Anchoring Maybe you know this!

[merwin10]

Hey all,

Thought I would start a new topic! Now as for anchoring the boat it is the design of the anchor and the scope (amount of rope) you let out that holds the boat in place not the weight of the anchor. The rope or line is called the anchor rode. There is a formula to figure the length of scope to use. First start with the depth of the water add any rise in tide, add the distance vertically from the bow to the water, multiple by 7 for calm water 10 in rough windy water. So lets say you are in 12 feet of water no tide and from the bow to the water is 3 feet (12+0+3=15feet 15x7=105feet) so you need 105 feet of anchor rode for the correct anchor scope. Try it you will be surprized at how easy it is to set an anchor.

You see the shank of the anchor (long arm in the center) must lay flat on the bottom for the anchor to work right. Pulling up on the shank releases the anchor. In rocky conditions I tie a float and line to the tail of the anchor, then I can pull it backwards disengaging the flukes (pointy end) from the rocks.

Now you say I have all this scope out how do I get it back in. It is so easy a six year old can do it. You simple drive up the scope. You put the boat in foward at idle taking the stress off the rode pulling it in as you go, remember the boat will always be bow into the wind when anchored, put the boat in netural as needed until the line is straight up and down. Pull the rode tight and tie it off to a deck cleat. If the anchor does not come out and set you adrift now is a good time to store the line in the locker. If it is stuck in the mud just put the boat in forward and the tight rode will pull on the shank twisting the anchor out. Then it is a simple matter of washing it off and storing it away. I hate to tell you how many times I have seen the mate (spelled wife) trying to pull the boat to the anchor against the wind with the captain yelling at her because she is taking so long.

Even with a larger boat drive up the anchor rode and let the windless reel in the rode. Yes the winless can apply about 2000 pounds of pull, however it does so at great ampage from the batteries and stress on the windless, so why not make it easy on the windless and batteries, and drive the boat to the anchor.

For very deep water 100 feet or more you can float the anchor up but that is a whole other story. I use this method when anchoring for the night when tuna fishing. Again it puts no strain on you or the windless. The answer is YES you figure the scope out the same way that is 800 feet of anchor rode.

So my advise is to go enjoy your boat with confidence that you don't need to be a heman to operate it.

Happy Boating any other ideas? I bet you knew that!

Here is one of our raft ups on just two hooks, 3 day weekend!




Mike -  

[chesbay]

Mike,

Informative post!  Good information for all.  

I am always amazed at the number of boater's that are apprehensive to anchor overnight.  With the proper anchor, rode, and education, proper anchoring is relatively easy.

My family and I are frequently marooned in a beautiful moonlit cove, all-alone after the hundreds of "day-boaters " have fled back to their respective marinas.  

I must be crazy giving up trade secrets.  

Phil

[merwin10]

No Phil just think of the fun you and your family could have with other knowledgeable boaters. We raft up as many as 20 boats at a time on two well placed hooks and have a ball. Last forth of July our raft up of 22 boats of all sizes and makes even made the local newspaper under the heading of PARTY CENTRAL. What a ball we had all weekend.

Mike -  

[Ronnie]

I went fishing this summer with my cousin & his boat in new england & I noticed an odd way he hooked his anchor to the rode, the chain was bolted to the lower part of the anchor & the chain ran along the shaft  to the top (where you would normally hook it up) & he had the chain hooked up there with 2 heavy duty plastic tie wraps.  if the anchor gets really stuck  a good pull with the boat  breaks the ties & the chain pulls out the anchor  bottom side up ,  hasn't lost one "YET"

[merwin10]

Yep have seen that work before not a bad idea for rocky areas

Mike -

[Talon]

I've tried that before. Works well for retrieval, but getting a good set can sometimes be more difficult as the anchor tends to flip over when connected that way.

[wantadayoff]

Nice job Mike! Something else to add would be to "lower" your anchor to the bottom. If I had a quarter for everytime I have observed the 'anchorman' throwing the anchor over the bow with a ball of line.....well I am sure we have all witnessed this. As you point out, the physics behind a anchor that holds has to do with the shank laying on the ground so that the flukes are able to grab, lowering instead of throwing helps to set the anchor up for this. Also, a length of chain attached to the shank before the line itself helps to lay that along the ground.