger. More to the point, we both know very well that the response to the alarm buzzing is to slow down immediately, there should have been no need to say anything at all. By the way, the minimum depth of that shallow spot turned out to be 6.8 feet, 1.8 feet to spare.

Today, as we approached the same spot, I was below and my wife was at the helm. She anticipated the shallow spot, but she didn't slow down. Instead she moved from the middle of the channel to the left side, hoping to avoid any buzzing of the alarm. CRASH -- we hit rocks and stopped abruptly heeling over 45 degrees.

It took me only 30 minutes to refloat the boat by tying a line to a tree and using the manual windlass. There was no significant damage. Now I wonder if our rugged boat and expertise in getting out of trouble perhaps contributes to complacency.

In retrospect I'm horrified that my wife was more worried about the alarm buzzing, than actually running aground. She chose to avoid the 6.8 foot deep place in favor of another course with unknown depth and she did it at full speed.

I don't want to put the blame on my wife. I was in control for half the groundings and I'm in charge of training and operational procedures and the overall attitude about safety on board. The problem now is that I'm at a bit of a loss for what to do about it. I don't want to become Captain Queeg. That would backfire, as this morning's incident illustrates. Still, I clearly need to change something.

I invite advice from WOA members. How do I reinstate and maintain caution and discipline?

I agree. I would sit down and have a heart to heart, basicly saying what you just typed. Heck it's a problem you both need to address and discuss. No need for anger or hurt feeling. This is a matter of safety. Communication is the key to a lot of things.

Like I said I think you wrote it down great and explained you are both to blame so sit "you both down" and have a review of operating standards. If you want to keep this lifestyle you both have to be alert and make decisions. Maybe set the alarm for 9 feet when it goes off the speed is reduced to say half speed.

But to be honest I think you already know what to do and you will do it well.

Just my two cents. I hope I didn't offend you, as I want to be doing what you are doing sailing as a lifestyle!

James

Instead of a sounder that just indicates the depth under the sounder, get a fishfinder type unit, as it shows the contour of the bottom so you can see if you are going out of the channel.  Just ignore the fish hits.