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Proper way to use two anchors?

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knightwind
Navigator

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Canada
114 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/11/2008 : 21:02:12

Is there a proper way to use two anchors where one is just not enough?
I've got 200' of anchor rope and I've been tying one to each of the bow cleats. The bow tends to stay into the wind but slowly wanders back and forth. One rope always ends up slack.

Peter Keddie
Turkey Point, ON
79 Catalina 25 Fixed Keel #1050

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 21:38:23

Here's some short articles on anchoring... usually when setting two anchors off the bow you want them a considerable distance apart.

http://www.boattraining.com/waterways/issues/ww_00-spring/technique_anchor.html
http://www.commanderbob.com/art40.html

Posting links is a bit quicker than my typing all that.

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piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2008 : 21:39:29

I have not used two on both bow cleats. This is not a technique I am familar with. I have one at bow and one aft. Have you tried this?
Check out this site: http://www.rocna.com/boat-anchors/tandem-anchoring.php
Steve A

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2008 : 14:10:52

Anchoring sure does change with conditions!

I anchor out a lot, but always in sand or mud and low winds on a bay, river or creek. It's the easiest. Other conditions can be very difficult to anchor in.

To prepare for getting caught in another thunderstorm, when things get serious, I would like to get more chain, make a nice bridle, and buy snubbers and chafe guard tubing.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2008 : 07:17:42

I find myself setting different setups of course, given different conditions. but to generalize.....

I love 2 anchors set. I'll put out one big anchor with lots of rode, lots of chain, and let it get happy.

Then when the boat swings to one side I'll throw a smaller mushroom out in the direction it is swinging out to and set it with little chain, and little rode. Both off the forward cleats.

It's easy to set and usually works well to stop fishing.

I always keep another large anchor with full tackle in the back with tennis balls on the stock ends.

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redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2008 : 07:55:17

Oh yes.. and also what clam beach said....setting anchors Far Apart..

If you really want to stay put, put one off each forward cleat, far port and far strbrd. Hopefully perpendectular to the wind.

It is great. You stay in one place, just like a condo...

I set that way in another boat I have, but I have more anchor locker space and I'm in skinny water.

I don't seem to have enough locker space to make two long rodes happy in the catalina so I use the short long method.

It would be pretty easy pulling the anchor from the back.

You let out one anchor, and motor back a long way, letting out rode.
Drop another anchor and power down and pull in the first line.

Great way to anchor though, you stay in one place and feel good about having so much ground tackle out.

If conditions are right many many people anchor 2 anchors front and back. One bow out forward long, and one smaller close aft to shore.

Kinda like a beach setup.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2008 : 11:48:04

Here in California coves can be small and two anchors are used sometimes.

Always set just one anchor if possible!

I have one 13 lb Danforth on 50 feet of 5/16 chain and 200 feet of 1/2 nylon. That is my main anchor. I'll set that off the bow and I installed a new anchor cleat forward of the anchor locker hatch with strong backing plates. This is a lot of heavy chain! The boat would set to just the chain in settled conditions. I anchor very often.

If it is so damn windy that I can't relax, I'll set another anchor out off the bow at about 45 degree angle to the first, keeping the bow directly into the wind. Just motor forward slowly at an angle, get in position, drop the 2nd anchor, drift back down, set it and snub it off, for this anchor I'll use a bow cleat.

With this it is difficult to set the rodes so that the load is on each anchor, not on one or the other as the boat swings. But assuming it is really windy (or else you wouldn't need this) it is possible. I sleep better in 30+ knots of wind with this set up. My #2 anchor is the same as #1 but with only 40 feet of 1/4 inch chain.

In a small cove where you can't swing, I have a 8 lb Danforth on 5 feet of 1/2 inch chain and 150 feet of rode. I'll drop this off the stern as I am motoring to the anchor spot. Later I'll pull it up (not too tight), and secure it on the cockpit winch. This will prevent swinging, the stern anchor can become the main anchor if the wind shifts 180 degrees (frequent here with the seabreeze cycle).

This setup can be dangerous if you get a strong wind on the beam. If that happens, see below.

To turn this into a Bahamian Moor, just take the stern anchor line up to the bow and secure it there. Then the boat will just swing arond a central pivot point, always face the wind, and never move. Be prepared for tangled lines in the morning.

Always get the stern anchor up first.

Surprising, a 8 lb anchor on very short chain (but sufficent rope and scope) will hold the C25 in a very strong blow.

Our boats are small, light, and have little freeboard/windage (at least compared to a 40 foot flybridge trawler - my previous vessel).

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2008 : 09:27:33

Bahamian anchor technique

http://www.pelicanpower.com/abacoguide/bahamianmoor.htm

Setting the anchor in abacos is a little different than somewhere with water temps in the 60's. I'd omit the diving down part....

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.