How often do you stay overnight on the hook?

[thecommander]

Last year we stayed around 10 night at anchor in the Solent. Most of those times we were the only motorboat anchoring overnight. Strange when we where surrounded by dozens of sailing yachts staying overnight!

I could never work out why so few motorboats stay overnight at anchor? Arguably motorboats (particularly the large ones) are well kitted out for nights on the hook - generators, proper cooking and sleeping facilities, anchor light etc.

Our 20fter, barely had enough overnight space for two people, but we loved the sense of adventure and it was a great way of getting away from it all - akin to camping. I loved getting up at first light and watching the cruise ships come into Southampton. Listening to the Today Programme on Radio 4 at 6am in an open cockpit with the sun already beating down. Paradise. Just surprised nobody else apart from the yachties seem to do it?

Interested to know how often you stay overnight at anchor, and if you don't the reasons.

 

[Bigplumbs]

This is what I am hoping to do on our little 19 footer Fletcher GTO. With the camper cover up, an ipad with some films on for the evening and the camper cover up I think it will be nice.

Having never done this before though I am a little worried about the anchor dragging.

Dennis

 

[Blue Sunray]

I certainly intend to, but returning to the area after over 20 years (and having moved up several sizes of boat and from sail to power) it all seems so crowded - where did you find best?

 

[KevB]

We anchor overnight a few times a season, mostly in Chichester harbour. Nothing better than waking early to a beautiful sunrise.

 

[prv]

I could never work out why so few motorboats stay overnight at anchor?

Going by the ones I walk past in the yard, it's because they have tiny toothpick-and-toilet-chain ground tackle that'll more than likely drag in the middle of the night

(Of course, it could equally well be the other way round and they only carry a lunch hook because they only ever intend to anchor for lunch.)

Pete

 

[DPH]

Problem with Marinas.
Have to get to the popular ones by mid afternoon or you'll risk not getting in.
Expensive
Chance of being rafted next to someone noisy or worse, complains about your noise.
Only so many marinas/new experiences in your local waters

I prefer to anchor most of the time, as you say normally just me and a few raggies but to be fair a 35ft yacht rocks less then a 50ft motor

 

[thecommander]

I certainly intend to, but returning to the area after over 20 years (and having moved up several sizes of boat and from sail to power) it all seems so crowded - where did you find best?

In the Solent, Osborne Bay and Newtown River are my favorites. Osborne Bay is a dream to anchor in/at with it's muddy seabed and shelter from the south westerlies.

Some people (usually the G&T crowd) like to complain about the roll at Osborne Bay, but it's absolutely fine for us in a 20'fter overnight.

Alumn Bay is also nice but very weather dependent. Some people talk about Ower Lake at Calshot being nice also. Hawkers Lake at Hurt Point is also meant to be nice.

 

[Nick_H]

You can also anchor at the bottom of the Beaulieu river, protected from Solent swell by the shingle spit, although it's nicer, and not very expensive, to take a buoy further up river.

 

[BruceK]

I prefer anchoring to overnighting in a foreign port. Here is the rub though, you normally anchor in the lee, however unless you can use a kedge which is difficult in our tides (up to 10m) the bow swings into the wind and any waves come in from behind and beat the swimplatform in a resounding tattoo. If you use a kedge it gets slack and you go beam on. If you keep the bow into the waves the forward berth pitches enough to get you airborne and takes some getting used to to get to sleep. I've had guests aboard who swear the boat is in rough seas, go to the cockpit and are surprised to see just half meter swells. In short, unless it's very calm, planing boats are not as calm at anchor as the yachties so overnighting on the hook is a rarer occurence than what I'd like because I need gentle if not millpond seas to really enjoy it. I'd love to know if I'm doing something wrong.... mill pond seas here are rare and unpredictable.

 

[Whitelighter]

the other solution is to get something that weighs 25 tonnes

 

[BruceK]

I'm 18 tonnes short then. Just a paltry 7 tonnes in a 34 footer. Maybe I'll encourage the admiral to bring the "kitchen sink" instead of rationing her

 

[Whitelighter]

I'm 18 tonnes short then. Just a paltry 7 tonnes in a 34 footer. Maybe I'll encourage the admiral to bring the "kitchen sink" instead of rationing her

you are lucky she doesnt anyway

7T is a pretty good weight for a 10m. most are closer to 5. solid boat i trust

 

[BruceK]

ahem, 11m, 'cause every inch counts . But she is remarkably solid and dry. No evidence of any flex (stress cracks or loose furnishings etc) anywhere which would show given her age and the pounding she has been through.

 

[prv]

Some people talk about Ower Lake at Calshot being nice also.

Not sure I'd call it nice, you're basically in the heavy-deliveries entrance for the power station, but it's certainly a convenient location for those of us with slow boats. When I had a 24 footer that did 4 knots, I'd quite often leave on Friday after work, take half the evening getting down Southampton Water, then anchor overnight at Owers Lake and be out into the Solent first thing the next morning.

Bit different for most on here, of course

Pete

 

[paul salliss]

The truth for us is

As a family we lack confidence in this area , overnight on a mooring buoy is fine though, no probs with that at all, I am happy with the solitude , family happy knowing we won't move

 

[Flynnbarr]

ahem, 11m, 'cause every inch counts . But she is remarkably solid and dry. No evidence of any flex (stress cracks or loose furnishings etc) anywhere which would show given her age and the pounding she has been through.

Only ever read good things about Formula boats.
Race boat pedigree in America.

 

[Murv]

Only ever done it the once in our 22' planing boat.
Spent a lovely evening watching the sun go down until the wind picked up..
Come midnight, it was blowing a steady 45 knots (we were in the shelter of the estuary) but the noise and the constant, relentless worry of the anchor dragging, which was confounded by the anchor alarm keep losing gps and going off as soon as my eyes shut for more than 3 seconds meant it wasn't an overly enjoyable experience.
Fully intend doing a lot more in the new (bigger) boat though

 

[BruceK]

Only ever read good things about Formula boats.
Race boat pedigree in America.

You made my day Thank you. Mine is a old lass, but she's mine, paid up, and we rather love her, except to soft furnishing colour scheme. That bit is 'orrid, .....but we have a plan.....just as soon as the Admiral and I agree....

 

[thecommander]

It can be quite a sleepless night, but that's all part of the fun and sense of adventure. During the summer months it isn't long before daylight arrives and the subsequent day at anchor definitely makes up for any lost sleep.

Before setting off we always check there's not going to be any overnight thunderstorms and that the wind isn't going to suddenly pick up. I also let a family member ashore know of our intentions. Throughout the night I take transits every couple of hours, check the anchor light is still on and go forward and check that chain and warp looks ok. I also have a scan around the anchorage and see if the other boats are ok. Lastly I set multiple anchor drag alarms, one on the chart plotter and one on my phone just incase I don't wake up or the boat battery runs flat. Other than that it's a great night and the sunrises are priceless.

 

[sprocker]

Having moved up to a 7m last year, we are planning to attempt a few nights at anchor this year. It is all very new to us, but we spent a few days anchored during the day last year in locations that I think would be nice and sheltered for overnight anchoring. Totally weather dependent of course until my dearly beloved gains in confidence.

I just need to make sure that our anchoring procedure is solid, and the kit is good enough for overnight. I'm sure it will be a nervous first night, with little sleep!