2nd anchor, do you carry one?

[Spyro]

How many carry a second anchor? I don't mean a small one for the dinghy.
I've been carrying round a large fishermans anchor and about 10m of chain as a spare since I got the boat. I never had one on my old boat and have never needed to use one. I could do with more space in the locker and I'm now thinking about leaving it at home.
Would this be unwise?
I suppose in the unlikely event that I lose one anchor I would then be sailing around without an important bit of safety kit. What are the chances of loosing one anchor and then needing to deploy another in an emergency?

Since starting this thread I've now almost talked myself into keeping it onboard

 

[Sandyman]

The day may come when you need it & you aint got it !!!! Keep talking

 

[RobBrown]

Kedge

Apart from anything else, what would you use if you needed/wanted to kedge off- bower anchor often not suitable or covenient for such use and certainly in addition a fag to deploy even if it were.

 

[Blue5]

We had a second anchor until some b*****d nicked the main anchor so a 2nd anchor proved useful.........

 

[TiggerToo]

How many carry a second anchor?

and a third

 

[Gordonmc]

Iain,
I always had two on the previous boat: a CQR bower on all-chain, plus a fisherman's. The CQR was a general purpose which was fine for most of the anchoring we do but hopeless in kelp, as I found out off Millport when I had engine problems.
Now I have a big lump of a Bruce on the roller and the anchor which came with the boat, a Danforth which doesn't take too much space and can be lashed upright against a stanchion.
If push comes to shove I can use it as a kedge, impossible with the Bruce, or as a chum on the bower.
The boat has twin bow rollers and chain lockers.

 

[Appledore]

Yes, I have a second one, under the cockpit floor (lifts up!). Tied on and ready to go if necessary.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Two on the boat, two in the garden shed. Well, it might rain heavily.

 

[guernseyman]

I suppose in the unlikely event that I lose one anchor I would then be sailing around without an important bit of safety kit. What are the chances of loosing one anchor and then needing to deploy another in an emergency?

If you lose an anchor it seems pretty certain that you have been anchoring and, if you were anchoring because of some problem or emergency, it is likely that will want to re-anchor. Hence the need for a second anchor.

 

[cmedsailor]

How many carry a second anchor?

I do. With 10 meters of 8mm chain and 30 meters of rope (all kept in a lazarette).
I believe it's one of the simplest but most important safety features in a boat.

 

[aquaplane]

I only carry one on Windermere but there was a Danforth kedge in the locker with 10m 8mm chain on it that will be going back on the boat when she gets a salty bottom.

 

[Tidewaiter2]

and 30m approx of 10mm too

and a third

+1
Bower; 15kg?Bruce + 10mmx35m,Delta 12kg under saloon sole, +10mmx30m under saloon table- had it regalv'ed and cannot decide where to stow it + Brittany 10kg +8x10m+ 30m 10mm warp in locker.

Can anyone suggest why I cannot sail at 4kts in light airs?????

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I see your point. I have sailed coastal waters full time for the best part of 10 years and the kedge was used a few times but not that much. Notable events: Hauling the yacht of the pier at Ullapool in a strong on pier wind, laying out a kedge to seaward when deliberately beaching the yacht, slowing the yacht sailing into a lee shore harbour with no engine, running mooring a few times and fore and aft anchoring a few times. Now, the point of this description is I can more or less remember the times in the best part of 10 years that I have used the kedge. Most of the time we anchored and just used the bower, even in heavy winds.

Based on probabilities and likely sailing area, say Firth of Clyde, familiar waters, regular sailing in the season at weekends, the need for space, I reckon, you could leave it off with confidence. However, I would put it back on for longer trips away from familiar waters.

Make sure stuff like your bitter end is secure, shackles and swivels are appropriately secured to the chain / anchor / warp on your main bower and don't take risks with suspect weather forecasts i.e. reduce the risk of requiring to use the kedge.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

We always carry two.

33kg Rocna with 100m of 10mm chain.
Fortress FX23 with 10m of 10mm chain and 45m of 16mm anchorplait.

 

[NealB]

Yes...on the Comanche, we've got: Delta, CQR and Fortess. All on chain then warp.

Never used all three at once.

 

[guernseyman]

By the way, the last time my boat was surveyed, the report ticked me off for keeping the kedge anchor and its chain in separate lockers. It commented that it should be ready for immediate use.

 

[jordanbasset]

AAs a second anchor we have a danforth with 10 metres of chain 60m of rope and also a CQR I can´t bring myself to throw away. Have not used either as a second anchor yet!

 

[Burnham Bob]

yes i have a second anchor. never needed it yet. but of course, i might........same as i might need the expensive flares, the costly plb and the liferaft that cost me an arm and a leg. i just hope i don't but it saves me worrying!

 

[rickym]

and a third

+1

 

[rickym]

Can anyone suggest why I cannot sail at 4kts in light airs?????

Sail trim???