There is no better way to relax than to spend some time boating on a lake or river. The experience can be even more relaxing if you have access to a private stretch of water. If you have recently purchased land which contains a water feature such as a section of river or a lake, you may be planning to install a jetty so you can launch and moor your boats. However, it is important that your jetty is placed in the right location. Below is a guide to 2 things you should consider when planning the location of your jetty.
The depth of the water
The depth of the water in a lake or river may vary considerably between different points. Before you construct your jetty, you should sound out the depth of the water in various locations. You can do this by taking out a length of weighted rope. The rope should be marked at intervals like a measuring stick. Once your boat is over the area of water you which to sound, you should prepare to drop the weighted end of the rope into the water by either attaching it to a bully system or having a couple of people hold onto the slack end. Doing so will prevent the rope from sinking too quickly which may mean you cannot count the number of markers which are submerged. Once it is dropped into the water, the weight will cause the end of the rope to sink to the bottom of the lake or river. As it does so, you need to count the number of marked intervals so you can estimate the depth. If you fail to do this, you may find that you cannot moor your boat at your jetty because it runs aground.
The strength of the current
Once you have found a section of water which is deep enough for your jetty, you should consider the water current. To establish the strength of the current, you should take your boat out to the proposed location of the jetty and then switch off her engine or drop her sail. You should then closely monitor the speed at which you begin to drift and the direction your craft takes. Ideally, a jetty should be constructed in a location with gentle currents. If you moor a boat at a jetty which is subject to strong currents, this increases the chance that the anchor or mooring lines will break free and that your boat will drift away.
To find out more, contact a jetty supply company today.
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