Dinghy kedging

[Grehan]

Picking up on the current use-a-kedge-to-keep-a-comfortable-anchoring topic, is there a 'right' way to get the kedge out using a dinghy (inflatable)?
I have found that all's well until I get to the chain section I have nearest the anchor and the warp starts to tighten and the weight of chain now in the water makes making any rowing progress further out difficult. I will normally have the kedge hooked on the transom, ready to drop.
At that point there's not much choice except to launch the anchor although it's not quite as far out as I would like, and certainly not as well laid as the bower anchor.

Any tips?

 

[peteremmons]

I find taking the kedge chain and warp out in the dingy easiest , then drop the anchor and row back to the boat easing the warp as you go.

 

[Grehan]

So the rode's not tied on at the 'bitter end' until you return to the boat?

 

[Talbot]

Only way to successfully get anchor and chain kedge is to put both anchor and chain into the tender and have rope back to boat - row to the dropping site, then haul in on rope.

 

[michael_w]

Anchor and rode in the dink. Bitter end fast on the foredeck. Oh, get an outboard too!

 

[peteremmons]

Always tie the bitter end to the dingy until you get to the boat just in case ! and if you are using an outboard watch the prop doesnt foul the rode.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Grehan,

Broadly agree with some here. We have a 7.5kg Bruce kedge with 45-50 feet of 8mm chain spliced to 50 metres of 12mm Anchorplait.

When dinghying out the kedge, we load anchor and all the chain into the dinghy, then row it all out to the chosen position, pulling the very lightweight Anchorplait from the aft chain locker as we go.

When we're happy, we lower the anchor and chain over the side and (usually) pull ourselves back to the boat with the Anchorplait, now (obviously) secured at the boat. Then pull in the warp until the kedge bites and we're happy with the tension, and that's it, Gin and tonic time!!

Jerry

 

[Mirelle]

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED SHORTLY

OK, so I got your attention.

I don't often come the old salt, but this is serious; people are doing something very dangerous and are recommending it to others.

Grehan's original post has it more or less right ...

"I will normally have the kedge hooked on the transom, ready to drop. "

Others talk about putting the anchor and chain IN THE DINGHY.

That is a recipe for disaster.

DO NOT DO THAT! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Hang the anchor off the stern of the dinghy using a short lanyard with a slipknot.Put the chain in the dinghy if you are using some (see below).

When you have got the warp out as far as you need, and or as taut as you can get it, pull the slipknot.

Trying to pick and anchor up and throw it out of a dinghy is not only inefficient, because the dinghy wanders back towards the yacht whilst you mess about, it is dangerous; it is a recipe for capsizing the dinghy at best and getting hooked and taken down by the anchor at worst.

Rather a lot of people have drowned that way.

Next point - if you are laying out a kedge whilst at anchor, there is merit in having some chain on the kedge, but if you are kedging off to refloat, there is none - the pull will be almost horizontal anyway, so you don't need a catenary.

 

[jerryat]

Re: SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED SHORTLY

Hi Mirelle,

I'm not sure you're referring to my post, but if so I'm afraid I totally disagree!!

There is nothing at all wrong in loading the chain and anchor into the dinghy as I described earlier, I've been doing it for well over 30 years without a single problem!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If you really want the detail, the Bruce is 'hooked' over the inflable's stern tube and the chain stacked in the centre of the dinghy. When the chosen position is reached, the Bruce is shoved over the stern (no lifting) and the chain payed out.

Because the only link between the dinghy and the mother boat is (in our case) 12mm Anchorplait, there is virtually no 'pull back' towards to her. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I haven't seen a simpler, safer way to do it.

Re the chain while kedging off, IMHO this is the very time one does want the weight of chain. It's nothing to do with catenary in this instance, but everything to do with making damn sure the anchor doesn't break out under what might be an extreme load!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

BTW, if you weren't referring to my post, I still like you!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[summerwind]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Having now absorbed the idea of using a kedge to stop rolling, can I ask another question please:

Having had a good night's sleep, what method do you use to get the kedge out?

 

[Mirelle]

enough capitals for now...

I meant the idea of putting the anchor in the dinghy and throwing it out.

I didn't mean hooking a Bruce or CQR over the stern tube of an inflatable and kicking it over.

Your post could have been read that way by the inexpert, I think. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jerryat]

Re: SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED SHORTLY

Hi Mirelle!

Thank Gawd for that! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry

 

[jerryat]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Hi Summerwind,

Most often, I use the dinghy to pull myself out till I'm above the anchor, then haul it up and into it. It can be damned hard work breaking it out though, and is not really advisable in anything of a chop, as at the very least you can get very wet, and could flip the boat. It's better done with two in the dinghy. If there is a crew aboard, they haul me back.

