Anchoring Etiquette: How do peole pick their spot?
- Thread starter Kings Gambit
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I was asleep below deck, it was not even daylight yet. Didnt have a camera, and never expected them to cry to the "officials". I asume they motored up with their electric trolling motor. They seemed totally oblivious to the poor manners they exhibited. Rednecks in a $30,000 bass boat.
Like the mugger who complains to the police that you damaged his knuckles with your teeth.
A couple of weeks ago we were anchored in a lovely spot in Penobscot Bay out in the Merchant Row off Deer Isle.
We got there first and picked a spot I know to be good and well away from the un-charted erratic boulders for swinging room. We were meeting Tim R. and his wife there for a lobster bake on the island.
Over the course of a few hours a few more sailboats came and and politely left perfect swing room and anchored very politely, including Tim. R.
, then at about 6:00 a $700,000.00+/- power boat comes into the anchorage and tries like hell to anchor behind us. He was determined to anchor right on top of us...
I let the "entertainment" go on for a while then politely pointed to a rusty rock on the shore line and said; "If you anchor much further in than the rusty rock over on Mcglathery Island you'll be stuck in the tidal eddy and we'll be bumping all night. You'll do nothing but spin in circles there. Beyond about where we are anchored the current swirls & eddy's pretty badly."
He tried one more time and then finally gave up.
He then anchored up wind, or more accurately at the time, current, of Tim R. and his wife and proceeded to run his OBNOXIOUS generator during the entire sunset and well past 9:00.
Poor Tim R. and his wife were the recipients of the exhaust, and it did smell NASTY. They then woke at zero dark thirty and again and apparently could not wait to fire up their OBNOXIOUS generator, much to the chagrin of every other boat in the anchorage. They could not go 10 +/- hours without their electric pacifier. Sad really..
Oh and that night is was DEAD Calm and flat as glass. The sound could be hear for likely well over a 1/2 mile..
Oh and the eddy currents... What eddy currents...
Sorry Tim!:cussing:
We got there first and picked a spot I know to be good and well away from the un-charted erratic boulders for swinging room. We were meeting Tim R. and his wife there for a lobster bake on the island.
Over the course of a few hours a few more sailboats came and and politely left perfect swing room and anchored very politely, including Tim. R.
, then at about 6:00 a $700,000.00+/- power boat comes into the anchorage and tries like hell to anchor behind us. He was determined to anchor right on top of us...I let the "entertainment" go on for a while then politely pointed to a rusty rock on the shore line and said; "If you anchor much further in than the rusty rock over on Mcglathery Island you'll be stuck in the tidal eddy and we'll be bumping all night. You'll do nothing but spin in circles there. Beyond about where we are anchored the current swirls & eddy's pretty badly."
He tried one more time and then finally gave up.
He then anchored up wind, or more accurately at the time, current, of Tim R. and his wife and proceeded to run his OBNOXIOUS generator during the entire sunset and well past 9:00.
Poor Tim R. and his wife were the recipients of the exhaust, and it did smell NASTY. They then woke at zero dark thirty and again and apparently could not wait to fire up their OBNOXIOUS generator, much to the chagrin of every other boat in the anchorage. They could not go 10 +/- hours without their electric pacifier. Sad really..
Oh and that night is was DEAD Calm and flat as glass. The sound could be hear for likely well over a 1/2 mile..
Oh and the eddy currents... What eddy currents...
Sorry Tim!:cussing:
Yeah, thanks a lot MS! I won't even mention the flies.
What I do not get is why folks buy a nice boat, travel to a beautiful anchorage in perfect weather, anchor and then fire up the generator so they can sit inside and watch TV.
If they had come to shore and introduced themselves, they probably would have gotten some free lobster....if only they could pry it out of MS's daughter's hands! I don't think I have ever seen a kid eat so much lobster.
I won't even mention the flies.What I do not get is why folks buy a nice boat, travel to a beautiful anchorage in perfect weather, anchor and then fire up the generator so they can sit inside and watch TV.
If they had come to shore and introduced themselves, they probably would have gotten some free lobster....if only they could pry it out of MS's daughter's hands! I don't think I have ever seen a kid eat so much lobster.
Considering that Little Harbor sloop was not there when he anchored I did not think he'd plop his sorry butt right in front of you..Yeah, thanks a lot MS!
I suspect the mysteries of why people do what they do will never be answered...
Yeah, God knows we had plenty at "Gluttony Fest"....
Yeah lobster, steamers and muscles are about her favorite things to eat. I suspect she had 6-8 lobsters in 10 days plus a few pounds of muscles and steamers...
She had fun though! 
Doesn't get much better than the coast of Maine and makes the few idiots we run into somewhat more tolerable...
Speaking of generators.....
Couple of summers ago we were at Chatterbox falls in Princess Louisa Inlet BC, which is a good 40ish mile long run up Jervis Inlet and requires you to hit the Malibu rapids at just the right time to enter. There really isn't anywhere to stop along the way either since it is essentially a fjord and anchoring along the inlet is difficult at best. We tie up to the dock along with the other new arrivals, which includes a fairly new 40 something foot Bayliner. After a couple hours, the powerboat goes to turn on his generator and nothing. He searches the dock for someone to help him out, but cant get it working. Rather then limit his electrical usage and stay the night, he leaves on the outgoing tide. What a waste! I realize he can cover ground much quicker, but WOW - Thats being dependent on modern conveniences.
