Do you love anchor buoys?

[whiteoaks7]

I do. It lets me see where my anchor lies and lets everyone else see it too so here in the med it avoids a lot of crossed anchor chains. This year, however, I've been shouted at twice for using the buoy - once by an irate 'fisherman' in a small sportboat who threatened to cut the buoy free if I didn't remove it (Kastos) and once in Zakinthos where a crewman from a local tripper boat pointed out that the next boat to arrive was going to run over it. In the latter case I removed it in the former I left it until the harbour was full and then removed it too - no point in fighting battles you can't win and, anyway, by then it had done it's job.

So what does the team think about anchor buoys..?

 

[macd]

So what does the team think about anchor buoys..?

They have their uses, but mostly a pain in the neck. I won't be the only one to tell a tale of some prat trying to moor to it. Or of someone in a rowing boat hauling it in (whether out of moronic curiosity or felonious intent I never worked out).

 

[[70521]]

They have their place, but I rarely use them.

 

[RupertW]

I think people who use them are selfish, particlulary in a popular anchorage as they are demanding twice the room if everyone else.

 

[sailaboutvic]

There a very easy answer to anchor buoy , if you using it as a tripping line as we do at times when anchored in an area where the anchor may get caught up , all you need to do is use a line that will sink once settled remove the buoy and bring the line back to the bow , in that way , no one going to run over it or use it as a mooring .

 

[Neeves]

If everyone used an anchor buoy in crowded anchorages it would be impossible to move at night, for fear of catching one in a prop. As mentioned they demand more space, as when the wind changes you need to have worked out whether you will swing onto the buoy of another yacht. I complain, under my breath, about yachts at anchor without anchor lights, I have a similar view of unlit anchor buoys (fortunately anchor buoys are not that common here).

If we see an anchor buoy we try to keep as far away as possible - in case we do leave in the dark.

We are not a fan, but each to their own

Jonathan

 

[noelex]

Yes anchor buoys are a bit antisocial, especially in crowded anchorages. Try to reserve their use for conditions when they are really needed such as an anchorage with old abandoned moorings or large rocks.

It is not unknown for some people to use the anchor buoy in crowded anchorages to mark their territory, preventing others from anchoring too close upwind. Those that were irate were probably thinking this may have been your motivation, which was probably an unfair conclusion, but at least explains why others may have been upset.

Those that come and leave anchorages at night like fishermen are likely to be upset because they see the potential of wrapping a line around their prop from an unlit buoy.

 

[ctva]

I think people who use them are selfish, particlulary in a popular anchorage as they are demanding twice the room if everyone else.

Possibly not selfish but definitely unthinking. We saw a big SO54 in Puilldobhrain with an anchor buoy which caused some consternation amongst those already anchored as he didn't see (or didn't care) how it would affect them if the wind changed. Luckily we were just out of range.

There a very easy answer to anchor buoy , if you using it as a tripping line as we do at times when anchored in an area where the anchor may get caught up , all you need to do is use a line that will sink once settled remove the buoy and bring the line back to the bow , in that way , no one going to run over it or use it as a mooring .

I see many doing that. I both use an anchor buoy or a line led back in the appropriate situations, usually only if there is a danger of mooring ground tackle or other obstructions, otherwise, what is the point?

One idea I've to try is to use whipping twine or thin cable ties to seize the tripping line to the anchor chain so that it stays as a single, untangled unit with the tripping line finished at the max depth you would normally anchor in (for me that is ~20m). If it is required haul up the chain to get the tripping line which under pressure will break from the chain and use as normal.

 

[Poignard]

Easier to skow the anchor.

 

[whiteoaks7]

I take all your points. Not such a great issue in the med though, and in the cases I detailed the yacht was backed up to a quayside with a long line ashore.

 

[ctva]

Easier to skow the anchor.

Eh?

 

[Angele]

I take all your points. Not such a great issue in the med though, and in the cases I detailed the yacht was backed up to a quayside with a long line ashore.

Are you saying that you used an anchor buoy INSIDE a harbour? If so, then you are restricting the manoeuvring area of other harbour users in what is sometimes fairly restricted already (e.g. by buoys to which lazy lines have been tethered). Imagine if everyone did that. You could barely move without picking up a line around your prop.

Outside of a harbour, in an area not regularly used as an anchorage, fine.
Outside of a harbour, in a recognised anchorage, maybe.
Inside a harbour definitely not.

Now, I know Kastos, and maybe you are talking about being tied up to the pier that runs from the south side, but that you were OUTSIDE the harbour. If so, then probably ok, if a bit OTT. But, if you were on the INSIDE, no way!!

