Anchor Scope - Newbie Question

[vyv_cox]

I got my answer in the first couple of replies Thanks to everyone who has replied, its been an interesting debate. (but note to self, no more new threads about Anchors)

But, as you say, this one has been interesting without becoming hysterical. It's a topic in which many people take a keen interest and carry out their own research, studies and calculations, so I'm sure we have all learned something. Thanks to all participants.

 

[KellysEye]

>Take some of you chain off your yacht. A 30m length is manageable. Drop it as a big heap on the ground under the highest window in your house, drop a rope out of the window - you sit on the window sill with the rope. 2 storey house should be about 4m. Have your wife walk about 20m away from the wall (with the window in it). You lift the chain up with the rope, have you wife stand on the other end of the chain at 20m. Wonder why the chain slips? Take a video and post it.

I can't work out if that is meant to funny or ridiculous.

 

[oldbilbo]

>Take some of you chain off your yacht. A 30m length is manageable. Drop it as a big heap on the ground..... have your wife stand on the other end of the chain at 20m..... I can't work out if that is meant to funny or ridiculous.

You've been here long enough now to recognise the warped sense of humour that prevails on 'ere....

 

[Sybarite]

Here's some anchor philosophy from the "Attainable Adventure Cruising" site(FWIW) :

Lessons Learned:

1.Don’t accept that this is as good as it gets.
In offshore sailing we often go along for years with poor gear without ever questioning the prevailing wisdom that this is as good as it gets. Does anyone else remember that incredibly dangerous machine, the halyard reel winch? For years after the drum winch became readily available, we were told that we had to put up with this wrist breaking monster on the main halyard because it was unseamanlike to use rope halyards or have a rope to wire splice take the load when reefed. It’s hard to believe now.

2.Be open to new technology.
We still see the majority of cruisers out there with old style anchors when there are several much better modern designs available. The SPADE is only one option; we have heard good things about the Rocna and several other new designs.

3.Up-size your anchor—a lot.
We are convinced that the increase in anchor holding as size increases is far more than linear. We also think that once you get over 45kg (100lb) you enter a new world of holding and setting capability. I can hear many of you now, “I’m not putting all that weight on the bow!” But have you thought of going to high tensile chain—G4 or even G7—which will allow you to reduce at least one size on the chain and more than make up for the weight of a bigger anchor? This has been Steve Dashew’s approach for years.

4.Don’t be fooled by the tests.
The CQR and other old design anchors often do relatively well in them, but we, and many other experienced cruisers, have not had those results in the real world.

5.Don’t let inconvenience stop you from doing the right thing.
Don’t let the hassles of modifying your boat’s bow roller to fit a new style anchor stop you from getting one. It will be worth the expense and aggravation, believe me.

 

[Neeves]

Sybarite,

Its interesting and ought raise some interesting posts:

But the idea of ditching ones current rode (replacing with a smaller link sized, G7) ditching ones current anchor (buying a Spade or Rocna? several sizes bigger) and modifying the bow roller seems to suggest quite a large wallet?

Jonathan

 

[Sybarite]

Sybarite,

Its interesting and ought raise some interesting posts:

But the idea of ditching ones current rode (replacing with a smaller link sized, G7) ditching ones current anchor (buying a Spade or Rocna? several sizes bigger) and modifying the bow roller seems to suggest quite a large wallet?

Jonathan

Perhaps. But if you have an unwavering confidence in your anchoring arrangements, you can avoid marinas and the set-up will soon pay for itself.