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At Anchor

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sfein
1st Mate

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36 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/23/2007 : 23:02:19

For some time now I have been worried sleeping on the boat while anchored for an evening. My concern is that the tides could change and the anchor can come loose. Are my concerns valid? Is there a way to protect against the anchor comming loose?

Thanks

Stuart
"Blonde Over Blue"

Stuart Fein
Blonde Over Blue
1980 Catalina 25
East Hampton, New York

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 05/23/2007 : 23:07:13

Your concerns are valid:

Practice setting your anchor.
Use two anchors.
high ratio rode.
Tie off to a tree or suitable object on shore.
Get a GPS with an alarm.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3521 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 05:29:45

I guess it is taken for granted that one looks for a protected anchoring area - one that is not so subject to the ripples/waves that build from the wind. However, sometimes one only considers the wind direction when anchoring and does not consider what if the wind shifts in the middle of the night. So, if there are options for anchoring locations, best to consider if a wind shift occurs, then how acceptable is the location. Also check the overnight forecast in regards to anchoring considerations. Forecasts can be wrong but at least you have an inkling of what is expected.

I remember many years ago planning a weekend trip. Earlier in the week, the weather was predicted to be satisfactory but as oftentimes happens, that forecast dramatically changed by the time we were ready for kicking off the sail event. We made it to a nice protected cove area and that actually would probably have been satisfactory regardless of the forecast. But the einds picked up significantly and the forecast changed dramatically to bad, bad news for the entire weekend. Just before we anchored..we made the command decision to high tail it back home in high wind/wave conditions and cancel the weekend sail. it turned out to be the right decision.

Tide differences oftentimes a 2-4 foot shift in many areas (except perhaps the Bay Of Fundy) would have you put out anywhere's up to another 20-30 feet of line if anchoring at low tide (figuring a scope of 5-7 times the depth). This then requires some addl consideration if a windshift occurs in the night, how close you will then be to adjacent anchored boats that may or may not have used as much anchoring line.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 07:27:48

There are many books and articles (Sail Mag, Cruising World, etc.) on this subject. Much depends on where you're planning to anchor--the currents, tide range, bottom conditions, positions and techniques of other boats, etc. You'll see techniques for setting two anchors off your bow, which is good insurance in tricky conditions. You'll see how to set fore and aft anchors to prevent swinging in wind or current changes. (That also depends on what boats around you are doing--if they're going to swing, you had better swing too.) There's lots to learn and try.

GPS anchor alarms are tricky--you must calculate your maximum swing to determine a reasonable alarm radius, which has to be over double the distance from your boat to your anchor. But that's good insurance, and might help you get to sleep.

If you haven't done it yet, you might be surprised at how disorienting it can be to wake up in a strange anchorage and find that the boat is facing the opposite direction from when you went to sleep! How do you know if you've dragged when the whole world is backwards? The track on your GPS screen can reassure you that your movement was just the normal swing.

My preference is to pick up a mooring pennant.

Edited by - on

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 10:04:18

You plan on sleeping while you're anchored?

. Good luck!

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 13:01:38

Was out last weekend on the hook (South Puget Sound). Got to our destination just before low tide (-4.0). Anchored in 30 feet of water and let out 120 feet of rode. Later that evening the tide came in (+15.3) and the wind picked up. Decided to let a bit more rode out, 2:1 just didn't seem like enough.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 13:37:01

Stuart,

For peace of mind, just tell your wife she has the 10:00pm to 6:00am anchor watch.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 16:01:30

I have anchored literally thousands of times and sleep the whole night, too.

Here are a couple of tips for a good nights sleep:

(1) have a good anchor, plenty of chain, and good rope. I have 2, 13 lb danforths and one 8 lb danforth. On my main anchor I have 50 feet of 5/16 chain followed by 200 feet of 1/2 nylon. On my second anchor I have 40 feet of 1/4 chain and 200 feet of 1/2 nylon. The third anchor is for stern anchoring and can be set and retrieved from the kayak. I have 15 feet of 1/4 chain and about 100 feet of nylon.

(2) have the right anchor for where you live. Danforths are great for Southern CA. If I lived in a place with mud and tidal currents that reverse I'd have a Delta.

