Anchor advice for solent.

[Jenko]

Hi All,

I've just purchased a 5.8 meter pilot house type boat with a 75hp engine. It will be used mostly around the solent, with the intention of doing some fishing in the channel. My question is, what sort of anchor is best, how heavy, how much chain and rope would I need. the boat all up would weigh about 1000kg.

Advice much appreciated.

Paul.


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[Guest]

Bog standard types work ...... CQR, Danforth etc. The bottom is generally sandy, getting to mud as you enter the creeks etc.

Having anchored in drying areas - you see that most are using 25lb+ CQR's etc.

Whatever boat you have - always go for the biggest you can handle and stow. Don't go for a piddly little hook like some do. You'll be glad of it when the wind starts to blow!

General anchoring for fishing etc. where you want to be easily deployed and easy to pick up ..... could be (these are suggestions ....) 5mtr of suitable chain .... 3/8, with about 30mtr of good non-floating rope .... 12mm min.
For secure and longer term anchoring I really believe in all chain and for eg - my boat for Solent has approx. 50mtrs of 3/8 chain.

Boat size is not really the decider - its depth and prevailing weather ..... a motor boat with a lot of windage and no 'bite' in the water can exert more snatch and shock on an anchor set-up than a deeper sail-boat ... etc.

Check around other boats and go for the heavier / better set-up if you can. Light-weight is a risk that you can only live with till it goes wrong !!!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I came - cos they said was FREE Guinness !
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[duncan]

If you are fishing 'the channel' I suspect you are referring to the cod areas just South of the Needles and the banks up to 6 miles South.
Water depths are easily 100ft fairly close in and tides are going to run up to 2.5knots before you have to give up fishing. This will determine your requirements as much as anything because if the weather blows up you will look for shelter rather than hoping the annchor holds!
I would suggest a 5 kg Bruce or Oceane (or delta if you can afford it!) attached to 10m 8mm chain and 150m 12/14mm anchorplait. These achors bite quickly and break out reasonably easily when you need them too as well. The CQR holds well but has less bite at the lower weights and wouldn't be my choice for this sort of use. The rope is larger diameter than you need for strength but will be easier to handle - hauling up 400ft of 10mm 3 stand by hand is no fun at all - even with only 20kg at the other end. If you really feel a 7.5kg is needed then feel free but it shouldn't be necessary if the scope is right and the anchor is set properly.
Finally I would use a large snap shackle to run the anchor line from the roller to the 'towing U' on the bow as this will let the boat sit more comfortably and reduce pitching whilst you are fishing.
Worth looking at the gear the other boats are using of course - the above was the rig on my 6.5m / 1200kg fisher and I now use a 10kg bruce on my 7.8m / 2.8 ton craft but have the luxury of an electric windlass etc!
Give us a wave if you are out there over November/December

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[gibbo26]

Go for a Bruce, good grip, no moving parts to nip your fingers or to get fouled on its own chain, will grip well when it swings, go for a genuine bruce NOT a copy.
I have used a 5kg Bruce on a 25.5 foot sailing boat (smaller than recommended) for several years in the solent and it has not let me down at all!

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[duncan]

Oh and all 4 Bruce's I have used have been copies........... ie M's Claw's etc/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[hylas]

One very interesting test has been published last summer 2002 by PBO (july and august) Neither the CQR, the fluke anchors (Britany and Danforth) nor the Bruce type had good results..

Everything is improving.. anchors too... May I suggest that you have a look at the new technologies??

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[duncan]

I tried!..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif
However at the end of the day, for this particular use, I believe that a 7.5kg claw will set him back well under half a 4 kg Oceane (and forget the Delta etc) - it will do the job and be easily handleable and insignificant weight wise on the boat because it will be stowed in a large bucket in the cockpit with the warp etc on a boat like that. The money would be better spent on a 200m drum of 14mm anchor plait to ensure a good scope even in 120-140ft of water and minimise the inherent weakness of the bruce design - avoiding any upward pull on the stock.


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