Oh No - Another Anchor uestion

[C08]

Does the technique for freeing a fouled anchor by dropping a chain loop down the anchor chain still worlk ok for the NG Anchor with a hoop? Visually you can imagine that the point of pull would be moved about 4" aft from the head which may affect lifting of the anchor crown alternatively any length of chain will be keeping down the shank so the chain loop may still work ok. Any views or experiences of freeing anchors with a hoop?

 

[RichardS]

There's no reason why a loop of chain wouldn't work .... but it all depends upon exactly how the anchor is fouled, as with any kind of anchor.

Richard

 

[noelex]

I agree with Richard. Although I have never needed it, I cannot see why the loop of chain trick would not work just as well with roll bar anchors.

The rollbar anchors set in a very short distance, so the chance of the anchor getting trapped under debris is lower than some other designs, especially the convex plough anchors, which tend to cover a lot more seabed before they bury.

Where the short setting distance does not help, is reducing the chance of catching the chain under an obstruction. I had this occur just a couple of days ago. A loop of chain can sometimes help in these situations, although it is perhaps not the first technique to try and it often used to pull the chain sideways more than backwards.

 

[C08]

I agree that it should work I was just asking the question and looking for experiences.

 

[noelex]

If the anchor or chain is caught, the first thing is to determine if it is the anchor, for example:

Or the chain:

This is usually obvious if the chain length is marked, but often people assume it must be the anchor. Note in both of the above examples a chain loop would have been worth a try, but probably would not have worked.

 

[Neeves]

The best solution - is to anticipate - and to have a short strop attached to the rear of the fluke with a small buoy and loop, the loop at the buoy. You can then dive, attach your retrieval rope (relatively easily) and pull out backwards. However this will not work in every situation.

This assumes your anchor is sufficiently shallow to allow you to dive, the water is safe (no jelly fish, sharks etc), its warm enough (or you have a dry suit) and the anchor is not caught in deep mud. There are many anchorages in many parts of the world where you simply would not want or not be able to dive.

The buoy on a short strop also allows you to see exactly where your anchor is - if it has dived completely. The short strop need be sufficiently short it does not reach prop or rudder height.

The loop of chain idea will have the disadvantage that the pull, or tension, will not be anywhere near the horizontal - as the roll bar will 'lift' the pull tension - you really want to be pulling from 'under' the roll bar (which you can arrange with the short strop).

There is no one answer - nor is there one perfect answer.

Jonathan

 

[vyv_cox]

On the two occasions in which my chain loop has recovered anchors they were both Deltas, so whether it would definitely recover my Rocna I cannot be certain. I hope so as I continue to carry it. I imagine that if the anchor was caught under a ground chain it would be effective but maybe not in noelex' examples.