Anchoring

  • Thread starter Thread starter timbartlett
  • Start date Start date
T

timbartlett

Guest
In the wacky world of magazine publishing, it's time for the "What Now", to appear in MBY's December issue. At this rate, it will soon be spring again!

So let's pretend that it is spring, and that you are planning a trip to the Isles of Scilly in your 45 ft sports cruiser, in company with a less experienced friend in a very similar boat. You're both looking forward to it, until he discovers that there are no marinas there, and very few visitors moorings that can accommodate boats over forty feet. What advice would you offer that might allay his fears about the idea of anchoring overnight?

Dig it in or not dig it in?
Alloy or steel?
Four times the depth, or twelve times the square root of depth, or give it all you've got?
Anchor on mud? sand? shingle? clay? weed? rock?
2-3kg per metre or more? or less?
Manson, Studland, Bruce, Delta, CQR?

All ideas welcome!
 
Dig it in or not dig it in?
dig it in
Alloy or steel?
either
Four times the depth, or twelve times the square root of depth, or give it all you've got?
4x depth
Anchor on mud? sand? shingle? clay? weed? rock?
mud or sand
2-3kg per metre or more? or less?
less
Manson, Studland, Bruce, Delta, CQR?
the one you've already got.
 
All that and consider using a second anchor for ON stops (peace of mind). Use the anchor alarm on the plotter and be aware of the wind and tidal range and streams.. but not sure if mean't all this obvious stuff...
 
Wait for high tide, run for the beach, drives up into trailer position, slide to a stop. Let out all the chain you have, walk up the beach, tie the chain round a lamp post, walk back to the boat ( should not even get your feet wet by now) pull chain tight, relax and watch the tide go out over the rim of a glass.

Secure as houses and the anchor won't slip.
 
tinkicker0 said:
Wait for high tide, run for the beach, drives up into trailer position, slide to a stop. Let out all the chain you have, walk up the beach, tie the chain round a lamp post, walk back to the boat ( should not even get your feet wet by now) pull chain tight, relax and watch the tide go out over the rim of a glass.

Secure as houses and the anchor won't slip.
Click to expand...

Doesn't that then make it a house boat ?
 
tinkicker0 said:
Wait for high tide, run for the beach, drives up into trailer position, slide to a stop. Let out all the chain you have, walk up the beach, tie the chain round a lamp post, walk back to the boat ( should not even get your feet wet by now) pull chain tight, relax and watch the tide go out over the rim of a glass.

Secure as houses and the anchor won't slip.
Click to expand...

Are you anticipating lots of lamposts in the Isles of Scilly, then?

Does your boat take the ground well? Mine does, it is a twin keel, but many MoBos don't.
 
blueglass said:
Dig it in or not dig it in?
dig it in
Alloy or steel?
either
Four times the depth, or twelve times the square root of depth, or give it all you've got?
4x depth
Anchor on mud? sand? shingle? clay? weed? rock?
mud or sand
2-3kg per metre or more? or less?
less
Manson, Studland, Bruce, Delta, CQR?
the one you've already got.
Click to expand...

I am willing to impart the entire fruits of my anchoring lesson that I had in my Day Skipper theory class just yesterday evening... :p

Anchor type unimportant (RYA can't be seen to be sponsoring any particular type :rolleyes:), 4 times depth for chain or 6 times for rope (up from 3x and 5x in the previous course books as RYA don't want to be prosecuted should someone follow their rules and end up being wrecked :eek:).. instructors advice "don't throw the whole lot over the side in one go", and "anything is better than anchoring overnight 'cos all you'll do is worry"... this guy speaks great sense it seems to me from my (inexperienced) point of view...
 
Come on everyone, don't be shy! We're just interested to hear what advice you would give, however obvious it may seem to you.

This is all about sharing the knowledge and experience you've accumulated over the years with a wider audience, so that we encourage a few more people to spend a peaceful night at anchor in a beautiful bay rather than squeezed into a crowded marina.

If in doubt just tell us what ground tackle you use and any other anchoring tips you have.

Many thanks

Hugo
 
Hugo_Andreae said:
Come on everyone, don't be shy! We're just interested to hear what advice you would give, however obvious it may seem to you.

This is all about sharing the knowledge and experience you've accumulated over the years with a wider audience, so that we encourage a few more people to spend a peaceful night at anchor in a beautiful bay rather than squeezed into a crowded marina.

If in doubt just tell us what ground tackle you use and any other anchoring tips you have.

Many thanks

Hugo
Click to expand...

Part of the problem here Hugo, is that those happy spending a quite night in such anchorages rather appreciate all those you disappear just before night falls (or earlier if they are trying to get into Yarmouth or Lymington for the night!).

In practice I find that

1. working through the tidal situation slowly with a bit of paper and drawing a diagram all helps settle many concerns, including planning where to anchor and tide streams, wind as well as depths. what people understand represents less of a threat, and is way better than the unknown!
2. putting out 7x at first and reversing to neutral to feel the hold of the anchor and, with all chain the drop pulling you back (with rope a combination of that and the elasticity).
3. actual length left out to suit the tidal high and situation (forecast/company etc)
4. enjoy the sundowners - plan the breakfast or dawn swim!

