Anchoring problems

[philip17]

I am looking for some suggestions in solving a recent anchoring problem. I have a Sadler 26 with a 25lb CQR main anchor,10m chain and 50m anchorplait. Having recently anchored in 5.6m at hw neaps with chain+15m laid I retired to bed having witnessed the tide change to ebb + 1hour. Expected tide was only 2.0m but the current can be strong on ebb in this east coast river and there was a possibility of a blow from nearby weather front.I was awoken 7.5 hours later to find that the yacht had turned in such a way that the anchorplait had wrapped around the bilge keels(emerging amidships) so that the yacht was now being held broadside to the flood tide. Luckily the wind was light and after 2 hours of anchorwatch I managed to pull up the anchorplait (where it emerged under the boat) with the boathook, attach a mooring warp and pull the boat sideways against the weakened flow(still very very hard work) in order to pull some of the plait onboard. I then attached another warp to the plait and run to the bow roller to secure. this completed the boat then laid to the anchor correctly and I untied the plait from the anchor locker and pulled this under the boat to clear. The whole episode took some time to work out and a lot of brute force. It would have been difficult to achieve at night or single handed. Using the engine was not an option as fouling of the prop was a real threat and there was no guarantee that the plait would clear the skeg. This phenomena has happened once before but I waited until the tide turned and managed to free the plait. However I now have my suspicions that a strong opposing wind and strong ebb tide may have conspired to rotate the boat(and wrap around the keel) before the tide ran strong and caused me to drag at 3.30am last september.( it all happened so quickly that I didn't notice if the boat was broadside before it dragged.
So story over, has anybody got some ideas on how to stop the phenomena? I was wondering whether a small anchor chum ie. a bunch of heavy shackles on say a 3m line slid down the anchorplait would keep the plait vertical in the water when not under any load and prevent it wrapping around the keels when the boat is drifting about during light winds/light current or strong opposing winds/medium currents. I am desperate for some advice as my crew(wife) is becoming nervous at spending nights at anchor.

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[Mirelle]

Chain

Use all chain. End of problem; its weight stops it getting wrapped round anything, no matter what the boat gets up to. Keep the warp for the kedge.

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[philip17]

Re: Chain

Many thanks for advice, my only concern is the extra weight of chain, space in the anchor locker and of course the cost.

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[Robin]

Re: Chain

Chain is the answer, at least 30m, shouldn't be a problem with weight. Worse case scenario anchored on warp in wind against tide is the warp chafes through on the edge of the keel(s) and you a) go walkabout b) lose the anchor c) SWMBO takes up knitting ashore. Use a short length of nylon, preferably with a rubber snubber, as a link across a bight of chain by the bows and you will be as quiet and snatch free as on all warp.

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[Mirelle]

Re: Chain

I agree with Robin's post. But just to clear up one thing (bear in mind I don't know the Sadler 25) the chain does not belong in the anchor locker - it belongs in a chain locker, below deck, with a navel pipe leading through the deck down to it. If you cna locate this somewhere sensible like near the foot of the mast the weight is actually ballast. I carried 25 fathoms of 5/16" chain in an 18 footer for years like this.

Chain actually takes less space than warp, and can be piled in anyhow and will not tangle. To avoid the need for a windlass, fit a pawl on the bow roller.

Best place to buy chain on the East Coast is EYE Ltd at Levington (just by the turn off to the marina).

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[LadyInBed]

Boats driving forward over mooring buoys is quite a common sight in Poole harbour in wind over tide conditions. No one seems to have a solution for it.
At anchor, the only solution I can think of (apart from all chain) is to lay the kedge as well, though whether from bow or stern I wouldn’t like to say, as there are arguments for both.
As for extracting yourself from having the warp hooked under the keel, I would attach something heavy (kedge anchor?) to the anchor warp just aft of the bow cleat, flake the rest of your warp on the deck (bitter end well attached). Then release the anchor warp from the bow cleat and at the same time, drop the weight/kedge over the bow. That should pull the warp down off of the keel.

But then again, it might not /forums/images/icons/blush.gif

Alternatively, row out to your kedge and see if you can relieve the tension on your main anchor warp to free it.


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[mick]

I also have a Sadler 26 (great wee boat) and I have the same anchor as you but on 35 metres of 3/8 chain. Never have any problems. Safe anchoring.

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[duncan]

Sounds like a good weight dropped down the warp when overnighting and left in the locker when lunching gives you the best of both worlds.
30metres of 8mm chain plus your anchor is going to weigh in at 57kg 'ish - do you have a windlass to handle that easily on your boat?
good luck

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[Mirelle]

weight.

Actually you can handle that weight quite easily over the bow roller, without a windlass. I'm by no means fit and never have been. Remember you are pulling to advantage, you are most unlikely to have the whole weight hanging dead off the bow unless you have foolishly decided to try to anchor in 30 metres, and it is in water.

But, as I suggest below, the answer is a chain pawl in the bow fairlead, which allows you to get the chain as the boat pitches and which weighs a couple of pounds at the most.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: weight.

If you anchored in 30 m you'd have 90 metres of chain minimum! Like you I use all chain and have no windlass, though I've often thought of buying one. Also like you I have a chain pipe and a chain locker. It comes out all right but can sometimes snag going in, which can be a bit of a pain. If I had a free hand as to where to put the chain pipe designed from new it would be right in the middle of the V berths!

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[Ivy]

I have a Sadler 25 and had exactly the same problem a few weeks ago, my anchor was a 15lb CQR (a bit light realy) and 5m of 5/16 chain plus warp. I dumped a load of warp over the side and pushed it clear with the boat hook.

I have dragged anchor several times in a blow so I have since replaced everything and now have a 10kg (22lb) bruce, 10m x 3/8 chain spliced to 30m x 14mm octoplait. I have only used it once so far but if I get any problems I will let you know.

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[philip17]

Many thanks for all the advice, obviously I shall have to raid the piggy bank to buy some chain. In the meantime I shall give my "anchor chum" idea a try, unless of course somebody out there knows a reason that it will not help............

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[Mirelle]

It\'ll work!

Check round for chain prices before buying - they vary a lot. The idea of fitting a pawl to grip the chain in the bow roller is a very ancient one, going back to Claud Worth. It works because the boat will always pitch slightly, so you gain as the bow drops and the pawl pulls it up as the bow rises. It saves...

the cost of a windlass
the weight of a windlass
the cost of calibrated chain

It being a non-standard fitting you either do it yourself or get a local engineering shop to fabricate and galvanise.

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