Which Chain?

[Phil M]

This is what I use for anchor retrieval.


If it is not needed, then it's not needed. It does not interfere with getting the anchor back in the boat. There have been times though, where the anchor was quite stuck. In those instances, I was glad it was there.

The metal ring on mine is now elliptical. The lifting power is that strong so as to bend the ring.

Ray

As you power forward at slow speeds how close does this anchor ring retrieval actually come to your anchor? I have 20 feet of heavy 3/8 inch chain just before my anchor. If I am anchoring in relatively shallow water I will likely already have some of the chain in my anchor Locker before I am actually tugging on the anchor itself. Or is this system more useful in deep-water anchoring?

[BOAT]

I do use two anchors in heavy wind. It's been a long time but I used to use two anchors - last time was in Mexico. I would do the same anywhere in the Pacific Ocean for heavy wind because the wind always blows towards the shore except in the santana. I have a lot of experience anchoring in the santana - there is a trick to it.

I also use a trip line on a milk jug if I am close to shore. Old habit - I can see if the anchor is dragging. Nowadays not needed for that because of cell phones and chartplotters (we did not have those in the old days).

I do NOT use a trip line if I am not on the boat. If I am not in a designated marina and I decide to leave the boat for some reason to go ashore for more than 9 or ten hours I pull out the old Ruger 10-22 and put nine big holes in the milk jug and let it sink. (I can hit a seagulls eye at 200 feet with that little rifle). I don't want some yo-yo trying to mess with my anchor while i'm away and in Mexico we would have big rays get caught in the trip lines and pull up the anchors.

The trip line is only for when i am on board. Usually made of crappy water or milk jugs with a heavy twine tied to it and to the END of the anchor so I can pull it out from under something. Most the time in the pacific your bottom is sandy so it's not a big deal. You lake guys and Atlantic people have all the real hard core situations and those folks in the coral down in Florida are usually real experts and carry multiple types.

Over here it's just throw it out and done. It's just sand.

[Catigale]

This is what I use for anchor retrieval.


If it is not needed, then it's not needed. It does not interfere with getting the anchor back in the boat. There have been times though, where the anchor was quite stuck. In those instances, I was glad it was there.

The metal ring on mine is now elliptical. The lifting power is that strong so as to bend the ring.

Ray

As you power forward at slow speeds how close does this anchor ring retrieval actually come to your anchor? I have 20 feet of heavy 3/8 inch chain just before my anchor. If I am anchoring in relatively shallow water I will likely already have some of the chain in my anchor Locker before I am actually tugging on the anchor itself. Or is this system more useful in deep-water anchoring?

Hmmm..what two other uses can I think of for that gizmo to earn space on board?

[ris]

We use a 18 inch piece of 3/8 chain with a 1/4 thick screw shut carabiner to attach the 2 ends of the chain together.
1. We get directly over our stuck anchor with the rode pulled tight, straight up from the bottom as possible.
2. Put the chain around the rode, close the carabiner, attach a line to the circle of chain you create when you put the chain around the rode.
3. Drop down to anchor, keep tension on the drop rope and you can feel it as it hits the anchor, we do this with me in the dinghy.
4. I then row the dinghy in the opposite direction of the boat letting out line until I can pull at about a 50 degree angle to the anchor. So I am pulling up more than back on the anchor.

We only had to do this once in 9 months of travel when the end of the anchor stuck in crack in a rock in Canada. The water was so clear that we could see the anchor in 12 feet of water. It worked great. All you need to carry is the 18 inches of chain and the screw shut carabiner, you always have rope on the boat.
Our anchor is a 15 pound manson supreme, and we set it at by reversing the motor, slowly, after dropping the anchor, letting out 7 to 1 scope, tie to cleat, then slowly increase rpm's to 2200 to set the anchor. We have 30 ft of 1/4 chain and 150 ft of 7/16, high quality 3 strand rope. After setting the anchor we tie the anchor rode off to a loop of 1/2 rope that goes through the eye bolt of the boat. Once we set the anchor we woke in the same place every morning. All the newer anchors such as rocna, mantus and mansons are great anchors. I know some of you use 25 lb anchors but our 15 lb supreme is really hard to get out of the mud sometimes, I do not want to have to pull a 25 pounder up.
If we are going to have multiple days of high winds go to a sheltered area or go to a marina so you can do stuff on land while the wind is howling. Marinas are cheap when compared to not being able to get off the boat when it is bobbing and swinging in high winds for 2 or 3 days. High waves and wind cause your anchor to pull out after it is set properly. On the east coast and on the rivers in USA you can always hug a shoreline or get in a small hurricane hole to get out of big waves and high winds.

[Neo]

I have a confession to make! .... I STILL haven't used the anchor.. sorry gents! ... But yesterday I got into a long conversation with a guy (at the marina) who'd been sailing around Australia for the past 2 years (lucky fella!!). Naturally he found my concerns about anchoring (and going adrift during the night) in a keel'less boat were amusing but he did give me some tips that are "Food for thought".

Firstly he said that if your anchor drags and you end up hitting the land then that's a big problem so he makes sure he drops his anchor with the stern facing the land and then reverses so the anchor digs-in in that direction (sharp points towards the land). He says it will stay there until the wind changes direction to the point where it blows you away for the land anyway.

Secondly he said that if your anchor dislodges you can feel the difference in the way the boat moves (bobs around) in the water and for him that wakes him up (lucky fella again ).

He did not see much value in anchoring in shallow water (say 10ft) so long as you have a long enough rode.

What do you think guys?

[Chinook]

I think you should get as much first hand experience anchoring as possible. Experience is a great teacher, and it will give you confidence to sleep well while on the hook. A good modern anchor, well suited for the bottom conditions in your intended cruising area, should reset with a change in wind or current, under most situations. I've had mine reset in the middle of the night, with virtually no drag, after a 180 degree shift in wind, with the new wind blowing 30 knots. You can get a good idea of the most appropriate anchor for your waters by walking the docks at a local marina, and seeing what others are using. All things considered, I like anchoring in shallower water for a variety of reasons. First, one of the Mac's real advantages is its shallow draft. In more crowded anchorages, you can get into shallow waters that the deep draft vessels can't begin to consider. This means that you can almost always find a spot, even in the most popular of anchorages. In shallower water, you don't need to put out nearly as much rode, and still have decent scope angle. If water temps are warm enough, you can dive on an anchor set in shallow water, to confirm that it's properly set.

[Neo]

I think you should get as much first hand experience anchoring as possible.

On my next trip out, I promise
Some valid points too ... Thanks Chinook.