Said of a vessel that grounds or is left high on a falling spring tide and then cannot float off because each following high water is lower as the tides head toward neaps. The vessel may sit for a week or more until ranges build again. Shipyards and harbour masters plan launches and haul-outs to avoid it, and salvors count on the next springs when they cannot pull a boat off at once.
Get her off tonight or she's neaped till the next springs, that's ten days on the sand.
Also heard as
- beneaped
Related terms
Neap tide
A tide of smaller than average range, occurring near first and last quarter moon when Sun and Moon pull at right angles.
Spring tide
A tide of larger than average range, occurring around new and full moon when Sun and Moon pull in line.
Making
Said of a tide that is rising, or of the fortnightly cycle building from neaps toward springs.
Dry out
To let a boat settle deliberately on the bottom as the tide falls, against a wall, on legs or on twin keels.