Newby anchoring question

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shortstrip

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I'm new to this forum so, Hello to you all, and may I pick your brains on a small matter?
I've just purchased a 16ft, open, day/fishing boat, with a 18hp outboard, which I will be launching in the Christchurch area. The aim is to use it for pottering about, visiting beaches and a little light fishing. It will come out at the end of the day and definately won't be mooring overnight anywhere.
Unfortunately it doesn't come with an anchor so I wanted some advice on which type to get. Would a simple grapple one be sufficient or do I need a more substantial (and expensive) plough / Bruce type? Do I definately need chain as well or will rope alone be sufficient? I'm assuming the bottom in this area is generally sand or mud? What sort of length do I need?
Any help on this would be very welcome plus any general advice for this area.
Thanks
 
You need a proper anchor, such as the Bruce, 5kg to 6kg.

You must have some chain. Minimum of a boat length, i'd go for a length and a half (24 feet) of 6mm chain. The as much rope so you have a minimum of 3 times the depth of the deepest water you will anchor in, more if you have room.

10mm rope will be strong enough, but can be hard on your hands. So i'd suggest some 12mm, 3 strand nylon.

http://www.ropesandtwines.com/products.asp?cat=30
 
shortstrip said:
I'm new to this forum so, Hello to you all, and may I pick your brains on a small matter?
I've just purchased a 16ft, open, day/fishing boat, with a 18hp outboard, which I will be launching in the Christchurch area. The aim is to use it for pottering about, visiting beaches and a little light fishing. It will come out at the end of the day and definately won't be mooring overnight anywhere.
Unfortunately it doesn't come with an anchor so I wanted some advice on which type to get. Would a simple grapple one be sufficient or do I need a more substantial (and expensive) plough / Bruce type? Do I definately need chain as well or will rope alone be sufficient? I'm assuming the bottom in this area is generally sand or mud? What sort of length do I need?
Any help on this would be very welcome plus any general advice for this area.
Thanks
Click to expand...

I'm a fellow fisherman who fishes around the same area you do. If you can get a grapple made from welding rods then great as you need to be able to straighten the tines to get the anchor out the rocks. Personally, I wouldn't waste money on expensive anchors, you'll lose then in the rocks around Christchurch Ledge pretty quickly

My advice would be to get a Danforth copy type about 5kg (about £30 or less) and about 10m of 8mm chain (you need the chain to help the anchor dig in) with a minimum of 50m of nylon rode.Most of the places worth anchoring around Christchurch are at least 10m deep and you'll need that much line to successfully hold bottom.

Make sure that you trip the anchor ie attach the anchor chain to the front of the anchor and then tie the top of the shank with cable ties to the chain. The types of places where you'll be fishing are real anchor grabbers and if you don't set it up for tripping you'll lose an anchor per fishing trip...

Best of luck.
 
For a temporary fishing anchor you could get a chunk of 6" diam steel bar with half a link of chain welded to it from a scrappy for a few quid. It should be about as heavy as you can manhandled on the boat. You WILL need chain for at least 3m (6m is better) to prevent the rope chafing on sea bed rocks. It will be unreliable for overnighting, but as a picnic/ fishing weight it will be cheap & work fine - & it will never get stuck, but it may drag in bad weather/ strong tides.
 
shortstrip said:
I'm new to this forum so, Hello to you all, and may I pick your brains on a small matter?
I've just purchased a 16ft, open, day/fishing boat, with a 18hp outboard, which I will be launching in the Christchurch area. The aim is to use it for pottering about, visiting beaches and a little light fishing. It will come out at the end of the day and definately won't be mooring overnight anywhere.
Unfortunately it doesn't come with an anchor so I wanted some advice on which type to get. Would a simple grapple one be sufficient or do I need a more substantial (and expensive) plough / Bruce type? Do I definately need chain as well or will rope alone be sufficient? I'm assuming the bottom in this area is generally sand or mud? What sort of length do I need?
Any help on this would be very welcome plus any general advice for this area.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Ploughs and Bruces are exactly what you don't want; ploughs are just hopeless per se, and Bruces/claws are pretty useless at small scales. Result: you need a much heavier anchor than is really necessary.

I would suggest a 4 kg Rocna but it's probably overkill for what you need.

I more or less second ChrisE's advice actually. You probably want a small Danforth. Do rig a trip of some sort, either with a breakaway system or find a Danforth with a slotted shank for the rode to slide forward along. Alternatively use a buoyed retrieval line. Danforths are a tad delicate and won't stand much abuse (you'll bend 'em if they get stuck).