Couple of summers ago we were at Chatterbox falls in Princess Louisa Inlet BC, which is a good 40ish mile long run up Jervis Inlet and requires you to hit the Malibu rapids at just the right time to enter. There really isn't anywhere to stop along the way either since it is essentially a fjord and anchoring along the inlet is difficult at best. We tie up to the dock along with the other new arrivals, which includes a fairly new 40 something foot Bayliner. After a couple hours, the powerboat goes to turn on his generator and nothing. He searches the dock for someone to help him out, but cant get it working. Rather then limit his electrical usage and stay the night, he leaves on the outgoing tide. What a waste! I realize he can cover ground much quicker, but WOW - Thats being dependent on modern conveniences.
Not just anchoring
A couple years ago was visiting some friends at Pensacola Yacht Club. While we were at lunch another boat came in, tied up to their boat, and actually walked across their boat to get to the dock. I can assure you there was some hell raised, and the offending boat was gone pretty quick. But the offenders stated that they did this all the time, and there wasn't anything wrong with doing it. There just isn't any way to understand stupidity, but it seems most could at least learn common courtesy.
A couple years ago was visiting some friends at Pensacola Yacht Club. While we were at lunch another boat came in, tied up to their boat, and actually walked across their boat to get to the dock. I can assure you there was some hell raised, and the offending boat was gone pretty quick. But the offenders stated that they did this all the time, and there wasn't anything wrong with doing it. There just isn't any way to understand stupidity, but it seems most could at least learn common courtesy.
I was anchored in a nice spot one time and this big powerboat came up and anchored right in front of me. There was plenty of room for this boat to anchor and generally it is considerate to anchor behind the boat that is already there. These idiots then proceed to start jumping and diving off of the flying bridge (it was about 9 feet of water too). Then this very robust woman in a bikini (very disturbing) is sitting on the edge of the swim plat form spread eagle. Finally one of the dumb asses dives into the water and he then couldn't get back on the swim platform. He said that he had a broken rib from earlier in the week and he couldn't get out of the water.
It took most of the people on the boat to lift him. It is amazing that no one was hurt any worse than that because they were diving in shallow water.
After about 30 minutes of this I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled up my anchor and moved to another place. I guess I couldn't handle the red-neck yacht club.
At least it wasn't the boat load full of nudists that anchored near my uncle one time. LOL
It took most of the people on the boat to lift him. It is amazing that no one was hurt any worse than that because they were diving in shallow water.
After about 30 minutes of this I couldn't take it anymore. I pulled up my anchor and moved to another place. I guess I couldn't handle the red-neck yacht club.
At least it wasn't the boat load full of nudists that anchored near my uncle one time. LOL
Most likely because their boat has an ELECTRIC everything: stove, fridge, probably heads, too.
No coffee in the am without the generator running. They are clueless to inverters, too.
Most trawlers these days have finally figured out that propane stoves and good house banks, like sailboats, makes 'em better neighbors and makes their boats work better, too.
Plus, once they're inside, they can't hear their own bloody generator noise - they have the TV turned up way high, and they're getting off on the mirrors on their ceilings.
Why they use a boat to go to a beautiful place and sit inside?
Answer: get 'em outside and have them listen to their own generators.
Convenience does not require a generator.
We have an electric head, reverse cycle AC/heat, TV, microwave, freezer, refrigerator, watermaker, 12v hydronic heater, many kitchen appliances including a toaster.
But when it comes to cruising, we are mostly self sufficient without the use of a generator. We choose not to use AC/heat, microwave, TV and appliances just so we do not need to run the engine driven generator. We do have a small inverter for the occasional daiquari ;-)
I have only used it once in a year and that was to warm up the boat during a delivery last December before our hydronic heater installation was completed.
To answer the post, many people pick their anchoring spot the same way they pick their houses; Right on top of their neighbors. I truly believe many folks are very uncomfortable if not part of a crowd.
We have an electric head, reverse cycle AC/heat, TV, microwave, freezer, refrigerator, watermaker, 12v hydronic heater, many kitchen appliances including a toaster.
But when it comes to cruising, we are mostly self sufficient without the use of a generator. We choose not to use AC/heat, microwave, TV and appliances just so we do not need to run the engine driven generator. We do have a small inverter for the occasional daiquari ;-)
I have only used it once in a year and that was to warm up the boat during a delivery last December before our hydronic heater installation was completed.
To answer the post, many people pick their anchoring spot the same way they pick their houses; Right on top of their neighbors. I truly believe many folks are very uncomfortable if not part of a crowd.
After all this anti-generator, minimalist, back to the earth invective here and elsewhere I have decided to have my generator ripped out of my boat, smashed to pieces at the local scrap metal recycler, and recast into wind turbine components. My goodness I feel so guilty I'll be in counseling forever.
Rick, keep your generator. Please. I'm sure, as a sailor, you are kind, considerate, and compassionate.
What the thoughts here are, are simple: consideration for others in an anchorage. Part of the results of having systems on boats is understanding how to use them, and when. If the ONLY way to make coffee or food is with an electric stove that requires you to run a generator, then perhaps one would rethink the selection of an electric stove. If running a generator all night to watch TV is needed, then a simple inverter would be a choice to avoid offending your neighbors.
Unfortunately, based on this and many, many other forums, it is the irresponsible folks who seem to have all electric systems on their boats that most affect their neighbors. And those folks just happen to own larger motorboats.
It's the reality of the fact that the systems that came with their boats really aren't appropriate for anchoring out and keeping it quiet for their neighbors. And, in all too many cases, they are clueless about the impact they have when they do so.
Besides, your wind generator might be worse!
Halleluiah, I have made a difference. I have converted one sinner to righteousness.
:theman:
I would not consider my life minimalist. Rick, you are invited over for cold beer and ice cream any time
Generators have their place. Just don't park it next to me.
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