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anchor wisdom

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cmckitrick
Navigator

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USA
119 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/02/2004 : 14:03:00

We anchored for the first time this weekend and despite 20 knot winds did OK. I am wondering though what type and weight of anchor people recommend. How do you tell how much you have put out. Do people put markings on the rope? Just curious.

Charlie McKitrick
Norwell, MA
Valiant Lady... for now
'81 C 25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 15:49:05

The type of bottom (mud, sand, grass, shell, gravel, rock, etc..) will determine what type of anchor will work best at any given time.

The Danforth-style anchors are very popular as they store nice and flat and work reasonably well in most conditions. However, the 'knock' on danforth's is that they tend to be uni-directional and may not reset properly if the boat swings in the current.

Claws (aka 'Bruce') anchors set and re-set quickly, but may have less holding power than other types in sand bottoms. Delta anchors... same thing. CRQ 'Plow' anchors are a favorite of full-time cruisers, but may skate over grass or hard bottoms.

So there you have it ! They all have their strong (and weak) points.

Now for the IMHO stuff... I carry two types of anchors. One danforth about 12-14 lbs as a 'regular' anchor for sheltered waters and/or 'picnic' situations. One Bruce claw knock-off of 22 lbs as a "I wanna stay put... right here and right now" anchor.

Having 2 anchors on board gives you the ability to anchor bow-and-stern, a spare in case an anchor gets hung up, and of course the ability to set 2 anchors in a serious blow.

It is also critically important to have enough chain on the rode (15' to 20').

As far as how much line to let out... 3:1 scope (anchor rode is 3 times the water depth) is regarded as minimal for temporary anchoring. You're looking at 5:1 scope for general overnight anchorage and 7:1 for rough conditions or marginal bottom.

Browse online for articles about 'kellets' (a weight on the anchor line). There's lots of reading material hanging around on the web.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 18:14:22

Charlie,

I think anchor size and type may have been discussed here before.

Try searching on "anchor size Danforth type" (o)Search for all Words, All forums, Last year, Entire message.

Here's an [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4615"]example result[/url].

Or you could go over to [url="http://forum.cruisingworld.com/forums/genlmesg/"]CWBB[/url], post an innocent anchoring question there, check back in a few days, and marvel at the contentious debate you've triggered!

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

jackfuller
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 18:52:19

There are different tags that you can put on your anchor rode to measure how much scope you have out. I've found that, at least in the relative shallow of the Chesapeake Bay anchoring areas, that it works to approximate. Always error on the more scope side. Check any drift several times before retiring - I tend to get up and check again.
Best,
Jack
'Nasse Ente'

Edited by - on

Brooke Willson
Admiral

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USA
983 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2004 : 19:26:11

Charlie, ask around your marina what people use. There are also some standard guides for how much chain to use with given anchors.

Brooke

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2004 : 09:55:07

Hi Charlie,

To mark my anchor rope I tied a leather "marker" every 25 feet. I used a leather shoelace and tied one rap at 25 feet, two raps at 50 feet and so on.

As others have stated, ask around to see what other skippers are using in your area since different designs have pros 'n cons for different bottoms.

In the past several years most "authorities" have generally agreed that you want to have the same length of chain as your boat's length.

So, on Snickerdoodle I have 25 feet of 1/4" chain shackled between the rope and the anchor.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

Edited by - on

sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2004 : 11:49:57

Charlie where I anchor the Danforth is the best choice. I started out on my 250 with the stock 13lb with 6 feet of chain. I then upgraded and added a bow roller to save my back. Next I decided to take the wise advice of the forum and added another 15 feet of chain. I then bought those anchor tags at West Marine to measure out scope. (Like them!) Finally the back was getting to me and I have upgraded to a Fortress FX-ll (holds boats 28-32 feet). This anchor is a light 7 lbs and I just can't believe how fast the anchor and chain grab! Store the anchor on the bow pulpit.
Just my two cents.....(Thats all that is left after all the $$ mods

)

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D Wrate
1st Mate

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38 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2004 : 12:56:21

On Cindino (not a Catalina, Hughes 25 displaces 3700#) we use a 14lb Danforth with 20 ft of 5/8 chain and 150ft of 1/2 in nylon rode. I ugraded the chain from 15ft of 1/4 in. Also carry an 8lb Danforth with 15ft of 1/4 in chain and 150 ft of 3/8 nylon rode for a stern or as a second bow anchor.

