How long do you think a trip line would have lasted with the number of boats motoring around that close?justsomeguy suggested a tripline. I think that would have solved it.
Ken
How long do you think a trip line would have lasted with the number of boats motoring around that close?justsomeguy suggested a tripline. I think that would have solved it.
Ken
It was refreshing but short ... taking a swim at sunset when very few people are in the water definitely gives me the willies. I saw a bait fish leaping thru the surf at one point and I was definitely coming out at that point. I don't care how often I swim in the surf, I always have it in the back of my mind (and sometimes the only thing) that I don't want to be a snack!How was the swim?
With the way the anchor holds in this material and for as long as I was holding in a lot of wind, I was concerned that breakout would be very difficult. As it turns out, with the Claw anchor, I've never had a problem with breakout and this was no exception. I think @thinwater is right, the lever arm of the shank is very powerful. You only need to get above the anchor and it breaks out readily. My biggest problem by far was hauling the chain. So far, I've never had the same problem breaking out the Claw compared to how difficult it could frequently be with a fortress anchor that I used to have.justsomeguy suggested a tripline. I think that would have solved it.
Ken
I'm pretty strong and in this wind, there was not a chance that I could hold either the chain or the rode let alone haul it in without assist. I frequently haul it all in without the windlass even in a little breeze. Not this time. I knew even without testing that there was no possibility. It would have helped some if I thought about using gloves. My hands are also pretty rugged, I don't often bother with gloves, even though I should.Hey,
Were you able to pull the boat forward by hand? I know it's easier with someone driving the boat up to the anchor, but it shouldn't take that much power for you to just pull the boat forward and get the boat over the anchor. I don't have that much anchoring experience, and just about 0 solo anchoring. My 11,000lb C&C didn't have a windlass and I was always able to pull the boat up to the anchor and then pull the anchor up. This was with 20' of chain. If I needed a break I would cleat off the rode (line or anchor) and catch my breath.
As a last resort I would have rode aft to my primary winches.
Barry
Concur on this. I used to own a Catalina 27 without a windlass, and if the wind got to 10 kts or greater it got really tough to haul the boat forward with brute strength, singlehanding, particularly if the boat started sailing at anchor. Scott's boat is probably significantly heavier than my C27, so I get his point about 20 kts of wind being a REAL challenge to hand haul rode. I commend him for sharing the story. Makes me appreciate doubly my electric winch (and the occasional crew to bump the boat forward and take the strain off the rode).I'm pretty strong and in this wind, there was not a chance that I could hold either the chain or the rode let alone haul it in without assist. I frequently haul it all in without the windlass even in a little breeze. Not this time. I knew even without testing that there was no possibility. It would have helped some if I thought about using gloves. My hands are also pretty rugged, I don't often bother with gloves, even though I should.
I agree, the autopilot was no help. Powering up enough to stay on course would have made the situation completely uncontrollable (I think - I'd have to see firsthand how it's done if that's not the case). Slower and the wind would take the bow back and forth across the wind regardless and otto had no control.
- Autopilot does not generally help (my last boat was a 34-foot cat). You are going too slow and the tension of the rode will keep her pointed up.
- Try less throttle. Not enough to move the boat forward, only enough to reduce the tension to a manageable level. Then the boat will stay straight and fall off more slowly when the anchor breaks out.
- A chain pawl might help.Chain Stopper
- Alternatively, sit down to haul, so that you are better braced and can cleat more quickly. Work out the cleating before you start hauling.
I think you're right about that ... I'm usually too shy to ask for help and I figured that they were focused on all the activity. I've been acquainted with the State Police on the water and found them to be exceptional. They certainly had enough boats in the water covering this scene. As it turns out (I wasn't aware at the time), this was the annual Floats & Boats weekend and if you go to the Tices Shoal homepage on FaceBook, there is a lot of coverage. Most prominently is the praise for law enforcement providing friendliness and ensuring safety. They were greatly appreciated by all.pick up the mic on the VHF radio, call the sheriff, ask for assistance, have one of them board your boat and drive you up to your anchor, done. easy peezee. that is why they are there. that is why you have a radio.
In that regard, I'm very happy with my Lewmar Claw. It has held perfectly for me in every situation and it breaks out very readily as soon as I'm over the anchor. I think @thinwater is right about the effectiveness of the shank. It is a powerful lever arm.As far as breaking out: as someone just said, when the anchor chain is near vertical, you can either use a bit of patience and let the motion of the bow break it out, or just motor slowly ahead for a bit. Once it's broken out, haul it up a bit more to just under the surface and motor really slowly to get rid of some of the mud before finishing the job on autopilot.
I have the same anchor: it's been flawless in the heavy mud of the Chesapeake. Pretty oversized for our H306: I think it was the 10Kg / 22 lb.In that regard, I'm very happy with my Lewmar Claw.
What's anchor lock? I could guess, but I don't see anything when I google it.Once you retrieve enough chain to avoid Anchor Lock,
Lock is when it's down and secure, i.e., holding. Once you start to get above it and the chain is vertical enough, it pulls the shank up and begins to and then releases the flukes from what there were holding onto. They've written books about anchoring..What's anchor lock? I could guess, but I don't see anything when I google it.
Good point.There was no way I could pull the boat forward by muscle alone, which is what I normally do when anchors in light winds.
NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) Frequencies Seven Frequencies in the VHF Public Service Band | |
162.400 MHz | 162.500 MHz |
162.425 MHz | 162.525 MHz |
162.450 MHz | 162.550 MHz |
162.475 MHz | |
Note: Channel numbers, e.g., WX1, WX2, etc. have no special significance but are often designated this way in consumer equipment. Other channel numbering schemes are also possible. |
You stated this several times and I think you are spot on. You want to get the anchor to break free of the muck. Position the boat's bow over the anchor and let it bounce a bit in the sea motion. Snug the anchor up a little at a time as tension reduces.I think @thinwater is right about the effectiveness of the shank. It is a powerful lever arm.