 

[sailaboutvic]

Possibly not selfish but definitely unthinking. We saw a big SO54 in Puilldobhrain with an anchor buoy which caused some consternation amongst those already anchored as he didn't see (or didn't care) how it would affect them if the wind changed. Luckily we were just out of range.



I see many doing that. I both use an anchor buoy or a line led back in the appropriate situations, usually only if there is a danger of mooring ground tackle or other obstructions, otherwise, what is the point?

One idea I've to try is to use whipping twine or thin cable ties to seize the tripping line to the anchor chain so that it stays as a single, untangled unit with the tripping line finished at the max depth you would normally anchor in (for me that is ~20m). If it is required haul up the chain to get the tripping line which under pressure will break from the chain and use as normal.

We anchor for about 9 months ever day each year and have been for the last 10 years .
just this year alone if we didn't use a tripping line in that circumstances we would had to dive to retrieve our anchor . Doing as I suggested if you have got to use a tripping line ,
will stop anyone getting their prop caught , stop another picking up the buoy thinking it's a mooring and wont interfere with other anchoring .
You may be a great diver but for May to dive down to 15m or even 10 to break away cable ties that won't break is not an option , even the smallest of cable ties can take some breaking , plus it a lot of trouble and can be costly all them ties anyway , where bring it back to the boat take no time at all .

We watch someone cut away a 3 month old Rocna last year because he could not release it in a storm .
I agree with everyone who say buoy used for tripping line can be a pain but if the need is there then you dam right stupid not to use one and if by not using one they lose their anchor , they get what you deserve.

 

[Poey50]

There is another solution ... http://www.anchorrescue.com

Not cheap but a) neither is a replacement Spade and b) what in the sailing world is?

We fitted one and it looks like it will do the job.

 

[sailaboutvic]

There is another solution ... http://www.anchorrescue.com

Not cheap but a) neither is a replacement Spade and b) what in the sailing world is?

We fitted one and it looks like it will do the job.

That look good in that situation, it wouldn't had help us when our chain went between two large rock , at 15 mts depth , the grap was so small that I would had force the chain to go in between , lucky for us we had a tripping line and was able to lift the anchor up then undo the anchor and pull the chain out .
Also there time when just tripping it in the way of that video isn't enough , you have to tow it back wards .
again that wouldn't work with that system .
In the situation as that video you wouldn't need to spend a fortune on that thing ,all you needed to do if you didn't have a tripping line rigged is slide a loop of chain with a line tied on to it then as the anchor shank rises the chain will fall over to .

 

[TOKOLOSHI]

Eh?

Images for skow the anchor:encouragement:

 

[Poey50]

That look good in that situation, it wouldn't had help us when our chain went between two large rock , at 15 mts depth , the grap was so small that I would had force the chain to go in between , lucky for us we had a tripping line and was able to lift the anchor up then undo the anchor and pull the chain out .
Also there time when just tripping it in the way of that video isn't enough , you have to tow it back wards .
again that wouldn't work with that system .

No, it wouldn't work in the first situation (above). Releasing more scope would allow the rope attached to the tripping system to give a backwards pull if long and strong enough.

 

[ctva]

...You may be a great diver but for May to dive down to 15m or even 10 to break away cable ties that won't break is not an option , even the smallest of cable ties can take some breaking , plus it a lot of trouble and can be costly all them ties anyway , where bring it back to the boat take no time at all ...

No one said anything about diving to 10-15m.

I did say, if your max depth is 20m, you will bring the end of the attached tripping line to the surface from where you can break it free. The small cable ties, which are pennies, or whipping twine break easily when you look at the forces involved.

It is an interesting idea worth a try to avoide the tangle that you can get in our swirling winds and tidal current changes on the west coast.

 

[Poignard]

Eh?

From the 1944 edition of "The Yacht Master's Guide" by F.G.G.Carr

"Q: What is meant by "skowing" an anchor?

A: Bending the cable with a clove hitch round the crown, as a buoy-rope is bent, and taking the standing part to the ring, to which it is stopped with spunyarn. In the event of the anchor getting foul of some obstruction, if a great vertical strain be put upon the warp, the stopping will part, and the anchor can then be lifted up by the crown."

 

[sailaboutvic]

No one said anything about diving to 10-15m.

I did say, if your max depth is 20m, you will bring the end of the attached tripping line to the surface from where you can break it free. The small cable ties, which are pennies, or whipping twine break easily when you look at the forces involved.

It is an interesting idea worth a try to avoide the tangle that you can get in our swirling winds and tidal current changes on the west coast.

So let see , you turn up in an anchorage it's blowing 25 30 kts and you just realise the ground may be foul , so while your partner or you are motoring round other yacht which are swinging wildly and the winds is blowing an old boots you or your partner are at the bow tieing on cable ties ,
well I rather just clip on the tripping line and be done with .
But if it works for you , that's great .