Anchor deployed accidentally from powerboat at speed

[Likeapossum]

I would like to share an incident that happened to us and hopefully learn from it.

We chartered a 25' powerboat. We were at sea in a bay, semi-sheltered. The water wasn't flat, so we were hitting waves, but nothing mental. We were within the limits that the charter company set.

Suddenly I heard noise from the bow and immediately stopped the boat. It turned out the anchor deployed and the whole chain paid out. The anchor had been secured additionally with a carabiner on a piece of line and it was blown out during the incident. The chain was tightly wrapped around the hull going aft and I could see it passing next to the propeller. We appeared to be anchored, maybe dragging, drifting less than 0.5 knot in spite of wind and waves, but with our stern facing the anchor.

We called the charter company and they came to detach the chain from the windlass, free it from the propeller and we returned to the marina. It seemed the propeller was fine.

Now the charter company are claiming that any failure is our responsibility once we sign the checkout form. They sent me invoices for some minor work done that incidentally closely matches the 1000 euro deposit in value. I'm not sure I'm buying it. How am I supposed to inspect the windlass to such detail or judge whether a carabiner is strong enough? I think it's for them to assure the boat is fitted correctly and they cannot push it all on me after 5 minutes of overview?

Beyond the suspicion that the charter company is trying to stitch us up, I'd like to know how could I prevent something like that in the future? It seems pretty dangerous to me and we were lucky to walk away from it without any injury. Shall I bring a strong shackle with me next time? Have we actually messed up and should've done something differently?

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Threaten to sue them for supplying you with a dangerous boat! ... that'll slow 'em up! ... :encouragement:

 

[simonfraser]

Slight drift, is it normal practice to tie an anchor on and not rely on the windlass to keep it aboard ?

My anchor sits quite snug on the roller / support and wont go anywhere, unless the windlass lets go of course .....

 

[julians]

Slight drift, is it normal practice to tie an anchor on and not rely on the windlass to keep it aboard ?

My anchor sits quite snug on the roller / support and wont go anywhere, unless the windlass lets go of course .....

It is best practise to secure your anchor and not just rely on the winch to hold it inplace. But in practise its a bit of a pain in the backside and i never bother.

Re the original post it sounds as if the boat that was hired had a fault that couldnt be attributed to the person that hired it, id be arguing with the hure company for the return of my deposit, if it wasnt forthcoming id take them to the small claims court (assuming this is subject to uk law)

 

[petem]

Was the carabiner still attached to the chain? If so, surely it can't be your fault.

Did you pay by credit card? If so, I'd deny all responsibility and tell the charter company that you'll be disputing any charge that they try and take on your card.

 

[petem]

It is best practise to secure your anchor and not just rely on the winch to hold it inplace. But in practise its a bit of a pain in the backside and i never bother.

Surely it's a 10 second job to re-attach the carabiner? Or do you raise and lower the anchor from the helm and wish to avoid climbing through the windscreen to get to the foredeck?

 

[julians]

Surely it's a 10 second job to re-attach the carabiner? Or do you raise and lower the anchor from the helm and wish to avoid climbing through the windscreen to get to the foredeck?

I Do it all from the helm - im quite lazy....

 

[Likeapossum]

Thank you for all responses. The company are sticking to their guns. They are based in Mallorca, but apparently there is an European Small Claims procedure, so might try that.

I've found reviews of people complaining about their windlasses not being up to scratch. I should have looked at that earlier...

Have a look how effective a simple carabiner is covering for a failed windlass.

 

[Mike k]

Thank you for all responses. The company are sticking to their guns. They are based in Mallorca, but apparently there is an European Small Claims procedure, so might try that.

I've found reviews of people complaining about their windlasses not being up to scratch. I should have looked at that earlier...

Have a look how effective a simple carabiner is covering for a failed windlass.

I cant understand how it can be your fault if you didn't touch anything and the carabina failed and the windlass clutch didn't hold- maybe I am missing something

 

[petem]

I Do it all from the helm - im quite lazy....

Fair enough!

 

[Uricanejack]

Slight drift, is it normal practice to tie an anchor on and not rely on the windlass to keep it aboard ?

