I've never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

CaptainBob

CaptainBob

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I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

As title says... how exactly do you anchor?

So you measure the depth and work out how much chain to lay out using the standard 4xdepth thing.

You let out that much chain.

Then what? How do you secure the chain at a certain distance out? Wrapping chain around a cleat seems wrong somehow.

At the end of my chain, it's attached to my boat using a small bit of 3mm chord through a small hole in the v-berth bunk! Good job I checked that!!

Thanks, apologies for a totally stupid newbie question... gotta learn somehow tho!!
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

First consider the ground type and the anchor you have. Then look at the conditions, where is the wind coming from, is the tide up or down and what effect will a change of either have on your boat's position. If anchoring for a while make sure a rising tide does not lift you off, remember that you will end up downwind of your anchor and that it may not set straight away too.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Yep, ta, I know the theory about that kind of stuff... but how do you physically set a certain amount of chain to be out, rather than ALL of it out? How do you tie it off.

Sorry, could have worded my question better.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Thats the sort of question that really requires the info, missing, on your profile to provide an answer, Bob.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

If you have all chain, then you could use one of these
Chain Hook

Attach a piece of rope to the eye, and tie that off on a cleat. Has the advantage, if you let the rope out over the bow roller, of not causing as much noise as chain over a bow roller.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

My tip - anchor for the first time for lunch. Then you can happily sit in the cockpit, checking that you are not drifting, and, if you do, you've got plenty of time to sort it out.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

[ QUOTE ]

Then what? How do you secure the chain at a certain distance out? Wrapping chain around a cleat seems wrong somehow.

[/ QUOTE ]

Works for us.

I just work out how much chain I'm going to veer out - flake it out on deck (usually anchor well to shrouds and back) - pick my spot - engine in neutral - kick anchor over the side - gently reverse till you feel anchor's starting to "bite" - switch off engine - enjoy.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Lay out the chain on deck to the required length; marks on the chain at 5m intervals help with this.

The rope attaching the chain to the locker is in case you need to slip the anchor in an emergency - cut the rope!

Cleat the chain off on a cleat or use a hook and warp as above, or a rolling hitch on the chain can work, tied off to a cleat.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

As a starter, here's how I do it.
Establish depth using a the sounder or a lead line. Work out the scope of chain/warp you need to lay... you suggest depth x4 but you might want more depending on conditions and whether you are using all-chain, chain and warp etc.
With the anchor on the bow roller flake out chain/warp on the foredeck making sure it won't snag on fixtures. You will need to mark your chain/warp do you know how much is payed out.
I take a couple of turns round a sampson post, then round a cleat and then lock it on the windlass gypsy.
Drop the anchor while reversing if you can so the chain doesn't land on top of the anchor. Reverse in the direction of the wind or tide, whichever has the greater influence on the boat until the anchor bites.
Take a couple of bearings for reference so you know if you are dragging.
Finally... spend most of the night worrying.
 
Pay it out fast, at first...

till you feel the anchor touch bottom, then pay out slowly as she drops back on the tide, wind or under engine power.

You're right that you can make the chain or cable fast to cleat, sampson post or bitts, beforehand. Make sure it's done so you can let it go, if need be, under load (ie lead from stemhead to bottom of cleat, then a full turn, then some figure of eights with the chain coming off the top of the cleat).

Be careful of fingers at all times - chain is very dangerous stuff.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Type 'anchoring techniques' into Google. You'll find a wealth of experience there, along with some dodgy and some frankly incorrect advice. Just the same as you'll get here.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

There's an article on anchoring on my website under 'cruising resources' which should give you the basics.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

do a search over on mbc.. there was a long thread on this in the summer
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

There are books and books full of this sort of info (anyone care to update my vintage titles?) so switch off PC and do some reading.

Perhaps 'Captain' was an unrealistic choice of pen-name?
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Yes. But the one place where anchoring technique doesn't figure prominently seems to be on RYA courses of one sort or another -- a major blindspot for an essential skill (when all else fails, it's your brakes, for instance). Like all skills, it can be straightforward in benign circumstances, yet demanding in others and one you never stop refining.

Individual boats and circumstances are so varied that my advice to CaptainBob (whilst agreeing with everything else above), would be to ask someone experienced in the matter to go out with him. And/or even grind out a productive hour's anchoring experience over a beer.

It's worth it, Bob. Leaving a marina/harbour just doesn't compare to lifting the hook on a lovely morning and ghosting away on the breeze.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

[ QUOTE ]
Yes. But the one place where anchoring technique doesn't figure prominently seems to be on RYA courses of one sort or another -- a major blindspot for an essential skill (when all else fails, it's your brakes, for instance).

[/ QUOTE ]

Featured highly in Yachtmaster. Was also told it featured equally in Coastal Skipper. The Dayskippers who crewed for me during the exam said they had been taught anchoring under power, but not sail ... although they assisted with my anchoring under sail.

i think the question boiled down to "how do you secure the chain on deck?"

I either leave mine on the windlass, or I tie a rolling hitch around it aswell, slacken the chain so the weight is taken on the rope.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

The cord at the end of your chain is known as the 'bitter end' - hence the phrase 'carry on to the bitter end'. As mentioned above, it is cord,not shackle, so can be cut in emergency.
Rather than lay required length of chain on deck you could mark chain at 5m intervals with different coloured string. Have the colour code written with felt tip pen on underside of locker lid. Then you can lower anchor straight from chain locker, We too use chain hook attached to stretchy anchor plait rope and then to cleat. Reduces snubbing
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

[ QUOTE ]
Head above parapet time. Some practical tuition/help might be in order. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I think a first, before doing any anchoring, change that bit of 3mm line at the bitter end.
 
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