Going aground

This is another way of saying “getting stuck in shallow water.”

Don’t try to force your way over the obstacle or you’ll find yourself even more stuck. Instead, use reverse gear to back away into deeper water.

If you’re firmly stuck, ask some or all of the crew to move to the side of the boat that’s in deeper water and rock very gently.

You can also use the pole to push off against a solid object or the bed of the waterway.