Anybody used an anchor retrieval float to shift foreign chains off your anchor?

[Bertramdriver]

If there's one thing that spoils my day it's having to haul other boats chains off my anchor before I can depart. My record so far was Epidavros last summer when a Russian charter flotilla came in and dumped four chains and two anchors over my rode. It took an hour, help from the the harbour master, and the destruction of my windlass to get out. I seem to be fated, and worked out that I get hit one in three times.
So I'm looking for an easier method of getting out and thought about the retrieval ring/ float approach as a way of tipping the chains off the flukes. Anyone with experience?

 

[KellysEye]

>retrieval ring/ float

Since I've never heard of that I have no idea if it would work. I used dive down with mask and fins.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

We use a trip hook and/or a chum. However when you get multiple chains, the only way is to offer flotilla staff much beer to dive. Buoying the anchor is decried by many as being anti-social but nobody seems to complain when some enormous motoryacht comes in and deploys two!

 

[1bobt]

If there's one thing that spoils my day it's having to haul other boats chains off my anchor before I can depart. My record so far was Epidavros last summer when a Russian charter flotilla came in and dumped four chains and two anchors over my rode. It took an hour, help from the the harbour master, and the destruction of my windlass to get out. I seem to be fated, and worked out that I get hit one in three times.
So I'm looking for an easier method of getting out and thought about the retrieval ring/ float approach as a way of tipping the chains off the flukes. Anyone with experience?

Park it a little straighter ...There is a thing called an Alderney ring for lifting anchors

 

[Steve C Cronin]

The most difficult anchor to pick up with a chum (Ring) is the Delta. Once they get under a number of chains and sit on their backsides, there is no way to free them except by diving. However, since a CQR has a hingeing head, it is possible to get past the hinge and lift from there.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Park it a little straighter ...There is a thing called an Alderney ring for lifting anchors

Thank you for that Bob, but I fear that parking straighter will have no effect what so ever. You know what Egina/ Ydra - nod Epidermis are like. It's the other b*****s that are the problem.
Btw I have an Alderney ring. I just need to know if anyone actually used one in a harbour to get out.

 

[Bertramdriver]

The most difficult anchor to pick up with a chum (Ring) is the Delta. Once they get under a number of chains and sit on their backsides, there is no way to free them except by diving. However, since a CQR has a hingeing head, it is possible to get past the hinge and lift from there.

Steve, makes sense but what I can't figure out is how to get the ring down the shaft to the crown when all the foreign chains have bunched up across the top flukes. The chains stop the ring so when you lift it's from the shaft and not the hinge/ crown

 

[Carmel2]

Looking at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7v8uiDWFnE I can't see it working with a few other boats at close quarters.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Thank you for that Bob, but I fear that parking straighter will have no effect what so ever. You know what Egina/ Ydra - nod Epidermis are like. It's the other b*****s that are the problem.
Btw I have an Alderney ring. I just need to know if anyone actually used one in a harbour to get out.

I use my trip hook regularly in the Ionian but it is really only effective on multiple chains if they are light and the owners are willing to slacken them so that they ride down my chain to the same place allowing them to be supported by the trip hook whilst I drop my anchor down past them when the breeze will blow us back enough to recover our anchor in clear water. Then we trip our trip hook with the tripping pennant, dropping our neighbours' chains back to the seabed and we become free. The Chum or Ring (even a very large shackle will do the job) needs to get right down your chain and anchor until the anchor can be lifted out backwards. It is really used to best effect when your anchor hooks down under an existing chain or concrete slab on the seabed and not very much use when others' chains are lying over yours.

 

[Bertramdriver]

Looking at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7v8uiDWFnE I can't see it working with a few other boats at close quarters.

SWMBO says they'll be no tea and crumpets until I've got this out of my system
So is there a moral dimension to this? We can all live with the odd chain across our anchor, but when the mongols arrive mob handed and spread their metal work around the harbour like Christmas lights, is not reasonable to employ methods that are proportional to their disregard of my human rights. 4 10 mm chains and 2 60Lb anchors surely constitute a infringement of my human rights in that I have effectively been imprisoned against my will. So in essence the use of a ring and float to bring the mess to the surface is the lesser offence than hauling the lot up on the windlass and employing a pair of bolt cutters. And no, negotiation with a 60' yacht full of Muscovites is not recommended.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Steve, makes sense but what I can't figure out is how to get the ring down the shaft to the crown when all the foreign chains have bunched up across the top flukes. The chains stop the ring so when you lift it's from the shaft and not the hinge/ crown

You cant! That's why I challenge the use of a ring, chum or shackle for this situation in my post below Err, above now I suppose! A Trip Hook or even just a rope sling is the tool for the job with chains OVER yours.

