How much do you trust an anchor?

[Guest]

Just a quickie

Taking boat (Hardy) to wilds of Scotland next week - planning to camp on it - but how safe is it to find a nice sheltered bay, set the anchor and turn in for the night? I've slept on the boat loads before in marinas / pontoons, tied to visitors pontoons or moored on a river, but never in the open so to speak. Can I really trust the anchor - even if well set? Should I be getting up every 2 hours to check the GPS? I know that some of this will come down to reading weather and sea state, but is this a normal / safe thing to do and has anyone had experience of this type of coast hopping?

Thanks in advance

Ian

 

[jfm]

Re: Live dangerously...

Done it loads of times on charter in Caribbean, though not in UK (cept once, in the rather sheltered Dandy Hole). Never a problem. Just used the one anchor, didn't muck about with kedge. Did use a snubber though because don't trust the windlass, and the snubber keeps the chain noise down. I tend to set the GPS alarm though often they give out such a wimpy bleep that you'd never wake up anyway. If you check the weather and have a decent anchor and chain you should be fine. You'll be anchoring in sheltered places anyway else too uncomfortable

JFM

 

[DavidJ]

Ian
Don't trust the anchor, or at least not the one supplied with the boat. I bought an additional 22lb anchor for my Sealine 24ft which holds well. Could put both out on a V. Do you have anchor watch on your depth echo sounder or an alarm on your GPS. Rest easy
David

 

[Guest]

I do my boating in Scotland and have cruised most places on the West Coast.

1) Scotland has a load of inland passages i.e. you have an island between you and the Atlantic and almost no matter where you are on the West coast (I assume that's where you are headed), shelter can be found. Buy a Scottish cruising association guide (circa £12) found in any marina chandlers.

2) The bottom varies a lot and certain anchors do better in certain circumstances - rock, sand, etc. A Bruce anchor is a good compromise for most locations

3) Have plenty of chain on the anchor. This is almost more important than he weight of anchor itself. Ideally have the whole length of mooring line in chain. This should be at least 3x the depth anchored in, allowing for tides (typically on the west coast no more than 3m). If you have some rope, ensure you have at least the length of boat + 50% in chain between anchor and rope.

4) The Highlands and Islands development board have visitors moorings everywhere, certainly in all the popular mooring areas e.g. Tobermory, Clyde, Ardfern, etc., etc. These are blue in colour and generally 15 ton certified and more than enough for a Hardy - no need to anchor.

Do not worry too much about anchoring. Just pay attention to the weather forecast and pick a sheltered spot accordingly. Also set your GPS and Sounder alarms to suit and then have a good night's sleep. Once you have cruised the West of Scotland, anything else in the UK will seem second best. The scenery is stunning and the hostelries are both excellent and can give you a serious headache for several days. If it is the West coast you are visiting, let me know the area and I can give you tips.

Nick

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Ian, whilst it's not common with motorboats, at least around the UK, there's a certain satisfaction to anchoring overnight and providing the holding is good you should'nt have a problem. Obviously you have to check the weather and, if its blowing a bit, say more than F4, its safer tied up in a marina. Check the size of your anchor with the manufacturers specification; its amazing how boat builders try to save a few pennies by fitting the minimum anchor size for the length of boat. Buy a bigger anchor if necessary, assuming your bow roller can take it. Check the condition of the shackle and chain and make sure the (bitter) end of the chain is secured to the boat by rope so that it can be cut in emergency.
When you anchor, leave plenty of room to swing and astern, so that if you drag, there's room to do so. If you sleep in the fore cabin, you should hear it dragging anyway. Setting the anchor watch on your GPS is a good idea but only if you can hear the alarm

 

[Guest]

Hoping to be based in Applecross (or thereabouts) - Have visited the region with the boat before, but stayed near Plockton - so I know there are visitors moorings there.

Hoping to explore more of the inner islands (Raasay, rhona, scalpay etc) - also understand there is a music festival on Skye next week so should be popping ion to Portree.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all this advice - really useful
I'm a bit wary as I left the boat on a mooring whilst in scotland a couple of years ago - As high winds were forecast I put the anchor out as a bit of added security - not set, just over the side in case the mooring broke during the night . . . it did - and the anchor (danforth and slightly oversize for boat) dragged because a stone got wedged between the shaft and one of the flukes. The boat was fine but it went for quite a walk and it's made me a bit twichy ever since!

 

[Guest]

As it happens, the boss and I are visiting Skye this weekend (Portree) but by car. Have a good trip and I'll look out for a Hardy in the harbour. Sail Scotland do a booklet giving the location of visitor moorings. They usually have it on their website but this is being updated at present.

Nick