Anchor Etiquette

Jackdaw · Apr 23, 2014

A little communication goes a long way!

I always like to look around first and then talk to my anchor neighbors if possible if there is any chance I'll close enough to make them wonder. If I'm new to the area asked them what they know about the bottom.

One other thing to think about.... as you were chartering, its quite possible they stop in that cove regularly for dinner and never thought twice about it.

slaume · Apr 23, 2014

Talking helps a lot if both parties are on board when the second boat comes in.

I have had a few occasions where we were on shore and another boat anchored way too close. Once was a giant power boat sitting right in front of me. He then had the audacity to trail some sort of floating trampoline off the stern. It took great restraint and cold water not to snorkel over and do a midnight slashing of that thing. The wind shifted enough by morning that we could retrieve our anchor, with fenders out on his side.

I have had it happen during a lunch stop, while we went swimming ashore. In a virtually empty anchorage as well. There were no other boats around but this guy chose to sit right over my anchor. He had to pull in his rode so we could retrieve ours.

I had one guy anchor very close, while we were hiking. When I got back to the boat I talked to him about the situation, how much rode he had out and that I was not at all comfortable with the situation. They went to bed early and when the wind died completely our boats drifted together. I took some satisfaction in rapping on his cabin top with a short boat hook and insisting that he needed to get up and move his boat. This might have taught him that it would have been easier to pick a better spot during the day.

I always try to talk to previously anchored boats about the bottom, what anchor they have set and how much scope they have out. Those swinging circles don't work out too well if one guy is on 3 to 1 or less and you set 5 or 7 to 1.

I just don't understand why some people insist on anchoring close when there is lots of room. It is kind of like picking an out of the way spot for lunch while hiking and then a bunch of people somehow feel like you would enjoy their company, Steve.

Stu Jackson · Apr 23, 2014

Anchor Etiquette is long gone. Too many bozos out there. You're right, this subject comes up at least three times a year: at the beginning, in the middle and at the end. Altogether too many horror stories, on this and just about every other boating forums. Too close, over your hook, don't understand scope, empty anchorages with the jerk right next to you. It's the dumb-herd mentality. I blame the internet.

Dunlookin · Apr 23, 2014

Remember...these people drove to thier boats.

I was in an empty parking lot at the Aberdeen Proving Ground Army Base. I had the trunk, and both doors open to my "space-hoggin'" Mini-Cooper. A woman drove up to the back of my car and stopped.

I continued to load my car with groceries and wondered what she was doing. After about five minutes, she honked her horn at me. When I went to her car window and asked her why she was honking she said," I am waiting to park."

I pointed to the entire parking lot (now empty) and suggested she take any one of the two hundred available spaces. She declined, and waited five more minutes for me to finish packing my car so she could park beside me.

It was kinda' romantic. My Mini-Cooper and her Lexus alone, in the empty parking lot....together.

Bad Obsession · Apr 23, 2014

There are some absolute yahoos out there.

It is so refreshing when someone pulls up in the anchorage, asks you how much scope you have out, and observes etiquette. It is kind of like that rare moment when some bumps into you and actually says "I'm sorry."

There are even some odd balls in sailboats but, for the most part, the sailors tend to be more knowledgeable about etiquette.

The worst case is when you go to a big event, say 4th of July fireworks, in a busy area. I dislike doing things like this anymore because people are already bad enough but then they add alcohol. End result is a jackass in a jet-ski using boats like an obstacle course. Even better when said jackass has a small child on the jet-ski with them (a baby) and there isn't even a life jacket on the child.

Knowing what it is like to be around ignorant boaters, I think that it makes you much more likely to use good etiquette when going into a busy anchorage.

gettinthere · Apr 23, 2014

Spa Creek Annapolis. Check with neighbors who tell me they have 5:1. We do the same. One other small crappy looking sailboat nearby. Guy passes us in his paddleboat several times. We try to make eye contact, wave, etc. No response.
Several days later a storm blows in, big rain and wind. We're swinging around toward this sailboat. He starts swearing at me that I'm an idiot...because "everybody" in spa anchors with 2:1 scope. He was a bit downwind of me so I asked if he could let some out so I could swing above him clear. More cursing that if he did that he would hit me for sure! What? We had to pull anchor and leave.
And people curse mooring fields?

Warren Milberg · Apr 23, 2014

...as Sheldon Cooper, of Big Bang Theory fame, would say "...you are in my space."

Ralph Johnstone · Apr 23, 2014

Stu's Right ..................

Stu Jackson said:
Anchor Etiquette is long gone. Too many bozos out there.

........... whenever I see a real case of "just don't give a damn" I feel responsible for advising the person of just how bad their behaviour is. Much of the current problem is that these people are so stupid, and until they are told what boors they are , they just keep doing it and annoying everyone around them.

Yes, I usually believe that communication will solve most problems but when it comes to some slob in a big power boat with a real dumb stunt, do everyone a favour and let 'em have it :cussing:.

Gunni · Apr 23, 2014

The vast majority of pleasure boaters have no anchoring skills. Most leave their slip and return to it at the end of their boating day. The thought of spending the night at anchor scares them. The boating courses do not teach anchoring techniques, and a casual inspection of boats in any given marina will confirm that by looking at what most boats have for ground tackle. I crewed and raced for years with very skilled sailors, almost all of whom had inadequate ground tackle and could care less - they were headed back to the slip, or to a transient slip. Now we have a whole generation of charter boaters who have only ever hooked a mooring ball or tied into a slip.