See:-http://www.quickline.us/ultra-trip-hook.aspx

and:-

View attachment 39784

We have one like this but another larger one made out of bronze which is more circular and therefore able to accomodate multiple chains. The link shows the M.O. very clearly.

 

[Bertramdriver]

You cant! That's why I challenge the use of a ring, chum or shackle for this situation in my post below Err, above now I suppose! A Trip Hook or even just a rope sling is the tool for the job with chains OVER yours.

I agree. I think there are three dimensions involved. The first is the classic foreign chain over yours. As you move out and the windlass starts taking up rode the foreign chain rides down the increasing angle of the rode until it meets the shaft of your anchor. It will then either slide over the shaft and off the flukes....no problem. However occasionally it will tangle the flukes and snag. Not a problem, string and hook solution.
The second is where your anchor is lightly set or been unseated so as you start winding in rode the anchor becomes unseated and starts to plough across the sea bed. Any foreign chain in front is therefor harvested as the anchor is pulled up on the windlass. No problem...string and hook again.
The third is either the first and or second in the multiple chain/ anchor environment of a crowded harbour. Once you've snagged one, it will spread the movement across the sea bed and multiple foreign chains become totally snagged, and often bring their anchors with them.
This is what I was dealing with and the constant lift and drop on the windlass to string and hook the foreigners off one by one completely stripped the pinion and gears in my windlass. Hence the question.
Using the float/ ring method would enable the tangled mess to be floated up the the surface, or near it, and allow me to string and hook the foreigners off my anchor without too much pressure on my windlass. The downside would be that the foreign chains and anchors would be greatly displaced. Hence the moral aspect.

 

[prv]

Someone posted a link the other day to a powertool (one of those oscillating chisel things, intended for removing barnacles) that can be used underwater.

Reckon we just need to persuade the same manufacturer to build an angle-grinder version

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

Would a tripping line 'loose tied' back along the chain do the job?

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Would a tripping line 'loose tied' back along the chain do the job?

Not really because the trip line needs to be able to pull the anchor out backwards and the "Foreign" chains would prevent it from lying anywhere else than along the line of your chain.

 

[prv]

Not really because the trip line needs to be able to pull the anchor out backwards and the "Foreign" chains would prevent it from lying anywhere else than along the line of your chain.

But if you started lifting the tripping line, perhaps from a dinghy, might it not push the other chains (especially if loosened) down your one and off over the anchor?

I suppose it'd only work if you started while your anchor was still buried, so you'd need to know in advance that there were chains over yours. Not much good once you've already hooked them.

Pete

 

[Bertramdriver]

Are there any UK bases mobo owners who would like to try the float/ring retrieval manoeuvre in an enclosed area?
I'll try it out in the spring when I get into the water

 

[Steve C Cronin]

But if you started lifting the tripping line, perhaps from a dinghy, might it not push the other chains (especially if loosened) down your one and off over the anchor?

I suppose it'd only work if you started while your anchor was still buried, so you'd need to know in advance that there were chains over yours. Not much good once you've already hooked them.

Pete

A bit of 6mm line across two or three 10mm chains? I HARDLY think so!

Don't forget that you will also need the co-operation fo a couple of hungovered, youthful, amateur crews who think they know it all.

 

[hartcjhart]

I've always found that lifting a generator onto the foredeck and then waving an angle grinder about soon gets assistance from those who have laid there anchor chain across mine.

Funny how when I pointed out that they'd crossed my anchor when they came in they say 'it's OK' but when I get the angle grinder out they change their mind!

yep

 

[Ravi]

I've always found that lifting a generator onto the foredeck and then waving an angle grinder about soon gets assistance from those who have laid there anchor chain across mine.

Funny how when I pointed out that they'd crossed my anchor when they came in they say 'it's OK' but when I get the angle grinder out they change their mind!

lol