My anchor sits quite snug on the roller / support and wont go anywhere, unless the windlass lets go of course .....

Short answer. Yes.

Longer answer JIK. Belt and Braces. Unless you want the anchor to be ready for immediate use. approaching an anchorage or dock.
Normal recommended practice is for the windlass to be on the brake not in gear. So you can let it go if you have to without power. (Depends on type. On our old Silver. The winch was also used with a drum for lines)
Anchor separately secured on bow roller by pin or tied or for longer trips lifted inboard and secured on deck or in locker.

I have never had a boat with a remote control anchor windlass. But if I did I would probably secure it separately for passages and only leave it with the remote activation when getting it ready for use. JIK.

 

[Portofino]

Looking @ the spacing in the links of chain and the size of the crab , the crab does not fit through a hole .
What they have been doing ( incorrectly) is just placing the crab over Relying on its kinda wedging at the V - narrow end .
It’s sat sideways and the force has ruptured the clip -
If it was smaller and the hook if you like , hooked through a link it would not have failed .

Summary - wrong and incorrect part to secure .

 

[Likeapossum]

We did anchor before that without any drama. The only thing I noticed was the windlass needed some help retrieving the anchor when it wasn't embedded, just hanging a few meters down in the water. But we didn't trip the fuse or anything like that. Perhaps the windlass isn't powerful enough for the weight of the anchor? We left the anchor pulled in, but not over tightening the chain and I put the carabiner on to secure the anchor.

 

[Mike k]

We did anchor before that without any drama. The only thing I noticed was the windlass needed some help retrieving the anchor when it wasn't embedded, just hanging a few meters down in the water. But we didn't trip the fuse or anything like that. Perhaps the windlass isn't powerful enough for the weight of the anchor? We left the anchor pulled in, but not over tightening the chain and I put the carabiner on to secure the anchor.

How did you fix the carabina-Portofino seems to have got this one spot on to me.As for needing to help the windlass that shouldn't be needed.I would be checking the battery- when my windlass battery died it just ran real slow .

 

[Likeapossum]

How did you fix the carabina-Portofino seems to have got this one spot on to me.As for needing to help the windlass that shouldn't be needed.I would be checking the battery- when my windlass battery died it just ran real slow .

I don't have a photograph of that, but the carabiner was attached to the anchor itself, not the chain.

 

[PalmaTarga]

That chain looks seriously twisted and probably why it wouldn't engage with the windlass correctly. I doubt that bit helps regarding the claim.

You say there are other reviews highligting windlass issues. First contact the credit card co. If you can back this up with it being an occuring claim from their side i doubt they would have an issue blocking it. That gives you time to sort it out properly.

 

[julians]

Hmm that chain is really twisted and might explain why it didnt 'lock' onto the winch and dropped into the sea while you were underway.

Was it twisted like that before the anchor fell into the sea or is it twisted like that from recovering the anchor after it had fallen in.

Aside from all that what damage was done by the anchor dropping into the sea? Any damage to hull or out drive/sterngear? Just wondering where they get their 1000 euros worth of damage from?

Also which charter co is this? Im in mallorca right now and would be interested to hear who it is.

 

[Likeapossum]

What you see is the very end of the chain right after the incident. We never got that far when anchoring beforehand and the chain I saw then was normal.

 

[Portofino]

I don't have a photograph of that, but the carabiner was attached to the anchor itself, not the chain.

Can,t see how a crab can fail if used correctly.
Without a pic of it in its “ normal “ place ,or evidence of correct useage - any legal route and you are knackered.
Hire Co is right - it was not properly fixed .
You now say that you fixed it .
But in the opening post infer you kinda set off “ as is “ eg the hire Co or somebody else should have checked it and it fell out without any intervention from you .
But you now say ( if I understand the drip fed facts ? ) that you used it previously to this incident.

 

[Likeapossum]

I didn’t want to mention the name of the company, but they are really playing dumb now. It’s Best Boats based in Port Adriano.

According to the invoices I can make out there is a charge for taking the boat and launching it. Also service to the “drive”: removing it, opening it, “fix fin”, and placing it back. Most cost is labour. It seems about 10 hours.