cliff
Active member
Can't speak for others but I always use a tripping line. I prefer the pulley and weight method and a float (small fender marked "tripping line - no mooring"). I usually anchor in 6~ 10 metres so my tripping line is 15 metres long with the anchor end marked of in metre lengths so if anchoring in 6 metres at low tide I tie the anchor on at the 5 metre mark leaving me ~4 metres for tide rise and keeping the weight (large shackle) 2 metres of the bottom at low water - never had anyone lift the marker and have needed to trip the anchor on a number of occasions. I also carry a short length of chain for the Hiscock method just in case.
Another interesting method which I have only seen used twice is to use another anchor! - let me explain, a friend (nameless to protect the guilty) came steaming into an anchorage and dropped his hook as he passed my stern thinking the depth was OK as I was already anchored, steams ahead to set the anchor then reverses to lie behind me. Unfortunately he was a little close to another boat so decides to lift his hook and move it a little forward and raft up to me so we would sit on the two anchors and enjoy a few sundowners. when he tried to lift his hook it was well snagged even with the windlass it would not move more than a couple of feet up. (we where anchored near an abandoned fish farm). Tried tripping line (broke it) tried Hiscock method - NFG so muggins starts to break out the diving gear when along comes an ex RN type and says "I know what to do" and proceeds to haul the anchor as far as possible, drop the kedge anchor with new heavy tripping line, snag the kedge anchor, loosen the main anchor and jiggle it free and lift it then took the strain on the kedge tripping line and released the kedge chain causing the kedge to rotate and drop whatever the anchor was fouled on (old mooring chain?)
All this talk of snagged anchors - anyone know what the most common snag is - old mooring chain, underwater cables, ..........?
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Another interesting method which I have only seen used twice is to use another anchor! - let me explain, a friend (nameless to protect the guilty) came steaming into an anchorage and dropped his hook as he passed my stern thinking the depth was OK as I was already anchored, steams ahead to set the anchor then reverses to lie behind me. Unfortunately he was a little close to another boat so decides to lift his hook and move it a little forward and raft up to me so we would sit on the two anchors and enjoy a few sundowners. when he tried to lift his hook it was well snagged even with the windlass it would not move more than a couple of feet up. (we where anchored near an abandoned fish farm). Tried tripping line (broke it) tried Hiscock method - NFG so muggins starts to break out the diving gear when along comes an ex RN type and says "I know what to do" and proceeds to haul the anchor as far as possible, drop the kedge anchor with new heavy tripping line, snag the kedge anchor, loosen the main anchor and jiggle it free and lift it then took the strain on the kedge tripping line and released the kedge chain causing the kedge to rotate and drop whatever the anchor was fouled on (old mooring chain?)
All this talk of snagged anchors - anyone know what the most common snag is - old mooring chain, underwater cables, ..........?
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