Anchors on motor yachts

[beebok]

I have sold my sail boat and am buying a motor boat.But why are anchors on motor boats smaller/lighter than sail boats.
Motor boats are heavier than sail boats of similar size just cant get my mind around the logic.
Does any one have a view?

Alan

 

[Tranona]

There is no logical reason why it should be so - but guess that some owners rarely anchor so not important to them. As usual follow the anchor manufacturers recommendation for size in relation to boat plus probably next size up if close to the limit or you expect to anchor in extreme conditions.

 

[Piers]

I have sold my sail boat and am buying a motor boat.But why are anchors on motor boats smaller/lighter than sail boats.
Motor boats are heavier than sail boats of similar size just cant get my mind around the logic.
Does any one have a view?

Alan

If this is so, could it be that a sail boat is heavier than a mobo for a given size? I must say that I'd never noticed sail boat anchors being any larger. Any examples?

 

[MapisM]

why are anchors on motor boats smaller/lighter than sail boats.

'cause you're probably looking at the wrong MoBos...

 

[Portofino]

I have sold my sail boat and am buying a motor boat.But why are anchors on motor boats smaller/lighter than sail boats.
Motor boats are heavier than sail boats of similar size just cant get my mind around the logic.
Does any one have a view?

Alan

Performance - wieght ,s an issue as well as BHP ,acceleration to plane, top speed etc .
You will not see 2 ft band of solid Steel armour plating at the waterline like a WW2 battleship on a MoBo
Or a over large anchor

 

[Keen_Ed]

Sail boats have a lot more windage than motorboats - mast, rolled up jib, boom, mainsail etc.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Its a combination of cheapskating by manufacturers and the recognition that most moboers only drop the hook for lunch and not much else. Yes I completely agree that, almost without exception, anchors on motorboats are undersized for anchoring in anything other than light winds. We anchor overnight regularly in the Med and I've changed the anchor for a substantially larger lump on my last 3 boats and now I feel secure in most conditions. One thing in favour of mobos though is that they almost always have an all chain rode rather than part chain/part rope one. Personally I believe the chain plays a large part in allowing the anchor to hold

 

[blueglass]

Sail boats have a lot more windage than motorboats - mast, rolled up jib, boom, mainsail etc.

can't really agree with that. I'd say the average motorboat has a higher windage than a sailboat and in the case of flybridge boats, dramatically higher.

 

[Boathook]

I have sold my sail boat and am buying a motor boat.But why are anchors on motor boats smaller/lighter than sail boats.
Motor boats are heavier than sail boats of similar size just cant get my mind around the logic.
Does any one have a view?

Alan

Post 7 by Deleted User sums it up. I might do the same if I did 25 knots rather than 5.

 

[prv]

One thing in favour of mobos though is that they almost always have an all chain rode rather than part chain/part rope one.

Really? Not that I've been counting, but it seems to me that rope is more common on motor boats. I always assumed it was because they were sensitive to weight in the bow (as well as the aforementioned tendency to scurry for a marina before it gets dark ).

Pete

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Really? Not that I've been counting, but it seems to me that rope is more common on motor boats. I always assumed it was because they were sensitive to weight in the bow (as well as the aforementioned tendency to scurry for a marina before it gets dark ).

Pete

Mmm, well I've had quite a few boats and they've always had 100% chain

 

[prv]

Mmm, well I've had quite a few boats and they've always had 100% chain

How big were they?

Pete

 

[[2068]]

Previous 24ft mini mobo had 10m chain and rest line.

Current 28ft mobo has all chain, but that didn't stop us from having an East Head near-anchoring-fiasco with 30m of chain out.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

How big were they?

Pete

From 26ft to 53ft

 

[prv]

From 26ft to 53ft

Ok - I knew you had something big now where obviously all chain would be the norm for power and sail. I am surprised that a 26 foot motor boat had all-chain, but what do I know? For the record, my 24 foot sailing boat has 40m of 8mm chain too, so the "sailyboats all anchor with rope" idea doesn't really wash either.

The real rope-fetishists are Americans, who mostly think we're all mad for carrying so much iron around.

Pete

 

[rafiki_]

My 33ft mobo has 50m of chain. Don't think this is unusual.

 

[boatmike]

I recently sold my cat and bought an aquastar 33. First thing I did was swap the dinky anchor for a decent CQR with a proper scope of chain. It seems few MoBo owners spend much time at anchor because their planing hulls roll like a pig whe anchored off. I did expect better ground tackle on a 7.5 tonne 33ft semi-displacement hull though!

 

[Sandyman]

I doubt this originally had much to do with owners choice. More likely to do with the inadequate cheapo rubbish fitted by the manufacturers to save a bob or two.

IMO its not only MoBo's that have undersized hooks. Many many sail yachts I see have such small hooks as to be useless other than in light winds / calm seas. That to me is not good seamanship. Sailing boats cannot just up hook and run for the nearest port at 25 kts come the first sign of an unexpected gale. How often that may happen in one's sailing career is irrelevant as you should at all times be prepared for the unexpected.

 

[boatmike]

I doubt this originally had much to do with owners choice. More likely to do with the inadequate cheapo rubbish fitted by the manufacturers to save a bob or two.

IMO its not only MoBo's that have undersized hooks. Many many sail yachts I see have such small hooks as to be useless other than in light winds / calm seas. That to me is not good seamanship. Sailing boats cannot just up hook and run for the nearest port at 25 kts come the first sign of an unexpected gale. How often that may happen in one's sailing career is irrelevant as you should at all times be prepared for the unexpected.

I would have to agree and consider ground tackle to be fundamental to safety on any boat. I would add also that I always carry at least 2 anchors, The main bower always on 100% chain and a kedge in addition, making 3 in all. With a MoBo that lacks the ability to sail off a lee shore in case of mechanical failure (especially with only one engine) this is if anything more important not less.....