Which anchor?

[daveb]

My partner and I have just bought a 17ft Sea Nymph 2 berth cabin cruiser. The anchor with it is a Danforth with 20 H on it. Now being novices and knowing nothing yet about our boat or boating in general we are keen to find out as much as possible. What weight is the anchor and is it suitable for a boat of our size. How miuch chain, warp and what sizes are best. Also we would like to hear from any body who can offer advice or who owns the same type of boat or knows anything about her.
Thanks

 

[chrisbrown]

The weight is often embossed on the anchor so you may have a 20 pound one which may well be big enough if you remember that the way it works is similar to a plough. You want the anchour to bury its working blades into soft mud and then to stay put. To get this to happen you need chain, at least one third the total anchor line and preferably all of it needs to be proper short link anchor chain. The weight of the chain causes it to lay along the sea bed and converts the upward pull of the boat bow into a flat drag on the anchor and so causing it to plough in and hold fast. The length needs to be at least three times the depth, remember to allow for the change in depth due to the difference between high/low tide and look around to see if there will be enough room for the boat to swing round and face the other way when the direction of the tide reverses. Face the boat into the tide and lower the anchore until it snags the sea bed, let the boat drop back on the tide or motor gentle astern until you have enough chain out to meet the three times the depth rule. Stop and take some basic observations of fixed object to judge if you are holding position, keep an eye on these reference points, especially at the time the tide reverses or if the wind increases and changes direction.

 

[hlb]

Thats all ok but.
As I remember from the course and from personal opinion.
Six times depth is the requirement.
Three might be OK for stopping to eat the butties but is no where near enough if the boat is to be left.
Dont forget the bit between the chain fastening and the sea.
and the sea. I use 3 metres before the anchor hits the water and that bit dont count!!

Haydn