Anchor handling techniques

[Ginger Baker]

We have an O'Day 26 with a good anchor locker. I find that manually deploying and retrieving the anchor is very awkward. Reaching out either over or under the lifeline, keeping the rode, chain and anchor away from the rail while feeding everything back into the locker, I just wonder if I'm missing something. I've thought about a bow roller, but how does that work when the anchor is not stored on the roller? Would appreciate any advice.

 

[Jackdaw]

Normally when ready to anchor, the anchor is removed from the locker and going under the pulpit, the anchor shank laid on the roller. If there is not enough room at the bow for the anchor to do that, then it dangled from the roller suspended by the rode as the boat is positioned. As you back up to set the anchor, ride is paid out over the roller.

If the roller is stout enough, the rode can be left in the roller while at anchor.

Retrieval is just the reverse. Pull the rode and the boat moves forward, being careful when the anchor is out of the water to not damage the bow.At some point you stop and secure the rode, and then reach under the pulpit pull the whole deal off the roller and store it.

 

[RoyS]

If possible you would probably want to leave the anchor on the roller. I added a roller assembly last year and found it to be much easier to launch and retrieve the anchor. I leave the anchor on the roller when not in use and secure it in place with two bungie cords. Each cord is connected to a cleat in the anchor locker on one end with the other end on the chain anchor rode portion that is also in the locker. Some tension on each of the bungie cords holds the anchor securely against the roller. Deploying, in my case, usually has me seated on the deck behind the anchor locker with my feet in the locker. I grasp the rode and release the two bungies. Then I lower away while still seated. Raising the anchor is also performed while seated, ending with stretching the two bungies and clipping them in place. The bungies are the solid black rubber type which obviously need to be inspected now and then. Either bungie alone would hold the anchor in place, but two provide some peace of mind.

 

[Jackdaw]

If possible you would probably want to leave the anchor on the roller. I added a roller assembly last year and found it to be much easier to launch and retrieve the anchor. I

HUGE difference between a 33 footer and a 26 foot oday.

We do what you describe on our First 367 when we cruise, much easier. And of course the roller is bigger and the anchor fits. On a 26 footer the roller is much smaller, and often designed to simply guide the rode down off the bow. Not designed or sized to store the anchor.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I agree with the posts above. If you can leave the anchor on the anchor roller/platform it is the best situation. It also makes it easier to retrieve and it easier to keep the chain off of the boat.

I remember when I had my Hunter 22 with a nice anchor locker but no bow roller. It is kind of a pain to deal with that set up if you anchor a lot. It would be nice if you could make you an anchor platform for the boat so that you can leave the anchor out.

 

[Jackdaw]

If you dropped anchor every day, this might make sense.

I personally don't like the looks and it will snag on things from your spinnaker to your neighbors dock lines. And it the worst place for the weight while sailing. But if moving the anchor around is too hard physically, it might be best. Did I say I don't like the looks of it? But hell others might think it looks 'nautical'. To each his own! ;^)

 

[Bad Obsession]

That anchor roller isn't bad. Switch from that danforth to a better anchor. Maybe a Mantus. If you go cheap do a 22 pound lewmar claw (it works excellent on the Chesapeake Bay). I added 30 feet of chain to it.

 

[Jackdaw]

That anchor roller isn't bad. Switch from that danforth to a better anchor. Maybe a Mantus. If you go cheap do a 22 pound lewmar claw (it works excellent on the Chesapeake Bay). I added 30 feet of chain to it.

No you're right its not bad. While all the sailing-related reasons to not do it are still true, its probably the racer in me that hates the aesthetic.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Hey...I've won a race once because I used an anchor!

Racing in light wind, enough wind to allow the race but barely enough. The wind crapped out during the race and we were sailing against a tide. We deployed the anchor and stayed in place for about 10 minutes. The other boats went backwards. The wind built back up and we had gained a nice lead because of the anchor.

Us cruisers are a motley lot. Anchors hanging off the front, Gerry jugs on the sides, stuff drifting around in the cockpit, etc. but we have a lot of fun still!

 

[Sumner]

...Us cruisers are a motley lot. Anchors hanging off the front, Gerry jugs on the sides, stuff drifting around in the cockpit, etc. but we have a lot of fun still!

Getting old and weak so couldn't live without those anchors up front and on the rollers,

Sumner
=====================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[druid]

I've seen a LOT of anchors hanging off the bow in boats 25-30ft (I had one on the Cal 25, and on the Crown 28). They get in the way a LOT less than you'd think - biggest problem is that if you do happen to run into something with your bow, it will scratch the hell out of it!

Being mainly single-handed, I will set up the anchor on the deck (or hanging off the roller) before I even enter the anchorage. Then when you're in the crowded anchorage, you can quickly go forward and trip the anchor off (as opposed to tripping OVER the anchor!). If there's a bit of wind, I sometimes leave the main up, motor to maybe a boatlength upwind of where I want the anchor, then go in neutral (NEVER shut the engine off till you're properly anchored!), drop the anchor and play out the rode as the wind pushes you backwards. Once the anchor sets, the boat will swing bow into the wind, and you can go back at your leisure and reverse to set the anchor properly. Once the trees stop moving, you're set!

I'd say a roller is pretty much mandatory for anchoring, even if you don't leave the anchor there.

druid

 

[Ron20324]

Not sure what the OP boat looks like, but my O'day 222 needed an anchor roller. I got some "C" channel, laid it on the deck and drilled it to fit the hole pattern of the stemhead fitting. Lifted the s.h./forestay, placed the bracket, then bolted it all back together. Drilled each side piece to mount a roller an it worked great. Took it off when I sold the boat, but years later saw a 222 on the Annapolis Ego Alley, so left it on his boat. Don't know if he ever used it, though.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

cover your eyes kids...





my no locker solution...

 

[bshock]

On my Catalina 25 is had my danforth style anchor on a hangar type assembly on the bow pulpit, similar to what Druid described above I think. Worked fine for years and never gave me any trouble. I think I got the anchor hanger from West Marine.

 

[Ginger Baker]

As we anchor relatively infrequently I think I'll just give Jackdaw's first advice a try when we launch again in spring. I do appreciate all the suggestions.

 

[SOCAL C50]

I have an old Coronado 25 with a small rode locker, I have to hang the anchor on the bow rail. I don't have an anchor roller as the bow rail down tubes are very close to the forestay mount and the bow cleats are just on the other side of the down tubes. I am designing a roller that will incorporate one of the down tubes.

 

[Siamese]

My boat's a Catalina 28 MKII, and I keep a Manson on the bow roller. I don't seem to have any issues with stuff getting caught on it. With a Danforth type, there could be issues.

I like having the anchor on the roller, so I can deploy it that much easier. Put an extra step or two in my way, and I might not decide to drop the hook on the spur of the moment. As it is, if the wind's not behaving on my daysail, I'll toss out the anchor in one of my favored spots and break out a book and just hang out until the wind comes back.....or not.