What's the best truly compact anchor line?

[Greenheart]

Wasn't there a patented product called something like 'Anchorlina', which used narrow webbing in lieu of rope, enabling a fair length of kedge-cable to be stored in very little space, on a flattish drum?

Is it still available? It looked as if it'd be better than a long tangle of anchorplait, in a dinghy.

I wasn't sure how it was secured to the boat, though. Any experience, anyone?

 

[prv]

I wasn't sure how it was secured to the boat, though. Any experience, anyone?

I've seen them but not used them. Generally the reel is attached to the pushpit.

Wouldn't really be suitable for a tender I'd have thought, but if you mean a sailing dinghy then Frank Dye actually had something similar attached to the side of the centreboard case / mast step on Wanderer.

Pete

 

[Tranona]

Widely available in two sizes. Originates from Sweden where mooring to a rock or tree is common. Many people use them in the Med, mainly for the same purpose rather than an anchor cable. From memory they have a loop on the bitter end so that you can shackle to a strong point.

Personally would not use it for a dinghy anchor cable. Better to buy one of the netting bags with a 2m 6mm chain and 20m rope. Keeps it all tidy, gets the anchor down and much cheaper. Available from Force Four.

 

[prv]

Personally would not use it for a dinghy anchor cable. Better to buy one of the netting bags with a 2m 6mm chain and 20m rope. Keeps it all tidy, gets the anchor down and much cheaper. Available from Force Four.

Agree - although I'd probably buy a net bag and put existing rope and chain in it rather than buying a kit. I bought several mesh bags from a specialist company (found via google) for my kedge and for storing spare rope in the cockpit locker.

Pete

 

[Greenheart]

I like the anchor & chain combos on sale, ready-spliced to a length of line. And the bag would house the inevitable tangle...

...but at risk of starting a debate on tedious familiar ground, is there currently a preferred anchor, for cruising dinghies? My old Danforth is only about 1.5 kilos and a bit crooked. I'd want enough hook to hold, at most, 1/4 tonne of boat, on the tides and seabeds of the Solent.

 

[prv]

...but at risk of starting a debate on tedious familiar ground, is there currently a preferred anchor, for cruising dinghies? My old Danforth is only about 1.5 kilos and a bit crooked. I'd want enough hook to hold, at most, 1/4 tonne of boat, on the tides and seabeds of the Solent.

Probably not enough people doing it to build a consensus. Small CQR for Solent mud?

Pete

 

[steve_l]

Wasn't there a patented product called something like 'Anchorlina', which used narrow webbing in lieu of rope, enabling a fair length of kedge-cable to be stored in very little space, on a flattish drum?

Is it still available? It looked as if it'd be better than a long tangle of anchorplait, in a dinghy.

I wasn't sure how it was secured to the boat, though. Any experience, anyone?

It's also possible to get a hand-held "cassette" version. That would be a better solution for a dinghy. Just pull out enough to wrap around a cleat to take the load.

The full size versions are not designed to take any load either. They are only a storage system for the line. You still need somewhere to tie off to.

 

[Resolution]

Widely available in two sizes. Originates from Sweden .

Yes, but where can I get one here in the UK? (We are planning to go to the Baltic next year so stern anchoring will be important.)

 

[davidaprice]

If you can't find a supplier in the UK, I can find out if the place I bought mine in Finland takes international orders. (Currently in our boat a day west of Helsinki, secured bows-to a jetty with mooring lines, with Ankarolina to the stern buoy).

 

[Kelpie]

Our yacht came with an Ankorlina reel mounted on the pulpit; I wasn't convinced about mooring with a webbing strap so I removed it. I suppose I could be persuaded to sell it for a good enough offer, if you're interested.

The accepted best anchorline solution in a Wayfarer is, as stated above, an extended mast pin with a drum housing the warp. The Ankorlina is far too large diameter to work in this situation.

On dinghy anchors, I've got a tiny Manson Supreme (it's about 3kg) and it's pretty good. I've actually used it mostly as a kedge on my yacht, in conjunction with a big loop of chain as a catenary weight.

 

[onesea]

I like the anchor & chain combos on sale, ready-spliced to a length of line. And the bag would house the inevitable tangle...

...but at risk of starting a debate on tedious familiar ground, is there currently a preferred anchor, for cruising dinghies? My old Danforth is only about 1.5 kilos and a bit crooked. I'd want enough hook to hold, at most, 1/4 tonne of boat, on the tides and seabeds of the Solent.

