anchor for river use

[DryDock]

Hi can anyone advise a type of an anchor suitable to use on rivers like the Thames non tidal I have an 18ft motor boat.
It would need to be stored on a small boat so size or folding might be important.
Also can you use rope or is chain needed? Also how long I would need?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[oldgit]

Any help would be greatly appreciated
Welcome to the forum.
Would post this on Thames forum,loads of river based forumites over there.Some of whom may actually have used that mysterious lump on iron on the front.
As the bed is rocky would suggest that a length of nice heavy chain to keep the anchor down would be essential on the end of your rope.
Recently had to anchor in a location where my local river goes across ragstone and even 2 mph flow dislodged anchor until fair length of chain held fast.

 

[DryDock]

Ok posted to the thames forum cheers for your help

 

[sarabande]

handy to have a rond ( a big spike ) and a mallet for attaching boat to the bank, otherwise a standard CQR or Danforth or similar, with say 5m of 6 or 8mm chain to a long nylon 3 strand or multiplait rope.

Lots of anchors on ebay. You probably need one about 6 kg. Look out there are lots of cheap fakes around.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=...sed&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

and

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=...sed&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

Don't buy a folding or grapnel type.

 

[DryDock]

Thanks for those links will have a look at those brands

cheers

 

[rafiki_]

Most river boats use a mud anchor. Something about 10 lb weigth on rope.

 

[hlb]

Most river boats use a mud anchor. Something about 10 lb weigth on rope.

Rubbish. About 56 lb on a rope.

 

[hlb]

Umm, did not read right and could not delete. 10 lb does sound a bit low though.

 

[Renegade_Master]

The OP mentions non tidal Thames. Would one not use yer metal stakes to moor to the bank?

I never had occasion to use an anchor on non tidal thames, though the Broom was naturally fitted with one

 

[Captain Coochie]

An anchor is still needed even on the non tidal rivers . A plastic bag around your prop leaves your boat useless , not good when you have a pleasure boat steaming towards you and the Captain is more interested in looking at the totty than where he is going Not that i blame him

 

[DryDock]

Yes it’s about safety I read the British Waterway guide and it says an anchor is essential kit to carry on the river.

 

[moonraker 36]

get a good size mud weight.15-20lb should be ok for an 18footer.
once had to use a mud weight on the tidel part of the river trent on a 24ft boat did'nt move an inch with 4knts plus running tide..they can take alot of pulling back up..
i use mud weight's to keep my boat away from the canal side on my mooring so i dont have to hang fenders of the boat(hang them on the canal side instead)so i dont get fender marks on the hull.

 

[CX54WEK]

get a good size mud weight.15-20lb should be ok for an 18footer.
once had to use a mud weight on the tidel part of the river trent on a 24ft boat did'nt move an inch with 4knts plus running tide..they can take alot of pulling back up..
i use mud weight's to keep my boat away from the canal side on my mooring so i dont have to hang fenders of the boat(hang them on the canal side instead)so i dont get fender marks on the hull.

Presumably you have some fenders for whilst out cruising though or do you never moor up anywhere other than your home mooring?

Back on topic we have a 10kg delta anchor with 90ft of chain on our 25ft boat. Seems to hold well enough against a decent tide.

 

[DryDock]

I was curios do you make these mud weights yourself or is something you buy?
Sounds like something you could make or improvise...

Anyone got a picture or link to one of these?

Cheers

 

[tinkicker0]

I was curios do you make these mud weights yourself or is something you buy?
Sounds like something you could make or improvise...

Anyone got a picture or link to one of these?

Cheers

Stick a bit of chain in an old bucket and fill it with concrete.........

 

[DryDock]

Thats a great idea and something i can easily do!
Will make one this week

Cheers

 

[hlb]

 

[rafiki_]

Haydn,

I'm not sure I could haul up a 56lb weight. Used to use 10-14lb on the Norfolk Broads and rivers. They feel even heavier when covered in mud!!

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Sources of hefty weights can include an old worn out rail chair, a local preseved line may let you have one for a few pounds in the box, or a short section of rail (get one drilled for fishplates)

Local scrapyard may be able to help. The bucket may be too heavy, alternatively cut an old fender in half and use that. Personally if there is much flow in the water I'd still be happier with some sort of hook, even if that bit's not meant to do much of the work.

 

[moonraker 36]

Presumably you have some fenders for whilst out cruising though or do you never moor up anywhere other than your home mooring?

Back on topic we have a 10kg delta anchor with 90ft of chain on our 25ft boat. Seems to hold well enough against a decent tide.

take the fenders with us when crusing(use fender baskets) but only use them on the canal system either in lock's or when mooring up.dont hang them on the boat when traveling have, quick release clips on the fender lines.

back to mud weights...mine are home made from the small cast iron wheel's from the mining industry..but i leave them permantly by my mooring with line and float already attached..plus i hav'nt been able to retreive them, proper stuck in the mud.. tried whith the rib and 10hp outboard and it would'nt budge.