The simplest and probably safest way though, is to ease out the bower anchor chain/warp, allowing the kedge warp to hauled aboard as we drop back. The bower warp is snubbed (windlass stopped in our case) when the stern is near the kedge position, and the kedge hauled up and secured. This way the boat remains securely anchored until you are ready to leave.

A variation on the latter method is to release the kedge warp and let it pay out as we haul in (windlass) the bower. Once that's hanging clear, we gently haul the boat sternwards and recover the kedge from on board. This is ONLY done in calm, windless conditions though(!) and usually when we've already packed the dinghy away and are too lazy to get it out and inflate it again!!

It does work well though, and saves the usual problem of having to go below and 'poke' at the pile of chain in the chain locker that will back up and jam when a very long length of chain is deployed. Again 'cos hot, windless weather makes us lazy!

On five or six occasions, we've buoyed the kedge warp and left it, to get the boat clear quickly. In those circumstances, we've re-anchored nearby and recovered the kedge later/next day, when things were calmer. All but one of these instances, were caused by other boats dragging down on us!

Hope this helps

Jerry

 

[Anonymous]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

[ QUOTE ]
Having had a good night's sleep, what method do you use to get the kedge out?

[/ QUOTE ]I buoy the kedge warp with a fender and bring up the bower, then pick up the fender/warp with a boathook and use the windlass to bring it up. I could never get my kedge up by hand even from the yacht, and trying from the tender is unthinkable. But then maybe I am what Eric Hiscock referred to under his section on windlasses, 'feeble' /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jerryat]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Hi Lemain!!

Tee hee!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I doubt very much if you're 'feeble', but that's a very sensible way of recovery for heavy anchors. I've never really thought about the weight of the kedge before, always having had lighter ones! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

There might be slightly more of a problem though when one is single-handed. Because I am (quite often) I like to 'keep attached' to the kedge if possible, rather than slip all the chain and 50 metres of warp. As I mentioned, I/we've had to do this a few times, and it's not quite so easy especially in fresh conditions.

Great idea to use the windlass for hauling a heavy/dug-in kedge though. I've never seen that done, but then we're always learning thank goodness! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Regards Jerry

 

[TigaWave]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Slacken off kedge rope, take it to bow fitting roller, haul up to kedge using windlass/engine (the rope is now away from prop)
Break out and then drop back on main anchor, and repeat.

Both anchors having tripping lines.

 

[Mirelle]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Just to put some numbers down for reference: 3

37ft gaff cutter. 35lbs CQR kedge, with a couple of fathoms of half inch chain on it. Ancient, but powerful, hand crank windlass. 9ft clinker stem dinghy. Unfit 53 year old, often singlehanded.

I have only one trick to offer, but I've found it a good one.

My boat has one stemhead roller and the bower anchor's chain occupies that. We have one solitary modern type block aboard - it's a big Lewmar snatchblock, shackled to the inboard face of the stem. 98% of the time, it handles the boom staysail sheet, and is vast overkill for the purpose.

2% of the time, it handles the kedge warp. giving a fair lead to the windlass when kedging off and also allowing me to veer the bower chain whilst hauling in on the kedge warp until we are over the kedge, whereupon the blighter usually comes up. If it is well and truly dug in and heading for Australia, I put it on the windlass warping drum.

My experiences with getting the kedge up with the dinghy have been mixed. The transom has a sacrifical strip of teak on it, as the dinghy stows upside down on the coachroof. I can guide the warp over this and underrun the warp out to the kedge anchor.

If it won't budge, the only trick is to belay the warp (painter round thwart, rolling hitch) and cautiously move forward in the dinghy. so that my weight brings the stern up. This has usually worked.

 

[jerryat]

Re: This is getting good - I like it

Hi Mirelle!

Great idea!! What a variety of methods are coming to light in this thread! I'm an unfit 60 year old, so know exactly how you feel!!!

Regards Jerry

 

[steveh]

Re: SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED SHORTLY

I agree about not needing chain.
We used a 35lb bruce as a kedge and found it would did
in extremley well without the chain. Makes the whole
process a lot easier and safer, just having warp to deal with.

 

[jerryat]

Re: SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET THEMSELVES KILLED SHORTLY

I can see the argument Steve, but Mirelle's context was 'kedging off'. This (usually) means you're on the putty and will be using winches etc on the kedge warp to literally drag you off.

IMHO, the kedge is far more likely to remain well buried against what could be a huge tension with some chain in the set up, than without it. This is particularly so as the warp angle to the seabed becomes more acute as the boat moves towards the kedge.

I do know several boats who use warp only and are quite happy with it, but they do have to end-for-end, or replace their warps far more frequently, due to the inevitable chafing that occurs from the seabed.

As always Steve, we each make our own decisions in sailing/cruising, which is one of the things that makes it so attractive, to me anyway!

Cheers Jerry