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

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

The only connection with a windlass in this post is that it's probably a windup.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

There was an excellent demonstration of anchoring techniques at LIBS this year. I did see an ad for the forthcoming Earls Court show which included reference to "Anchor Watch" amongst the special features which I took to be a repeat of the LIBS demo. However I cannot find a reference on the ECBS website. It is worth finding out if it is being re-run at ECBS because, for a newbie, it's worth the price of the ticket (discounted obviously).

If all else fails I can PM you after the 4th December because I'm due to attend the show on that day to man the WOA stand.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Hi,
Un-orthodox but here is my usual, single-handed, method.
I bring the anchor and chain back to the cockpit OUTSIDE of everything. That means pulpit, shrouds and guardrail. With the chain, all of it, lying neatly on the foredeck, proceed at a good speed, going downwind, to your previously selected anchor-spot. When you get there, lob the anchor overside, shut the engine/drop the sails and watch the chain and rode pay out neatly. Snap. The bow snubs. Boat swings round to face the anchor and wind. Anchor digs in, kettle whistle blows, cup is filled. Look around you. Smile.
This technique works a treat. All my novice, and still much of my current sailing is in North Devon where there are no marinas and every harbour dries. If you go anywhere you either tie up to a wall, anchor or dry out. Point is, one does a hell of a lot of anchoring. Obviously you have checked the depth at your chosen spot, you have plenty of room, you know how to flake a chain and coil a rode (it must unwind from the top) and your primary concern is not convention.
Right. That's my bit said. I'll sit back and wait for the flack. Seriously though, assuming it won't put you down on another boat, it is hard to have to much line out. Just a little harder to get it back in, but peace of mind is all.
Nicki
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

[ QUOTE ]
one place where anchoring technique doesn't figure prominently seems to be on RYA courses

[/ QUOTE ] Well, it should do - it's in the syllabus. Even DS Practical usually involves anchoring under sail, sailing an anchor out and lots of general anchoring practice. I have run a couple of courses myself as a cruising instructor and we have always spent at least two nights at anchor in addition to lunch stops and general anchoring practice (and theory).
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Here are two other methods of anchoring which are seen regularly in the Caribbean - perhaps in the Med as well?
However I hasten to add that I am sure that everyone on here will agree with me that these methods are not recommended - rather I mention them so you know what not to do!

The first is very popular amongst bareboat charterers. They come into an anchorage (under power), find a nice spot, usually so that they end up almost on top of the nearest boat to leeward, pay out enough cable so that the anchor is just kissing the bottom, and then broach the rum punches. Wind picks up by a few knots and they start to drag rapidly, usually at 0200 hrs...... Often a request is heard 'Oh, can we chuck some ropes over and stay alongside you for the rest of the night' as they are graunching along your topsides......
They might eventually cotton on that they need more than 1:1.1 scope after they have dragged in every anchorage.....

The next method is popular amongst the liveaboard fraternity, especially the ubiquitous 'small' rusty homebuilt steel yachts sporting tattered tricolours - they come sailing in (to save on diesel), tacking expertly up through the anchorage, find a suitable spot, approach it downwind at full speed, lob the anchor and all the chain over in one go, and round up smartish when the anchor bites.
If it dont bite, no worries, have another go. If it does, you know you can sleep soundly.
Drop the sails, and break out the pastis and the 5 litre bag of vin ordinaire.
These guys have got style and panache in abundance!
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

With all chain, I use 1:3 re depth/anchor chain.

But tend to let out 30m chain anyway.

But if anchoring for several days, you need to be aware of the tidal curve, ie whether the tides are getting biggre of smaller.

Dragged a few times, Saundersfoot, The Cove St Agnes, and Pwlddu Gower. Fine sand was one excuse, and not letting enough chain out was the other.

Dragging may well mean upping anchor and resetting at the desired point, this time with more chain.

No fear, just as long as its not the middle of the night.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

[ QUOTE ]
... How do you tie it off.

[/ QUOTE ]
Frankly, the replies you've had to this question so far do this Forum no credit!
There is really only one satisfactory way to secure the anchor chain of a small boat to a post, winch or cleat, and it is dead simple to do. Perhaps not so simple to describe, but here goes:
1. You wrap the chain coming from the bow-roller twice round the post/winch/cleat and keep the part in hand fairly tight to hold the load;
2. Take the next couple of feet of slack chain and pass it, on the deck, under the taut chain between post/winch/cleat and bow roller.
3. Now pick up that loop, drop it over the post/winch/cleat, pull back the surplus slack and take another full turn round the post in the opposite direction to the earlier turns.
You should see the chain taking at least one 180-degree turn around its own loaded part.
That is what locks the chain in place, and it can always be unlocked by reversing the procedure. NEVER fasten chain round a cleat with a standard 'locking turn' you would use for rope: if it has to take a snatch-load it can become so well locked that you will need a hacksaw or bolt-croppers to release it.
If the post/winch/cleat cannot accommodate the turns, either the chain is over-size or the post/whatever is too small for the boat.
I suggest practice with a piece of rope on a bedpost!
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

The key, and some would say the art, lies in assessing what's on the bottom where you want to hang the hook. Wreckage or nice mud/sand/shingle? Wreckage (look at chart) and rocks (look at chart) present certain limitations - avoid.

After that it's easy to work out what 3 times the maximum depth under the boat is/will be, and slowly pay out the hook and that much line as the boat drops back. Give the line a tug with the engine until the anchor line rises taut: she's in, or not. Repeat if necessary.

