Anchor for river use

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DryDock

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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
 
Depends on river bottom, current, depth, how strong you are at pulling it back up.

My 20ft sportsboat has a 7kg danforth, 10m of 8mm chain and another 20 metres of 3 plait anchor line.

The river bottom is mainly mud and sunken tree branches.


Your best bet is to ask what others are using in your area.


I also have a 3kg grapnel, 5m of 6mm chain and 20m of 3 plait line to throw off the stern to combat the wind blowing the boat upstream or out into the main channel.

Never used it yet, so can't comment on its efficacy.
 
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Further to this (and I admit to not looking around to see if the answer is formally published), what constitutes "mooring".

In places where it says "Private Mooring" what is there to stop you anchoring instead? I assume that there is nothing to stop you as mooring in river terms seems to mean attaching yourself in some fashion to the bank?

Obviously you would take in to consideration safety as there may be a good reason why you shouldn't stop in that particular location (river flow, traffic flow, weir etc.)

Martin
 
mlines said:
Further to this (and I admit to not looking around to see if the answer is formally published), what constitutes "mooring".

In places where it says "Private Mooring" what is there to stop you anchoring instead? I assume that there is nothing to stop you as mooring in river terms seems to mean attaching yourself in some fashion to the bank?

Obviously you would take in to consideration safety as there may be a good reason why you shouldn't stop in that particular location (river flow, traffic flow, weir etc.)

Martin
Click to expand...

Unless it specifically says NO ANCHORING, you can pretty much anchor where you want, as long, as you say, you stay out of the channel, with safety in mind and display the regulation dayshapes / lights.
 
Two anchors is a good idea if you want to do a spot of fishing etc . The wind can spin you around a bit especially if you have the canopy up and half open .
I keep mine ready to drop at all times on the pullpit rail as ive been caught out a couple of times with plastic bags around the prop .
 
Agreed on 2 anchors. I have a whacking great CQR (plough) up the sharp end and a grapnel available for the other end. Anchours in the river ought to be marked with some form of buoy, I've used a fender the couple of times I have anchored.
 
tinkicker0 said:
Unless it specifically says NO ANCHORING, you can pretty much anchor where you want, as long, as you say, you stay out of the channel, with safety in mind and display the regulation dayshapes / lights.
Click to expand...

Can you explain what regulation dayshapes / lights are?
I have red, green and white navigation lights.

cheers
 
At night you have to display an allround white light (anchor light), during the day you have to display a black ball. If your boat is less than 7 metres, technically you do not have to display these.

This said, your insurance company if you got clouted and sank, would argue that you were in a constricted channel being on the river and refuse to pay out. Dunno if they would bring the CEVNI regs into it, being on English waters, but I suspect they could.

I often moor up on riverside moorings just outside the marina. This is on the outside of a bend in the river which can be busy after dark.
I personally display my light after dark even though moored for the guidance of other nocturnal river users, but then I'm a pedantic sod.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_shapes

http://www.cevni.info/cevni regs.pdf
 
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Voice of (almost) experience here.

Check how much lekky your anchor light will eat, and the ability of the batteries to supply same safely. A dmmer light is not a clever option, you do want to be seen after all. If I used more expensive than a tenner for four bn them when they die solar lights one of those might be a viable alternative.
 
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