Anchoring like this really isn't about which anchor, exactly 4x depth or more complex formulas - it's about settled weather, big enough anchors, appropriate rodes and some appreciation of the bottom and it's impact on what you are doing.

It's definitely not something to do if you aren't confident - just for the sake of it. Anchoring up to fish in all depths and some pretty strong currents is definitely good practice, and, with the exception of uptide of wrecks, the odd occasion when the hook drags a little is just a learning experience (always shingle banks in strong tides and a swell - bruce and delta both do it/sword generally doesn't as much)

Finally, I definitely agree with the comment already made re standard anchor/rode specs often don't inspire confidence.
 
Searush said:
Are you anticipating lots of lamposts in the Isles of Scilly, then?

Does your boat take the ground well? Mine does, it is a twin keel, but many MoBos don't.
Click to expand...

Mere details. Hit the beach at 40 knots and you'll have less far to walk and may well not even need a lamp post.
A local passerby told to hold tightly onto the chain or the island will explode will suffice.
If you don't have fiddles on your table, or like to drink your Singapore Sling's on an even keel, then two more locals holding the boat upright will do nicely.

You may have to tell em it's for charity and is a sponsored boat hold though, cos it's likely they may talk and cotton on otherwise.


Really, I thought Raggies were supposed to be resourceful. :D
 
fireball said:
I take it the previous thread on this same situation didn't go to plan then ;)
Click to expand...

Dusty know, I've been wondering the same thing.:D

I've no idea how I'd convince them.

My method, is to add a metre to the depth sounder reading for the boats draft, then another two metres up to the bow roller. So in six metres, that's nine. So that's 27M, But I don't have a blob for 27 so it's 30M By the time I've yelled to stop letting chain out it will be a bit more.

No idea if it's the right way, but it works for us and we never move.

On a post a few weeks ago. Divers reckoned that anchors hardly ever dig in but it hardly seems to matter.

Can you chuck a bottle of whisky in with the Mag Hugo.

Ta.:D
 
hlb said:
Dusty know, I've been wondering the same thing.:D

I've no idea how I'd convince them.

My method, is to add a metre to the depth sounder reading for the boats draft, then another two metres up to the bow roller. So in six metres, that's nine. So that's 27M, But I don't have a blob for 27 so it's 30M By the time I've yelled to stop letting chain out it will be a bit more.

No idea if it's the right way, but it works for us and we never move.

On a post a few weeks ago. Divers reckoned that anchors hardly ever dig in but it hardly seems to matter.

Can you chuck a bottle of whisky in with the Mag Hugo.

Ta.:D
Click to expand...

exactly - it's art not science!!!!!!
 
Ok,

First check the forecast & have a good look at the sky to see if the f/c is fairly probable. Pick a nice sheltered bay with an easy way out & somewhere nearby if f/c is wrong after all. Check the tide state & go in as far as you dare, but won't go aground at LW (or just as far as you like if you can take the bottom). Make sure you are far enough from any other boats that you won't swing into each other.

Head to wind until you lose way & lower the anchor to the bottom, letting around 3-4 x depth at HW. Snub the chain & make sure the boat stops. Dig it in if yo are of a nervous disposition. Make a cup of tea or G&T according to preference & watch how she settles. Press the relevant buttons on yor GPS if you have one & it is switched on. Enjoy the evening meal & wave cheerio to all the wimps running for a marina. Just before bed, take a walk around the decks at nightfall - by now you will have been there for about 4-6 hours so may have seen a tide change & will be able to confirm that all your initial decisions were reasonable. If however there is a front clearly coming thro', decide if you are in a postion to ride it out or have to get out.

Sleep like a log, any funny sounds or bumps & bangs will wake you up pretty quick so you will need some clothes handy to rush on deck & find out what happened. Go back to sleep when you can't find the problem. Enjoy your coffee & fry-up in splendid isolation &, as it nears lunch time, wave to the scaredy-cat Johnny come latelys arriving from the marinas.

Use any selection of anchor/ chain or rode you happen to have aboard, but avoid anchoring on rock/ weed or gravel/ shale bottoms if you can - sand & mud are best. Anchor needs to be approriate size for boat - I have a 35lb CQR for a 32' ketch (about 5-7 tons) and use around 100' of 8mm chain, but have a 40lb angel weight and 220' of nylon rope rode - if I have the space to deploy it & fear the worst. If if doesn't hold you on a decent bottom, get a bigger or better one, or more chain as you feel appropriate.

There, it's actally easier to do than explain!
 
many moons ago, I took my first ever boat, a fairline 32ft out to sea for the very first time. They say ignorance is bliss and after leaving Conwy, N wales. we anchored up for the night off Puffin island at the head of the Menai straits. I wasn't being brave - just really thought that that was what everybody did . Slightly puzzled at the complete absence of other boats, I followed the standard instructions from my recently completed yachtmaster offshore theory and had a great night. We have anchored as our preferred overnighting option ever since and 17 years on after countless nights on the hook, we have dragged twice - both times only slightly and corrected without incident.
A morbid fear of anchoring will rob you of one of the greatest freedoms boating can provide.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top