David

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2004 : 21:52:03

For figuring scope, I go on "stroke counts". I pay out the anchor, hand-to-hand, counting the "strokes" until it hits bottom. If I want 3-1 scope, then I pay out twice that number of "strokes", cleat it and then back down on it. 5-1 means four times as many additional strokes. How long is a stroke? Whatever comes naturally. Around here, these decisions also have to take into account the 6.5 - 9.5 foot tide range and corresponding current reversals, which can make things interesting...

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2004 : 11:48:04

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">How do you tell how much you have put out. Do people put markings on the rope? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Dave has a pretty good idea -- probably best suited to generally shallow anchorages ("was that 78 strokes or 98 strokes?"). I rarely get to anchor in shallow water, and bow + stern anchors are often the norm around here, so I prefer more "brain-free" markings on the rode. My boat's anchor rode came with already installed rode marking tags woven into the three-strand, numbered 25', 50', 75' and 100' and color coded for each additional 100' (but, "was green the 2nd or 3rd 100'?"). Other folks use markings such as Bill's, or use paint to mark lengths.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2004 : 15:37:35

I'm using a 14 lb Delta plow. I bought a 200 foot rode with 20 foot of chain spliced on. I like the rope/chain splice as it will not hang up in the bow roller. It all stores neatly in my bow locker.

I also stow an old Danforth in the port lazarette, and also have a small mushroom anchor for a lunch hook.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2004 : 16:17:35

I like Bill's anchor marker idea. I am too cheap to buy commercial markers, also I was concerned they would snag or tear. I used a permanent marker to mark the rode, every ten feet. I used bands to count and then a differnt color band at 50 and 100 feet. I can't remember numbers to save my life. There is too much stress when dropping anchor for me to worry about counting and remembering how many feet I have out. I look at the depth meter, decide on a rode length and play it out until I can read that depth on the rode.

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2004 : 02:11:08

We have a Danforth 13 pound anchor and works fine in the sand of Mariner's Cover in Mission Bay. My wife and I anchored there last night for dinner, did some reading, watched the fireworks at Sea World and stayed over with no worries.
Last week I did the same with my Dad who had never done this before and would you believe it? I thought I felt movement all night and when I pulled the anchor to sail the next morning, the anchor chain was wrapped around the anchor and was holding using the angled tab (I don't know the proper name of this part) with the chain pulling the anchor in reverse. (Hope you understand what I just said

)
Luckily the wind was not blowing very hard and there were no waves in the cove, just tidal current.

Now, here is a question: Each time I have had the boat anchored the boat has swung back in forth on the anchor anywhere from 30 to around 90 degrees sometimes. Some boats also swing around us while others don't seem to swing at all. What's up with this? Is this a natural phenomenon with all boats or is it a problem for wing keels or? (Is this where the saying, "Swinging at anchor" comes from?)

BTW, Todd: My son completed his first year at SLO and is returning AND my daughter will be starting her first year there September 10th. So my wife and I will be in your area more times than last year. How about we get together this year while we're up your way and I can check out your boat in Morro Bay? Just a thought. I seem to remember me yakking at you re: SLO and my son a year ago ???
Go Mustangs!!

My wife and I are SDSU Aztec alums

Edited by - gnorgan on 08/05/2004 02:16:03

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2004 : 09:18:08

I was stationed at Vandenberg and lived in Lompoc in 69, what a wonderful area.

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sailgal
Captain

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USA
400 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2004 : 11:42:46

Gary posted in the General Forum area back in eary July of this year was a similiar question regarding sway at anchor. I'll attempt to post the link to the thread, if it doesn't work, go to the general forum and then go to the bottom of page and proceed to page 4 of topics. Title is ANCHOR SWAYING.

http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7042

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2004 : 02:10:15

Thank you, Suzie, for the reference. We were up in the Sierras for that part of July and I missed that thread completely.
I will build an anchoring "sail" and try that first.

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