Switched my mind about running deeper cuts after a close call in Galveston

I used to always run my cutterhead at max speed thinking faster meant more material moved. Last month on a sandy channel job near Galveston, I hit a buried cable that wrapped around the cutter before I even knew it was there. The whole rig started shaking and we had to shut down for 3 hours to clear the line. That moment convinced me to slow down and run shallow passes first to feel for obstructions. Has anyone else had a similar experience with hidden debris?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery_flores171mo ago

My buddy had a cable snag his dredge in Mobile Bay and it cost him a whole DAY.

murphy.mason1mo ago

Did you find the cable was marked on any charts ahead of time, or was it a total surprise? I had a wrecked fishing boat pop up in my cutter one time and it felt like hitting concrete.

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piper_kim1mo ago

Yeah, hitting a submerged cable sounds way worse than concrete, I bet that wrecked boat felt solid.