Schoolboy error

[DWT]

Just back from a great week on the river, down to Penton Hook and back. What a difference a bit of sun makes.

Had one small problem on the second day. Pulled off from our overnight stop at Medmenham heading towards Hurley lock. Something didn't feel quite right. The boat seemd to be crabbing a little. I tried putting more revs on the port engine which helped a little, but speed seemed slower than usual for the revs.

The skipper of a passing boat waved frantically and seemed to call me a very rude name. Panic ensued when I understood what he had actually said and what had been causing the problem.

Note to self. "Dropping the anchor overnight is a sensible precaution, but must remember to pull it in before setting off the next morning"

 

[byron]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[sarabande]

there's a technical term for dragging the anchor along the bed so as to give yourself better directional and speed control - it's called "drudging" and all the best merchant vessels and grey funnel line do it.

What sort of anchor was it, by the way, that you were able to tow it and make way through the water ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think we should be told, so that we can compare drudging factors of various anchors.

 

[bulto]

Commercial vessels such as Thames barges used this procedure to slow thier progress when dropping onto a berth or wharf etc but the bow of the vessel would be into the stream. NOT towing the anchor beneath their hull.
This could be very embarassingt if the barge then sat on its own anchor as the boat settled into the barge bed or berth.

 

[DWT]

I laid out only a small amount of chain when we moored. Once the anchor was dragged away from the bank it must have been suspended above the river bed quite quickly.

 

[SkipperMarv]

OOOPS !!!!

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Chill]

Anyone seen Terminator 3 where the crane drops its hook down a manhole,