Has it let you down? and do you need to change? Ok I am biased just "upgraded" from Danforth to Fortress.

As for the line:
Basket for the rope?
The fancy thing you suggested?
A piece of wood about a meter long with a "V" cut in each end so you wrap the rope round it length ways?
Can you get a 100kg fishing reel make yourself your own winch ?

 

[Resolution]

Our yacht came with an Ankorlina reel mounted on the pulpit; I wasn't convinced about mooring with a webbing strap so I removed it. I suppose I could be persuaded to sell it for a good enough offer, if you're interested.

.

That's a very generous suggestion. What size strap / reel do you have? My yacht is a medium weight 42 footer.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, but where can I get one here in the UK? (We are planning to go to the Baltic next year so stern anchoring will be important.)

Force Four have them p96 of catalogue - no doubt other big chandlers as well.

 

[Resolution]

Thanks Tranona - I had googled but using slightly different spelling and came up with nothing in this country.

 

[Iliade]

Anchoring dinghies in Solent area

.. is there currently a preferred anchor, for cruising dinghies? My old Danforth is only about 1.5 kilos and a bit crooked. I'd want enough hook to hold, at most, 1/4 tonne of boat, on the tides and seabeds of the Solent.

20lb CQR.

Maybe a 25lb...



Seriously though, I would opt for the largest Danforth you could comfortably carry. If set well they have excellent holding/weight ratio and they are a safe and convenient shape to stow on a small boat. Add some chain and a nice long stretchy warp and you're sorted. I had probably a 15lb/20lb one, I forget, on a 24' Listang, with about 30' of chain and a big pile of blue poly. It *never* dragged in over ten years anchoring in that area in all conditions, even the kelp off Bembridge.


Without too much cunning you may be able to arrange anchor stowage alongside the centerboard case, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread?

Do fit a trip line though, because I eventually lost it to some old trawl gear that I couldn't lift clear. I buoyed it off but it was gone when I returned with diving gear the next day :0( In a dinghy you'd have little chance of freeing a well-set anchor, let alone a fouled one.

The very small anchors of pretty much any brand just don't seem to penetrate the seabed, so are of little more use than a bag of rocks. Where one anchors in the Solent it's not generally rocky, but is sand and shingle so fishermen's and grapnels are out.

Would you really want or need to anchor in the tidal streams though? Couldn't you mostly just run ashore and tie off to a tree?

Ankarolinas look like a great idea and when I can afford one I'll get one for the kedge maybe even the bower if I win the pools. I've been saying that for years though & it never makes it to the top of the 'must get' list, most recently yet another new radio after the 14 month old Nexus rotted away.

I have no idea why people are scared of flat rope (aka webbing) after all they let people lift the boat out with the stuff!

Hmm, I wonder what the breaking strain of lay-flat hose is...?

 

[Kelpie]

That's a very generous suggestion. What size strap / reel do you have? My yacht is a medium weight 42 footer.

I'll dig it out of the loft but I think it may be too small for your yacht- it came off a 27ft boat and it'll probably be the smallest size (25mm webbing).

 

[Jamesuk]

I find one that can be printed out pretty good ( never the right answer due to holding power)

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Wasn't there a patented product called something like 'Anchorlina', which used narrow webbing in lieu of rope, enabling a fair length of kedge-cable to be stored in very little space, on a flattish drum?

Is it still available? It looked as if it'd be better than a long tangle of anchorplait, in a dinghy.

I wasn't sure how it was secured to the boat, though. Any experience, anyone?

In the Baltic you see them on almost every boat. Always at the stern and only ever really used to secure the stern from swinging when mooring bows-to.

Most Swedes seem to just take a turn round a stern cleat to secure them.

If you are heading to the Baltic make sure you take a couple of pitons as you cannot always find a tree or rock for your bow line.

BTW this is good reading... Www.kissen.co.uk You can see the pitons onthe front page.

 

[prv]

I have no idea why people are scared of flat rope (aka webbing)

Who's scared of it?

I just didn't think a big flat reel would be all that easy to stow in a dinghy, compared to a soft bag of chain and warp.

Pete

 

[KellysEye]

We've seen webbing reels on pushpits in the Med and it is used to tie the stern to a tree ashore, with the bow anchor out. It shouldn't be used for anchoring it will chafe.