Anchors (again)

Petercatterall

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Just reading the interesting responses to a recent anchor question. I looked up the method of splicing on a rope to the chain and am considering trying this. My question to the experts is quite basic. I currently have around 50 yards of chain and a heavy anchor, enough I guess for basic use (on my 32 ft motor sailor).
But what about emergencies or abnormal situations? what else should I carry? there are a couple of those 'foldy out fluke type anchors' but nothing else.
Should I invest in a good long length of heavy duty rope which I could use as a tow rope or with the folding anchors or to extend the main anchor etc etc?
Would it be reasonable to attach this to extend the existing chain when required. Would it be worth getting a bit of chain on the heavier of the two folding anchors?
What length and thickness of additional rope is recommended?
I will be grateful for any specific or general advice on this.
 

chippie

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I think a good length of chain for your second anchor is a sound idea,-after all when you have to deploy it you will be wanting all the holding power you can get.
I carry a spare anchor warp that is approximately as long as my main one.
I havent used it yet (I'm a softie and avoid bad weather) but try to anticipate whether it would be needed and have it rigged and ready in advance. For ease of handling the chain is kept on the anchor and the rode separate. A 10 litre pail can be useful for holding spare chain.

Happy holding
 

snowleopard

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i suggest a fortress as a spare anchor: it's lightweight, can be dismantled for stowage, holds in soft mud when nothing else will. i have a warp with a few metres of chain to prevent chafe on the sea bed. this combo has got me out of trouble on several occasions when my otherwise excellent delta started to drag
 

Petercatterall

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Thanks for the useful suggestions. I will certainly invest in extra chain and a good strong long general purpose warp.
I guess that I should test how these can be made up before I need to deploy them in anger!
 

hylas

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Re: EMERGENCY ANCHOR

This is a very interesting point...

Emergency is really what you call an "abnormal situation"
Most "Bluewater" sailing boats carry at least three anchors.. I do too
My main anchor is a galvanised steel anchor weighting 15 kg and I also have a stern anchor of the same type, that I could use as an emergency anchor.. This stern anchor is also weighting 15 kg.. but as it is an "Aluminum" version, its size is nearly twice the size of the main anchor.. and twice the holding too.. (and I have a spare anchor dismounted and stored into the bilge)

What should be the ideal characteristics of an "emergency" anchor??..
1º - the anchor must be always ready for instant use, always convenient but vital in an emergency.
2º - It doesn't require any special anchoring techniques: - in a hurry, you don't have to think of complicated techniques, just drop it with a long enough rode and it should always work.
3º - Its penetration should be rapid and deep: - even in the most difficult sea-bottoms such as hard sand, coral and weed…
4º - It should give the highest holding power
5º - It will never break free: - the anchor must be a STABLE anchor which will never corkscrew, or pull out under heavy loads
6º - It will never let go with shifts of wind or current direction.
7º - It cannot tangle with the anchor rode.

I suppose most of you will agree with most (if not all..) of these requirements..

1st point..: - this means that dismantled anchors stowed somewhere in the boat, for which you'll need to find the "14 mm" wrench.. will not be adequate.. a few minutes could drasticaly change the situation.. and remember, unfortunately.. you just lost the 14 mm wrench overboard yesterday...

2nd Point: - some anchors need a very specific technic to set.. for example, if the boat's speed is just slighly more than three knots.. the anchor will just "fly" and NEVER set.. in "emergency" you have plenty of things to do at the same time and you couldn't have the time to think about the "proper" technic to set your anchor..

3rd Point: Some anchors have their favourite sea bottoms.. Are you sure that the "emergency" situation will always occur over these favourite sea grounds??
Your emergency anchor should be as "versatile" as possible..

4th and 5th Point: If you are talking about "Emergency" its means also "bad weather".. and that's why you should also have a very efficient anchor, and a "stable" one..

6th and 7th points.. be prepared for all possible situations..

Now I suppose you have enough ideas to make the anchor selection.. I leave this point to your responsibility..

About the line, I will suggest only a short lenght of chain.. let's say.. about 10 meters... and a very long rope.. long enough to be able to reach a 10/1 scope in the waters you are intending to sail to.. but not a too big one as the elasticity will decrease with size..

Fair winds and peacefull anchorages..

Alain
 

hylas

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I don't believe that extra chain will give more holding.. and for emergency.. it will be more difficult to handle..
YES, you should have some chain but not too much.. Nylon rope will be easier to carry and to use and the "secret" is both the SCOPE (up to 10/1) and the elasticity of Nylon...
 

Petercatterall

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Re: EMERGENCY ANCHOR

Thanks for the points you make.
I have reviewed my anchor requirements in the light of these.
I now intend to splice 50 yards of 16mm 3 strand rope permanently onto the anchor chain (50 yards 3/8ths) so that it is always instantly available.
I will add 10 yards of chain to the heavier of the spare anchors wit a shackle attached
I will keep a designated spare 50 yards of 16mm 3 strand rope ready to tie onto the shackle.
I will consider the purchase of a 15kg spade anchor to suplement the spare anchores which are of the folding type and will probably only hold on a rocky sea bed.

Thanks again
 
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