How often do you stay overnight on the hook?

thecommander said:
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.
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That's very diligent of you, but it's no wonder some people read stuff like that and think "bugger that, I'm off to a marina"!

I set the anchor, test it with a good pull in reverse, then crack open a beer, have dinner, and go to bed :)

Pete
 
prv said:
That's very diligent of you, but it's no wonder some people read stuff like that and think "bugger that, I'm off to a marina"!

I set the anchor, test it with a good pull in reverse, then crack open a beer, have dinner, and go to bed :)

Pete
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If they think that then all the more space for me haha! and what's so difficult about getting up every few hours to check things are ok?
 
As a humble rag sailor I always assumed that a flat bottomed motor boat hull will be more uncomfortable in a swell, I think DPH has confirmed this.

The other assumption I always made is that, in places like the Solent, a power boat can go home in half an hour, sleep on a paid for mooring and come back the next day.
 
doug748 said:
As a humble rag sailor I always assumed that a flat bottomed motor boat hull will be more uncomfortable in a swell, I think DPH has confirmed this.

The other assumption I always made is that, in places like the Solent, a power boat can go home in half an hour, sleep on a paid for mooring and come back the next day.
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I agree with all that (except the 'umble bit :D) There is something magical about having a seascape all around, tho'.
 
Sneds said:
I'd love to but the 11M tidal range in the Bristol Channel puts me off!
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I like anchoring in Brittany as the big tidal range means a lot of marinas have access restricted to the top of the tide. Just let out more chain/rope Sneds,
 
I have anchored my V52 caravan very happily in Polkeris bay, Cornwall for 3 nights (and others). Provided conditions don't change , I don't drag whilst awake, I am a reasonable distance from shore and I set my anchor alarm I sleep very comfortably. That is one reason anchors are supplied with boats. I just wait for the right conditions though. Bliss
 
I generally do around 10 weeks a year on board of which about 60-70% of nights are spent on the anchor. Obviously key to have good (i.e. oversized!) ground tackle and in the Med, with no tide and or meaningful current to think about, the only real risk is the wind picking up overnight. So I have a wind alarm repeater next to my berth which is set to 25 knots; so I can sleep soundly until and unless the alarm goes off, which it rarely does! A very simple set-up that has allowed us endless nights on the hook which we find infinitely preferable to being in a marina. And it's free, of course!
 
We spent 44 nights on the boat last year, out of that (only) 36% on the hook. Probably because most town quays in Greece are free, and since we avoid boating during the high season, there is always some free space left. The years before, we were cruising Croatia and spent much more nights on anchor.

I do also use an anchor app on my Iphone which fortunately woke me up on Erikoussa (anchor broke out because of wind direction change + strong gusts. Then swapped the old anchor with a 85 lbs. Mantus, which is enough for my 48'. Did not have any problem since btw). I also purchased the Navis anemometer (connected to the Iphone as well) which was recommended by Deleted User and eager to test it!

I don't know how you sleep while being on anchor. SWMBO sleeps like a stone (even better than at home), but I sleep very lightly and get awake if there is only a slight change in motion or noise. I will then always get up and do a control round. I love being alone in an anchorage, nowadays a real privilege, but I must say that I miss a little (only) the last 1% for a perfect deep recovery sleep. Maybe I'am just too over cautious.
 
One of the reasons I didn't use to fancy anchoring out overnight was that I never had confidence in the anchor. Motorboat builders habitually fit undersized anchors and chains to their boats which are really only safe for lunchtime stops which, after all, is as much anchoring as most mobos do. In contrast many yachts are fitted with decent sized anchors because the builders know that their owners will want to anchor out overnight regularly. Then there is the fact that yachts have a lot less windage anyway so no wonder that yotties feel more comfortable about overnight anchoring than moboers.

On my last 3 boats however, I've upgraded the anchor to a considerably larger size and on one boat increased the chain size too. Now I feel confident in staying out overnight even in dodgy weather and anchor overnight maybe 1 night in 3 on the boat on average
 
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