If you want a happy experience pick your anchorage carefully, and take a position where no one can anchor upwind of you, that includes knowing the pending windshifts. If you see someone come in too close, drop a wad of anchor and chain on the bottom and go to happy hour you have a choice; have a pow-wow, or haul anchor and move. I start with the conversation and take it from there.

Stu Jackson · Apr 23, 2014

Good point, gunni. The smaller mobos are the absolute worst. In all my years sailing (35+) I have met only ONE motorboat skipper who knew what he was doing with an anchor.

All U Get · Apr 23, 2014

No Name Harbor

I believe the same idea of having plenty of room to anchor. My experience in No Name Harbor was quite the opposite. Many boats in a small area dropping anchor within the swing radius of others. Then they would raft up two, three, as many as six together with motor and sail of all sizes mixed together. Needless to say as wind and tide would change there were some anxious moments because the holding wasn't that great due to the heavy use of the Harbor.

We couldn't wait to get to the open anchorages again. I anchor in nine feet or more if I can find it. Usually I see smaller, shallow draft boats anchored in the 10-14 depth water and wonder why they don't use the skinny water. Oh well.

All U Get

Brian D · Apr 23, 2014

Maybe we should start a trend of raising a numeral signal flag to indicate our scope. Now that is a novel idea. I get all proceeds from the idea and I shall copyright it as well. LOL

But seriously, a numeric signal flag just might catch on. Who knows?

Chris Patterson · Apr 23, 2014

Brian D said:
Maybe we should start a trend of raising a numeral signal flag to indicate our scope. Now that is a novel idea. I get all proceeds from the idea and I shall copyright it as well. LOL

But seriously, a numeric signal flag just might catch on. Who knows?

Ya know, that sounds like a top idea suggestion. Seems like it wouldn't be too much trouble to stitch up something as proposed, and string it up the spreader. Most other sail boaters may get it. Maybe.

(And do it quick before Brian copyrights it or whatever)

justsomeguy · Apr 23, 2014

Brian D said:
Maybe we should start a trend of raising a numeral signal flag to indicate our scope. Now that is a novel idea. I get all proceeds from the idea and I shall copyright it as well. LOL

But seriously, a numeric signal flag just might catch on. Who knows?

I like it!

Stu Jackson · Apr 23, 2014

Uhm, they already have signal flags.

Number NATO Flag ICS Flag 0
Zero

1
One

2
Two

3
Three

4
Four

5
Five

6
Six

7
Seven

8
Eight

9
Niner

justsomeguy · Apr 23, 2014

Stu Jackson said:
Uhm, they already have signal flags.

Number NATO Flag ICS Flag 0
Zero 1
One 2
Two 3
Three 4
Four 5
Five 6
Six 7
Seven 8
Eight 9
Niner

Is that in hundreds of feet? Fathoms?

Scott T-Bird · Apr 23, 2014

Not complaining about etiquette ...

but we had a funny episode last year during the 4th fireworks. Where we always anchor, it is a real scene. I mean by the time folks pack in, everybody is really close. The only thing that bugs me is when there is a boat that has to blast AC\DC or something similar incessantly. Actually, during this event, I like the crowd. It is fun and everybody is in a great mood. We must not have any unfriendly boaters on Lake Hopatcong, power or otherwise.

Last year was great, the crowd was great, there was music in the air but nothing obnoxious, the crowd was fun and there was this great little breeze blowing the entire time. But the breeze did pick up about the time the fireworks ended and a nearby raft-up of about 5 boats was soon closing in on us. They were having a great time and nobody on their end seemed to notice until they were about 5 yards off our bow. I was on the bow watching for somebody to notice and when somebody finally said "oh, sh!t", I said "I've been watching you drift into me for awhile, I'm glad you noticed!" One guy said "I thought you were drifting into us". And I replied, "I don't think I'm drifting upwind".

Anyway, everybody scrambled and scattered and it was pretty amusing to watch it all. I told them I would have been happy to move, but I wouldn't be able to get my anchor out from under them.

justsomeguy · Apr 23, 2014

Scott T-Bird said:
"I don't think I'm drifting upwind".

Unless the current's outstripping the wind (on a lake?), that's funny stuff!

LloydB · Apr 23, 2014

OK I'll bite. What are the rules for proper anchoring anyway? Which is the proper anchor to use? If the other guy doesn't have one who leaves? So where is that list of anchoring rules found? What should you do if they are still there when you come back topside after twelve minutes of playing the porno tape? a)tell them that's a fluke as you normally start a little later b)ask hey buddy what's the size of your anchor? c)explain that they have to stand off until Fred and Wilma raft up to starboard and warn them not to call them that to their face if Fred's been drinking.(but Frank can get irritated too) d)play a copy of EAR ACHE or Tantrum.
I like the idea of anchoring by the number but there aren't enough numbers for instance: 321480484 would that be 32 pounds @148 feet 40 degrees East with 80ft of 1/4 chain or vice versa. Maybe iphone has an ap for that and if so AC (Active Captain not the other ac)won't be far behind.