Courious to know what you would set your anchor alarm at: Although I have been sailing for 25 years, I never had all the gadgets. The conditions of the bay were flat like glass with a steady southern wind at 5mph. I set my scope at about 30ft with a 6ft chain & plow anchor attached. At low tide in 5-6 ft of water, expecting another foot within 6 hours, not a problem. Only one other boat swinging with me. At first I set the anchor drag alarm to 10ft., but only had 30 min sleep before it went off. I reset it to 15 ft for another 15min of sleep. The wind was steady out of the south, but I was still swinging left to right. Finally I set it to 40 feet, seemed to do the trick. Although I was clear of the only other boat anchored, I was not pleased with having to set the drag alarm that wide, ESP in 6ft of water with a 30 foot scope..etc etc. I thought of throwing another anchor off the bow to make the "V" that is often talked about to keep you from swinging peacefully, but was to lazy in the dark, I threw it over the port side to a 6ft drop, waited for a swing before I cleated it off there. I set the alarm back to 15 feet and called it a night.
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gps
I've found that the anchor alarm on my gps gives far fewer false alarms than the anchor alarm on my depth sounder. Hint: mark the spot where you drop the hook, and then set the alarm for 20' more than the scope you have out. That way, tidal shifts won't set the alarm off as long as your swinging within the radius of your scope.
I've found that the anchor alarm on my gps gives far fewer false alarms than the anchor alarm on my depth sounder. Hint: mark the spot where you drop the hook, and then set the alarm for 20' more than the scope you have out. That way, tidal shifts won't set the alarm off as long as your swinging within the radius of your scope.
Wind shift, now from the north
Thanks John so if then my 30 foot scope w/6 ftsix, swinging 360 degrees, my 40 ft alarm would not have been wide enough. I was just wondering or courious to know if setting it over 50ft is the norm, or if there is an avarage setting for anchor drag. I don't usually sleep well under anchor without three anchors out for fear of drifting into something or someone. Clay - who thought the chain should really be as long as the boat
Thanks John so if then my 30 foot scope w/6 ftsix, swinging 360 degrees, my 40 ft alarm would not have been wide enough. I was just wondering or courious to know if setting it over 50ft is the norm, or if there is an avarage setting for anchor drag. I don't usually sleep well under anchor without three anchors out for fear of drifting into something or someone. Clay - who thought the chain should really be as long as the boat
Do the math...
30 feet of anchor line, +2/3 the lenght of the boat = the swing radius of the boat. I'd set the alarm at about 25'.
30 feet of anchor line, +2/3 the lenght of the boat = the swing radius of the boat. I'd set the alarm at about 25'.
Also use gps
Like John I also use my gps. It's set to .04 nm which is about 240 feet. We usually anchor with a scope of 5 (45 pound cqr plus 30 pound kellet)and are most of the time anchored in 20-30 feet of water (10 foot tidal range). Works for us though I only leave it on if I'm concerned about the bottom or expect blustery winds. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
Like John I also use my gps. It's set to .04 nm which is about 240 feet. We usually anchor with a scope of 5 (45 pound cqr plus 30 pound kellet)and are most of the time anchored in 20-30 feet of water (10 foot tidal range). Works for us though I only leave it on if I'm concerned about the bottom or expect blustery winds. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
Depends!
If you are like me, I don't set the anchor alarm right where I drop the hook. I wait and set it later, when the boat is at its swing arc. By making this point the center of the alarm position I could swing 180 degrees and be twice my anchor scope away from that alarm center. I will set the alarm to twice my scope and then a little extra to allow for any miscalculation of scope on my part. I do make sure I have 360 degree swinging room from other boats when I anchor. If there is a shallow shore or another boat close to my swing arc I would pull on the anchor rode to get the boat on top of the anchor and then set the center of the alarm there for a distance slightly exceeding the scope but well short of the shallow or other boat.
If you are like me, I don't set the anchor alarm right where I drop the hook. I wait and set it later, when the boat is at its swing arc. By making this point the center of the alarm position I could swing 180 degrees and be twice my anchor scope away from that alarm center. I will set the alarm to twice my scope and then a little extra to allow for any miscalculation of scope on my part. I do make sure I have 360 degree swinging room from other boats when I anchor. If there is a shallow shore or another boat close to my swing arc I would pull on the anchor rode to get the boat on top of the anchor and then set the center of the alarm there for a distance slightly exceeding the scope but well short of the shallow or other boat.
I set mine
over the anchor. Then set it for the length of the rode plus 20'. That way the circle is centered on the anchor and the boat is just inside the alarm circle no matter where she swings. I drag 20 feet in any direction and the alarm goes off. This is how my manual says to do it BTW. yea I know it is wrong to read the manuals but I had a moment of weakness.
over the anchor. Then set it for the length of the rode plus 20'. That way the circle is centered on the anchor and the boat is just inside the alarm circle no matter where she swings. I drag 20 feet in any direction and the alarm goes off. This is how my manual says to do it BTW. yea I know it is wrong to read the manuals but I had a moment of weakness.
I learn the neatest sailing tricks here!
I would just anchor than set the alarm, now I know a better way. Thanks, Now if I could just here the alarm!! Jack
I would just anchor than set the alarm, now I know a better way. Thanks, Now if I could just here the alarm!! Jack
Another trick
I learned this little trick from TonyB. The Garmins, not sure about other brands but assume it is the same, have a track feature. After I get anchored up, I let it swing for an hour or so. Then check the track. It will show the swing of the boat, and if you are dragging the track will show it. I know this doesn't work for dragging later, but unless some unusual weather shows up, if it holds after the initial set, it good for the night. As an afterthought. Do any others out there feel the boat move different if something changes. A dragging anchor, strong wind shift, or very much of a change in the boat motion and I am instantly awake.
I learned this little trick from TonyB. The Garmins, not sure about other brands but assume it is the same, have a track feature. After I get anchored up, I let it swing for an hour or so. Then check the track. It will show the swing of the boat, and if you are dragging the track will show it. I know this doesn't work for dragging later, but unless some unusual weather shows up, if it holds after the initial set, it good for the night. As an afterthought. Do any others out there feel the boat move different if something changes. A dragging anchor, strong wind shift, or very much of a change in the boat motion and I am instantly awake.
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