(3) Set it right. I drop mine while motoring FORWARD in NEUTRAL at 2 knots with the tiller locked straight. Feed out the chain and some rope until the scope is about 3 to 1. Cleat off the rope. You will feel the boat stop and swing head to wind. Let out more rope and go to your motor and back it up hard for several minutes. Go to the bow and take a look at the rope. It should be sticking straight out, if it is getting loose, then tight, the anchor is dragging. Move and try again.

(4) Monitor the anchor for at least 15 minutes to make sure you are not dragging.

(5) If the wind picks up above 20 knots, I set the 2nd bow anchor. Motor forward at about a 45 degree angle to the first anchor, drop the second, and let the boat settle back down on the 1st rode. Adjust both rodes so you are riding evenly to both (hard to do).

(6) If I am in a small cove and can not swing, I set the stern anchor. Kayak or dinghy it out. Tie the rope on the stern cleat. Take the whole rode and chain out in the dinghy paying it out as you go. Drop the anchor, then return to the boat and pull in the rope until it sets.

(7) Put seizing wire on all shackles.

(8) Check gear frequently for chafe, wear.

(9) Don't anchor upwind of big expensive yachts or reefs, rocks, or whatever. If you drag it would be best to end aground on a mud flat or sand bar.

(10) Be prepared to leave if conditions get real bad (ex. breaking waves in the anchorage).

Some will advise a big 25 lb anchor. I don't think it is needed in our little boats. I prefer my setup.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 16:01:58

For the past two years we have been lucky! During the many nights at anchor in that time, we only once dragged while in the lee of an island (pumkin key).
The anchor was in a muddy bottom, we threw out the second anchor near the first as other boats in the shelter were obviously dragging too. I used the GPS to figure a ball park distance to the shore, we were at least 4 times the rode length off the shallows. Just as mentioned above, the GPS showed the track overnight. We obviously swung about 50o as the boat hunted overnight. The GPS showed the anchor angel (yes, like the snow angel) and the distance from the original anchorage was about 80'. Meaning that we had dragged about 80' from the original anchor point. I figured we had swung further than that. During the night, I crawled out the pit several times to check on things, wind was at it all night long. We're getting better at sleeping at anchor now, Peggy hardly ever wakes me up

Paul

Edited by - on

sfein
1st Mate

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36 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 19:06:51

Thanks for all your advice. Currently the boat sits on a mooring. It is just we wanted to take a trip to a local cove and anchor and had some concerns.

Thanks

Stuart

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 19:55:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ct95949
 You plan on sleeping while you're anchored?

. Good luck!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Why not?

Most was previously mentioned - read up on numerous anchoring techniques...Bahamian anchor, double bow, single bow, bow and stern. KNow when to use each.

Get the right anchor for where you are going to drop a hook. Bruce, Danforth, one of those funky looking ones for rocky bottoms, Delta etc.

Have the right amount of rope and chain for expected currents, tides, depths etc.

Buy a GPS with an anchor alarm and know how to set it.

Edited by - Champipple on 05/24/2007 20:58:04

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/24/2007 : 20:43:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Champipple
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ct95949
 You plan on sleeping while you're anchored?

. Good luck!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Why not?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Cause the first time or two, you don't trust yourself...

Regarding getting the right anchor, I believe in not only having at least two anchors, but picking several types. Right now, I have a Delta on the bow roller and a Fortress for the secondary, with 25' of chain and 200' of rope for each rode. Both have done very well in independent tests, and each has shown to have some advantages over the other--the Delta especially for setting in grass and resetting when the boat swings 180 degrees.

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2007 : 00:30:02

Experience definitely eases the worry. First few times I was up several times a night checking my position. One time we kept getting hit with 40-45 knot gusts that would just make the whole boat shudder. Never drug the anchor at all. Now I sleep right through. No worries.

It definitely helps to know what kind of bottom you're setting into. Back up hard when setting it and that's probably the most strain that'll be on it. If it holds then, it'll hold for a bit of current or wind.

Edited by - on

ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 05/25/2007 : 10:54:22

I don't worry about dragging anymore, the lack of sleep comes from all the noise (wind, waves, rigging, etc.) and sleeping with my head next to the hull which seems to transmit all the sound really good. As soon as I locate and eliminate one noise source another one will start in.
Summer on the Sacramento River means strong wind and tidal currents, not exactly tranquil conditions and being a light sleeper anyway doesn't help.
And this weekend I have to worry about those whales running in to me or maybe the Coast Guard will will run me out of my anchorage if they ever get them to move down the river

Edited by - ct95949 on 05/25/2007 11:00:52

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