Anchor security (not what you think!)

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bluedragon

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About to buy another boat, and first on the list will be a good anchor to replace the probably useless bad copy of a CQR copy! I'll likely go a for Rocna or similar. I've heard stories of expensive anchors being stolen off boats in marinas. I suppose they're kind of obvious sitting up there in front overhanging the walkway. Does this really happen? Security ideas anyone? Worth taking it off and putting in the locker before going home....or is this just paranoia :eek:? I'd be interested in people's thoughts and experiences.
 
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We've thought about things like shackles/swivels with security (torx head) bolt heads before, but really the only practical thing is the obvious - padlock it to something impossible / really hard to remove. A bit of wire through a shank attachment point and around the roller, in the absence of any obvious alternatives, would make it tricky for any prospective thief. If you can't, take it off and stick it in a locked locker. Maybe mark the anchor somewhere not obvious with something unique and identifiable, so you can take a surreptious look at that boat that suddenly got a new Rocna when they were so enthusiastic about Spade before... :)
 
The problem is that if you have one of these expensive anchors and padlock it to the boat the thief might chop out whatever it is padlocked to.

How about painting your boat's name on the anchor, and stamping it as well; with a painted arrow pointing to where the name is stamped? Bit unsightly but if a thief sees that he might be deterred, especially if there are easier pickings around.
 
You shouldnt park it so the anchor overhangs the pontoon anyway. :) But when I left mine in Salcombe I simply used a shorty length of chain and a padlock to secure the Rocna to the pullpit. The Rocna has after all got a great big hoop which is ideal for this.

On the home berth I never bother but you can't trust these southerners.
 
Bosun Higgs said:
You shouldnt park it so the anchor overhangs the pontoon anyway. :) But when I left mine in Salcombe I simply used a shorty length of chain and a padlock to secure the Rocna to the pullpit. The Rocna has after all got a great big hoop which is ideal for this.

On the home berth I never bother but you can't trust these southerners.
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ah - that's what that hoop is for............. :)
 
Bosun Higgs said:
You shouldnt park it so the anchor overhangs the pontoon anyway. :) But when I left mine in Salcombe I simply used a shorty length of chain and a padlock to secure the Rocna to the pullpit. The Rocna has after all got a great big hoop which is ideal for this.

On the home berth I never bother but you can't trust these southerners.
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Very true on all counts Mr.Higgs!!
PS - nice to know there are other paranoiacs on this forum :D
 
I think anchors are neater stowed inboard anyway.

(But then I would say that, with a bowsprit taking up the stemhead and an anchor I can lift with one hand :-) )

Pete
 
Anchor Security

I am really against having to put away a lot of stuff at the end of a sail. This depends on how often you sail and for how long. So that is an individual choice.
I think I would avoid padlocks etc. I would more be looking for shackles that can't be undone. ie simply cut off the part of the shackle pin that you put a spanner on to remove the pin. Rust would also help here a lot.
The shackle will have to be undone as you couldn't steal the chain as well. Could you?
For safety an anchor should always be easily deployed for emergencies. ie engine stops at a critical harbour entrance. olewill
 
Considering the anchor shackle should be wirelocked secure ( for anchoring ! ) and one should ALWAYS have the anchor ready to drop at a moments' notice, I can't see stowing it in a locker working.

The chain or wire strop with a padlock seems best, but must be on one's personal checklist, written or mental ( written is safer and works for everyone on board ) to remove the lock before leaving the pontoon / mooring whatever.
 
Yes, might be the way to go. On my last boat I used shackles with hex-key pins anyway, with thread locker, and they'd be a lot more difficult to remove. What I need to check if whether say a Rocna would fit into the the anchor locker, and make sure that is lockable.
 
parsifal said:
I've never heard of most of the things people worry about on this forum really happening! :D
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Very true! If only a fraction of the dire warnings on this forum were true, no AWB would ever have successfully crossed the Atlantic, every boat with a CQR would have dragged onto the rocks decades ago, all Bavarias would now be planing powerboats...and we'd all be beating off lee shores in F10 every summer in our Co32s...but it doesn't stop the PARANOIA however hard we try!!:eek::eek:

Of course I've just added to it worrying that my new shiny Rocna (which I don't even have yet) will be the envy of all and only last a few days before somebody nicks it!

'Scuse me all...gotta go...appointment with the therapist.
 
parsifal said:
I've never heard of most of the things people worry about on this forum really happening! :D
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Hi Parsifal,

What type and weight anchor do you have? ....(from what you say I assume you don't have a modern anchor.)
Do you anchor reasonably often?
Do you have a 'rule of thumb' depth to chain length etc.. that you start with/work from?
What difficult conditions have you found yourself anchoring in lately and with what %age success has the anchor held first time in the varying conditions and how often has it dragged in different conditions?

thanks
S.
 
Scotty_Twister said:
Hi Parsifal,

What type and weight anchor do you have? ....(from what you say I assume you don't have a modern anchor.)
Do you anchor reasonably often?
Do you have a 'rule of thumb' depth to chain length etc.. that you start with/work from?
What difficult conditions have you found yourself anchoring in lately and with what %age success has the anchor held first time in the varying conditions and how often has it dragged in different conditions?

thanks
S.
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  • 'Genuine CQR' - 35lb on a 28 foot deep draught, long keeler
  • Yes - more so since retired and watching the pennies
  • Minimum 4:1 (chain) unless in a very sheltered place and constrained by the proximity of other boats, e.g Newtown Creek. I believe in a big anchor and a long chain.
  • The 35lb CQR has never dragged but its predecessor, a 25lb CQR, dragged once with two rafted up 28-footers on it during a lunch stop with 3:1 of chain out.
    The worst conditions I have anchored in with the 35lb CQR were in Studland Bay in F8. I had about 60 metres of chain out.
I appreciate that others have misgivings about CQRs but I am perfectly happy with mine and I feel safe using it - if I didn't I would not have the slightest hesitation in scrapping it. (I assure you I have no feelings of loyalty to a lump of steel!).

I'm just an average cruising yachtsman - weekending plus one 5-8 week cruise to Brittany each year. If I made a habit of anchoring in extreme conditions in some hostile part of the world I might look into getting the latest development in anchors but meanwhile the CQR does the job well enough.
 
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