You do need a little chain to get the rode clear of rock and other underwater obstacles. Otherwise you will chafe through that rope one day. But the length can be minimal, just a few meters, use light nylon line for the rest.

Keep this system's restrictions in mind - it'll be great for what you need, but don't anchor overnight or leave the boat unattended, nor anchor around reefs or the like without a longer length of chain.
 
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Hi,
No dude, according to me 5-6kg anchor should be suitable for his boat.
And i wanna ask that have to fixed you problem?
Thanks
 
You can't properly set a Danforth to trip.

Suggestions of using minimal amounts of chain and saying that chain is there to protect the rope is incorrect.

The chain is there to set the anchor and a correctly sized and length of chain is as important as the anchor.

To the OP, if you want a few more opinions from other boaters with small angling boats, try here :

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=77
 
craigsmith said:
Wrong on all counts.
Click to expand...

Really ?

How do you set a Danforth to trip with your breakaway system ?

I should think most of the forum use plough style anchors and lots of chain. I'm sure they'll be concerned to learn that they are hopeless.

They'll probably be relieved to hear that they only need minimal chain though. That should save a bit of money and reduce some weight.
 
PaulGooch said:
You can't properly set a Danforth to trip.
Click to expand...

Says who? I've a Danforth on my boat set to trip, as do a fair proportion of the charter skippers around here.

Having lost 3 anchors on Christchurch Ledge when we first started out, we've lost none since setting up to trip. It is quite simple just attach the chain to the hole in the shank where the tines pivot via a shackle. Then thread cable ties through the hole at the top of the shank and attach to the chain.
 
A good old fashioned Fisherman anchor is well worth considering if you are likely to anchor amonst rocks. They are relatively cheap, very easy to set up to trip and hold well in rock, although maybe not so good in soft mud or sand. I use a Danforth or Fisherman depending on where I wish to anchor and I have anchored amongst some horrendous rocks, luckily the trip has saved me on many occasions.
20 to 30 feet of chain is essential, to go without is not an option. You will not hold with any anchor in even the weakest tide or wind without chain.
 
I belong to one of the largest small boat angling clubs on the south coast including ChrisE. A large proportion of our members fish exactly the area you are talking about. The maximum depth you will fish inshore is 70-80' usually less unless you go way offshore. Most of our members use Bruce or Bruce copies that are available if you shop around for under £30 . Attach either a 5 or 6 kilo Bruce to about 7 - 8 metres of 6mm chain. Purpose of chain is as described by Paul it aids the anchor to bite in and stop chafe. Follow with 100 metres of 10 or 12mm warp. Make sure you trip the anchor properly or you will lose it. All that said if you intend to set a pick in the ledge itself then nothing wrong with either a tripped fisherman's or a home made grapnel

Personally I have a 6kg delta attached to 10metres of 8mm chain and 200 metres of 14mm multi plait. This holds my 27' boat in 130' and rarely lets go. Delta anchors appear to be very efficient but do cost a fair bit although there are now copies of these now on the market.

On the point of anchoring if I were you I would consider learning how to lift your anchor with the alderney ring method. It saves an awful lot of blisters but must be learnt properly as it can be a dangerous method if not executed properly. Easy when you know how but do learn from someone that is proficient at it.

If you need more info on fishing in that area follow the link in my signature to the pbsbac website

Hope that helps

Martin
 
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ChrisE said:
Says who? I've a Danforth on my boat set to trip, as do a fair proportion of the charter skippers around here.

Having lost 3 anchors on Christchurch Ledge when we first started out, we've lost none since setting up to trip. It is quite simple just attach the chain to the hole in the shank where the tines pivot via a shackle. Then thread cable ties through the hole at the top of the shank and attach to the chain.
Click to expand...

As the Danforth can set either way up, don't you run a risk of it setting with the chain and shackle under the shank and it not properly tripping ?
 
PaulGooch said:
As the Danforth can set either way up, don't you run a risk of it setting with the chain and shackle under the shank and it not properly tripping ?
Click to expand...

I see what you are saying but the hole at the top of the shank is close enough to the top that I'm not sure that this could occur. We've used this for three years now and the only problem we've had is that it trips too often if we don't use enough cable ties.
 
Blimey folks, I'm amazed to see how any kind of anchoring thread can still generate colregs-like debates...! :D
The OP is talking about a 16' boat with a small o/b, which he just wants to use "for pottering about, visiting beaches and a little light fishing". And he clearly rules out overnighting.
What's wrong in telling him that the cheapest anchor he'll find, with a few meters of chain and some rope, will be more than good enough?
 
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