All the rest is refinement.

PS if you expect an anchor to hold a boat with high sides in a very strong wind, you will be disappointed. It won't.

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

[ QUOTE ]


PS if you expect an anchor to hold a boat with high sides in a very strong wind, you will be disappointed. It won't.

PWG

[/ QUOTE ]

Be interested to know what makes you say the above....
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Hi Jeff. Some dos and don'ts
The boat needs to be stopped or going backwards slowly. (obviously not necessary from previous post but perhaps simplest.)
Lay the anchor into the water by the chain. Do not throw the anchor. It needs to be laid out so there is no chance the chain can wrap around the anchor. Feed out sufficient rode. ie 5 times water depth for rope rode and 3 times depth for chain.

You need then to determine if the anchor is dug in. Around here it is into the water to have a look. (sorry about that we have had a heat wave all week max over 37)
If you are using all chain you need a snubber or something to soften the snatch loads. A piece of nylon rope taking the load or a rubber section. I seldom see all chain anchor rode here so rope does the snubbing automatically.

Keep an eye on your drift for some time to be sure it is dug in.

The anchor is raised by lifting, the chain is vertical , this will get the anchor out of the sand. Hence the need for a horizontal pull if you want it to hold. Just do it Jeff. If you find it doesn't hold then something is wrong olewill
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Can't believe anyone is talking about wrapping chain around cleats. Do you really want to spend all night listening to sea floor talking to stemhead?
Snubber.
NIcki
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Windage Mike.
Anchored off Fuertaventura and dragged. Took the surfboards off the bow guardrails and stopped dragging.
Peter, Complete agreement.
Nicki
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

I have often used a similar method under sail but I deploy the anchor from the bow. OK on boats with a long pointy stem, I suspect more fashionable bow profiles might be damaged by chain.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

The description sounds like a tugboat hitch. Certainly the correct thing to use with a samson post or winch drum but I'd never use it myself. I don't like the idea of handling chain under load and it means you'll be kept awake all night by the noise. Wrapping chain round an ordinary cleat has those disadvantages plus the risk of a jam that can only be cleared with a hacksaw.

Because I have a cat I always use a bridle and attach it to the chain with a rolling hitch but even with a mono I would advise using a rope snubber attached to the chain with a hook or rolling hitch. Secure the snubber on deck then let out more chain until it hangs in a bight and the rope takes the load.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Ref; Nikki and Snowleopard; I limited myself to answering the one question on securing the chain. Securing a quiet night is another: I agree; nylon line, rolling hitch, chain hook, rubber snubber etc: All inviting 'What's That?' or 'How do you?' etc, We could end up writing a book on the Forum.
So maybe the best answers to CaptBob in the first place might have been
'Go find a good book on the subject' OR
'Take a course at a decent Sea School' OR
'Invite an experienced YM instructor on board for an afternoon'

I don't think the Forum is the right medium for basic training.
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

Two things missed so far on this thread.

1. Once you think you've set the anchor, if you're aiming to sleep or go ashore, test it. That means gently applying up to full astern (on an AWB) to make sure nothing slides along the bottom.

2. All those who only put out 3:1 scope will drag backwards on the test above (unless they've hooked a massive ground snag), so they'll only be good for F4 maximum. Fine for a lunch hook. For me, that's no good for sleeping . . .
 
Re: I\'ve never anchored. How do you do it exactly?

My boat has a large cleat in the center of the foredeck and in my early days I used to take the chain to that and make it fast by turning lots of figure of 8s.

After being kept awake by the chain clunking from side to side in the roller fitting i've changed the technique a bit. After making the chain fast I then hitch a mooring line to the chain, make the other end fast to a cleat and then let out some more chain until its slack and the boat is holding to the mooring line attached to the chain. Works fine.

My understanding is that snubbing refers to when the chain is pulled tight, so effectively the boat is pulling directly on the anchor. The danger is that this could cause the anchor to be pulled out of the ground (partly due to the angle of pull and partly due to the force of the pull) and you will drag.

Normally you will have enough chain down (and 'enough chain' depends on the conditions) so that its mass provides a cushioning affect and prevents snubbing as the boat sheers about while at the anchor.

If you follow the 4:1 rule the danger is that you won't have enought chain down in shallow water and therefore you may snub the anchor because there's not enough mass to cushion the boats movement. I normally use at least 15-20m depending on conditions and then start applying the 4:1 rule after that. I adjust this for windstrength so 4:1 <F4, 5:1 for F5, 6:1 for F6 and so on.

I've anchored in upto F7/8 and when its blowing the bows are blown off sometimes as far as beam on to the wind, the weight of the chain then pulls the boat back, momentum carries her through the wind and she is then blown onto the opposite tack, sometimes at an alarming speed. This carries on all night. The boat goes from one tack to the next, that's what I mean by sheering (others may call it different things). This habit can depend on the design of the boat.

You'll find it all out by experience.

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

Hi bob,i to am an anchoring novice,the way i do it is get lots of chain up onto the fore deck,and i mean lots,make sure the anchor chain is in the roller thingy, let go the anchor keeping away from the chain running out,when its stops running out go astern until you stop,make tea etc,the fun part comes when you want to go again,i pull as much chain in by hand as i can then motor slowly ahead till the chain looks like its going under the boat,then pull,up it comes covered in mud and stuff,a bucket of water is handy at this point to wash the foredeck,also a pair of gardening gloves for my other halfs hands as she pulls the anchor up whilst i do the important stuff down aft,it seems to work ok.
 
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