# Ouch ! What hitting a rock at 5 knots looks like **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [October 23, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626 "2026-10-23T20:22:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/rob/32/11_2.png) [@Rob](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Rob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626/1 "2026-10-23T20:22:01Z")
I hit a rock last Sunday on the way for our winter haul out. My mistake, cut the corner too close at Peck Light. Lesson learned, and happy the damage is easily repaired. I was expecting much worse. Nonsuch boats are tough ! On the bright side, the impact revealed that our hot water tank was mounted on a piece of rotted plywood… so I can replace the wood over the winter. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/a/a9b04eb2c7e23e4f3a21c5c2506657067dc6b099.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/8/81d82f8e10b3a6c466ff6a4daf4cf09f5db5a549.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/5/56c0e31459534aec59fc4bdeaaa17712653e94c0.jpeg) Bottom looks good. My keel joint repair from two years ago is still looking great. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/9/91bf52d155319d7cd94ac78c30c7fc3335c622e3.jpeg) Sail on, Rob… ---
**Author:** ![briancayer](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/briancayer/32/46_2.png) [@briancayer](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/briancayer)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 9:20pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626/2 "2026-10-23T21:20:00Z")
I’m gonna start calling you lucky Rob. Looks like a direct hit. ---
**Author:** ![Breezin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/breezin/32/861_2.png) [@Breezin](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Breezin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626/3 "2026-10-23T21:51:22Z")
You need to take a close look at the hull area just above the keel stub for spider cracks and fractures in the fiberglass. Both the forward and aft ends above the stub. This is usually where the most damage is done because the stub is pulled down at the leading edge, and compressed at the trailing edge, on impact. While the keel itself may only have some minor cosmetic damage. Also look at same areas in the bilge. This of course all depends on how fast you were going when you hit the rock. ---
**Author:** ![Rob](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/rob/32/11_2.png) [@Rob](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Rob)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626/4 "2026-10-23T22:24:35Z")
Hi Don, You mean where the stub meets the hull… correct ? Since this would be visible from both inside and outside. Probably where the glass starts to get thinner? So far I haven’t found any damage to the hull or stub. Will continue looking. Speed was 5 knots. Thanks, Rob ---
**Author:** ![Breezin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/nonsuch.discourse.group/breezin/32/861_2.png) [@Breezin](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/Breezin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 5:05am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/ouch-what-hitting-a-rock-at-5-knots-looks-like/10626/5 "2026-10-24T05:05:56Z")
Rob, Yes, see red circled areas in attached photo. If you were going 5 knots and hit a rock, did you come to a sudden dead stop? Anyone standing up would likely have fallen over. If so, I’d be surprised that there wasn’t more damage than a nick in the lower keel. However if it was just a glancing blow without the boat stopping, you might have gotten off lucky. Don ![markup_1000005619](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/e/e9f5e6ba3ae81f59a0a946e23a51b3304ba5c021.jpeg)