A Survey for PNW Sailors Re: Anchor Rode

[Terry Cox]

To further clarify what I mean by PNW waters, to me that includes Puget Sound north to the Alaskan border. Not been quite there yet, but Princess Royal Island is the furtherest north for me, which I also consider PNW waters. Between here and there, many anchorages fall within a reasonable depth of water; 20' to 30' mid tide. Our boat is equipped with what it takes to drop in deeper water, but will search for and usually find those anchorages that fall within that range.

Hate is a pretty strong word. I too dislike stern tie for a variety of reasons, even with the setup, which we have used some number of times. Just not my preference, especially in a blow. As far as chain goes, I purchased 50' of G40 ACCO hot dipped galvanized in 2015, which we have used many times. It gets a fresh water rinse after each cruise looking the same as the day of purchase.

 

[Hello Below]

I try to avoid them and look for places that receive little traffic. I normally shoot for 20-25' of water mid tide and drop 110-130' of rode depending upon weather conditions.

A sailors dream, Terry. Liberty Bay, Quartermaster Hbr, Hunter Bay and Reid Hbr are a few places that we anchored in during our trip down South last month that met your target depths. And they all were nearly empty. However our month long trip to the Discovery Islands in July saw depths more in the range of 40’ - 65’. But still we were on chain only and didn’t find it necessary to go over 200’ of rode. I usually equate deeper water to more privacy particularly during the summer months. Although we are not planing to venture as far north as Michael did, I’m think that we should go with what we have next year and reconsider at the end of the trip.
@David in Sandusky, I’m not suggesting it wouldn’t have an impact but I have not experienced any noticeable pitching in the boat. There are so many other variables in the amount of fuel, water, holding tank, provisions and people at any given time that the extra weight may not make much of a difference. In fact when the chain is nearly all deployed at anchor the bow may rise an inch if that.

 

[sailme88]

Tell your "friend" that it's all like this :

View attachment 227976

Anchorages are few and far between.

THANKS !!!!! I'll let myself.... oops friend know...

 

[Terry Cox]

Just a note regarding Desolation Sound and surrounding area anchorages that fall within my preferences:
Roscoe Bay
Tenedos Bay
Melanie Cove
Grace Harbor
Cochoran Its
Squirrel Cove
Susan Its
Theodosha Inlet
Prideaux Haven
Gorge Hbr.
Copeland Isl.
Cortes Bay

There are others and will add them as they come to mind.

 

[Hello Below]

Terry, I have anchored in many of those you have listed but you have added a few new ones. Thank you for that. Given tides can be as high as 16’ up there, I assume you are referencing 25’ at low water level vice high water.

 

[Terry Cox]

I assume you are referencing 25’ at low water level vice high water.

Good morning, Len. My target is 25-30' mid tide.This still leaves plenty of water in a large tide swing.

 

[Terry Cox]

When we did our 2023 Desolation cruise, we headed out after a few days at anchor from Susan Its towards Cochoran Island in Malaspina Inlet. Not much room in there, but tried to find a spot near another boater. He put up enough of a stink that caused me to move on. About a mile north I found a very nice protected spot behind a small island with good anchorage on the peninsula side, well protected from the arriving southerly. I recorded it our journal, but cannot recall the name of it for the life of me.

 

[Hello Below]

There are a number of little nooks on the west side of the inlet with room for a couple of boats in each. In mid-July this year we were in an anchorage just past Susan. It was in about 55’ at high water. Grace was full to the hilt.

 

[SkiingSailor]

When we did our 2023 Desolation cruise, we headed out after a few days at anchor from Susan Its towards Cochoran Island in Malaspina Inlet. Not much room in there, but tried to find a spot near another boater. He put up enough of a stink that caused me to move on. About a mile north I found a very nice protected spot behind a small island with good anchorage on the peninsula side, well protected from the arriving southerly. I recorded it our journal, but cannot recall the name of it for the life of me.

FYI, it's "Cochrane Islands" anchorage (not Cochoran). Larger/main part of Cochrane Islands anchorage has a somewhat rocky bottom (our friends "never drag" but dragged perhaps 50m there, while ours stayed put... we too found the bottom rocky). Still, a favourite due to nearby hiking, although sea water colder compared to Grace or rest of Desolation.

 

[Kings Gambit]

BC waters are not "Pacific Northwest"...

They are the SW of Canada and the NE of the Pacific Ocean.

In case anyone was wondering....

Most likely, the “Pacific Northwest” as a region was monikered from the perspective of the 19th century (and earlier) westward expansion of the United States. People migrated overland to, and settled in, the “Pacific Northwest” when it was still officially Columbia or Columbia Territory. Later it was divided by treaty into British Columbia (Canada) and the Oregon Territory (USA). These days it would be proper (as noted) to refer to the cruising area as “the waters of British Columbia”, “the waters of southwest Canadian”, “the Salish Sea” if inside, or most generally, “the Pacific coast of Canada”, etc. Sounds like we are discussing “the waters of British Columbia, including the Salish Sea and above.” But since most sailors know to what one is referring regarding the “Pacific Northwest,” we might as well continue to use it and not be ruffled.

 

[Terry Cox]

Sounds like we are discussing “the waters of British Columbia, including the Salish Sea and above.”

Well said, Ray.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I’ve done a bit of “deep-water” anchoring here in southern California, to at least 90 ft. With 160 ft of 5/16” chain plus 200 ft of 9/16” nylon 3-strand, I can achieve that at 4:1 scope or nearly. But I generally don’t initially veer that much chain+rode when in 90 ft. More like 160 ft of chain plus 20 ft (added length of my 5/8” 3-strand chain snubber). So, maybe 2:1 of scope. Of course, I’m not doing this in high wind over 25 kt and in a “close area” surrounded by sheer rock walls. More in one or two places at the islands where comparatively “safe” (alternative) anchorage is nearby. Nevertheless, the dynamics are ultimately the same. Either one does or does not have sufficient holding in place if something nasty comes along (at night), and moving seems as risky as staying put. So, if I must increase scope, I can. Yet, as Terry intimated it’s preferable to find shallower water if you can. Unfortunately, if there are a lot of boats there already, that’s where they will be.

I’ve visited the Desolation Sound area a few times by charter in summer season, particularly Prideaux Haven. It’s beautiful but crowded at those times. There may not be enough space to lay adequate scope even in relatively shallow depths. The roomiest place in summer somewhat near there that I’ve visited is Waiaat Bay near the Octopus Islands. It’s big (uncrowded), relatively shallow (20-40 ft), well sheltered, beautiful, and easy to get ashore. You probably could anchor there for a month or more w/o having to move or reposition.

So, lighten up the boat and go there!

 

[Michael Davis]

Waiaat Bay near the Octopus Islands

Waiaat Bay looking toward the Octopus Islands is very crowded in the middle of summer as seen here.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Waiaat Bay looking toward the Octopus Islands is very crowded in the middle of summer as seen here.

Take me there!

 

[jssailem]

Beam me there! Scotty”

 

[Hello Below]

I’ve done a bit of “deep-water” anchoring here in southern California, to at least 90 ft. With 160 ft of 5/16” chain plus 200 ft of 9/16” nylon 3-strand, I can achieve that at 4:1 scope or nearly. But I generally don’t initially veer that much chain+rode when in 90 ft. More like 160 ft of chain plus 20 ft (added length of my 5/8” 3-strand chain snubber). So, maybe 2:1 of scope.

Hmm I have not consider this approach. Most anchorages “up North” although deep are relatively protected by the very land mass that makes them deep. I generally anchor with a scope between 1:3 and 1:4 relative to the highest water for the nights we are go to be there. I’m sure the first few nights of 1:2 would be wakeful but I will certainly considered regardless if I down size or not. I also use an anchor watch on my phone to give me some confidence (maybe false) that we are where we are supposed to be.
@Kings Gambit Thanks. And Waiatt Bay is one of our favourite for the reasons you mentioned. The very fact that you have to transit some pretty gnarly passes, unless timed accordingly, to get there puts a lot of boaters off to the benefit of others.
@Kings Gambit Out of curiosity what do you use for your primary anchor?

 

[Terry Cox]

I've told this story a time or two. Many years ago our flotilla anchored for a few days in Cocktail Cove, just inside False Bay on Lasqueti Island to partake in their annual Art Festival. A strong northerly arrived late afternoon with winds blowing like stink well into the night. The Cove has good holding with my depth preferences. The boat put up such a racket in the wind that I could not sleep, so I'm on deck enjoying the howling wind until about 2:00 A.M. when it finally blew itself out. Our Danforth held well through the night. The next morning when it came time to leave, our windlass really struggled to remove the deep set anchor. The wind pressure on the boat forced the Danforth to dig ever deeper into the mud bottom, which is what it is designed to do.

 

[Hello Below]

Not much room anywhere in False Bay now Terry. It has turned into a permanent mooring field for locals.

 

[Terry Cox]

Not much room anywhere in False Bay now Terry. It has turned into a permanent mooring field for locals.

Bummer.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Mine’s the anchor that was on the boat when I bought her, a 45# Stainless Suncor Plow Master. It’s a swivel anchor like the CQR but with wider palms and beefier shank. My boat is at the smaller size of the anchor’s range. That is, it’s recommended for boats up to 55’ LOA. I’m at 39’ LOA so it’s borderline “oversized” for my boat.