Anchoring Etiquette Clashes with Local Culture

[cruisingdog]

Anchor marker/bottle/fender

I did that for a while until one night our boat drifted over the anchor float during a tide swing. I heard the little line to the float snap which kept me awake the rest of the night. In the morning we picked up anchor as I looked for the float. Nowhere to be seen. Put it in forward and the float with 10 feet of line drifts out from the stern of the boat. That could have been a PITA had it wrapped the prop.

All U Get

Someone gave me this tip (I am a newbie on this subject - I'll learn, have a beer with you and let you show me a better way of doing things [at the end of the day we all learn or reinforce the knowledge we have]). Maybe this tip is standard practice, I don't know....

For your anchor marker, have a retrieval line that is about 1.5-1.8x the depth of the anchorage tied off to your anchor - then non rode side - for anchor pullout/retrieval. Pass the line through your fender/anchor marker. Then add a weight to the standing end and drop the weight and marker in the water (the marker will be on the bight). in essence you will have a weighed marker that won't drift much and will re-center in light weather due to the weight pulling it back [think: upside down U shape with a shorter leg of the U being weighted and the top of the U being the marker). It will also allow you to retrieve your marker easily as it will lift above sea level when you hook it.

If anyone would share on how you anchor 2 vessels to a single anchor point I'd love to know. I don't understand this yet.

Anyway, about that beer .....

 

[primaluce]

Re: Anchor marker/bottle/fender

"If anyone would share on how you anchor 2 vessels to a single anchor point I'd love to know. I don't understand this yet."

Thanks for the response on anchor markers and thank you everybody else for their thoughts and ideas about etiquette / protocol on the Bounding Main. Anchorages can be very stressful and after 3 or 4 weeks in the same place, boats come and go and I never move. A pastime is to watch the boats approaching (usually at dusk) and to pick the spot they will anchor or could anchor due to spatial allowances and sea bottom conditions ... invariably, my perceived space is invaded and there's nothing I can do about it, except to move or seethe. I seethe!!! But there's a rum-soaked HERBAL remedy (Sunset Rum - 170 proof steeped a week with an ounce of whatever herb'll do ya). "Guests" move on eventually. Sometimes other boats are very welcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy1-NTllHnQ


Re above quote: If it were impossible to use one anchor per vessel or the seas were calm, I'd fix the other boat to a stern cleat so she's trailing behind.

 

[Stu Jackson]

In the too much scope thread also started by KG, I posted these links. Folks who think marking your anchor is the right answer should read them. I haven't and never will. Anything that complicates anchoring, other than a bow anchor, needs some serious consideration that are dictated by conditions, conditions and conditions, like real estate. Marking your anchor with a trip line that can be run over by other boats is NOT one of 'em.

PS - Interestingly enough, my avatar picture shows us anchored, but that few days I anchored fore & aft. Why? 'Cuz it was in a river with current that changed every 6 hours!!! in a relatively narrow slough. We were there for three or four days. I kept the channel clear for passing boats and kept our bow facing the wind. I use bow & stern anchors in our rivers and in some narrow sloughs in the California Delta here. Open roadsteads do NOT "require" bow & stern, as KG has said quite well. In fact, as also mentioned by someone else, it's not such a good idea to go b&s in one, either.

There's some good stuff here:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tte-53094.html

and here: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...nct-39502.html

 

[Stu Jackson]

Of course I've read Fagan's book as well..............But, we're not discussing that. I doubt many others would be there anyway in big conditions.

............... If I'm swinging in a berth on a single hook in nice conditions a new boat coming in does not have the right to park inside my radius b/c "he read it somewhere" that that is the way to anchor in that particular anchorage even if he tells me he's going to. ................he wanted to have the unobstructed view that I had (until he showed up); he was not looking for "shelter." If we were both in there looking for serious shelter, then maybe a different story b/c the "sheltered berths" might be few.

True about the sheltered berths.

However, what those of you who are making these kinds of points keep completely missing is that KG was THERE FIRST. And conditions did NOT warrant "shelter." And he was anchored responsibly.

What's so hard? :dance:

PS - Those of us here on the Left Coast have usually easier anchoring situations. We DO understand that many of you back east and on the GL have, in many, many cases, really crowded anchorages (and NOT Marta's Vineyard or Cuttyhunk, which are special cases in themselves). At least where I live, we have many with wide open roadsteads. If jerks come in and use the "herd instinct" and anchor on top of me when there's a wide open Bay with plenty of room and good depth & holding all over, I have a not unreasonable feeling of intrusion.

Please read the links above in Reply #83, there are many stories that don't bear retyping but are worthwhile reading about this subject.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Lorin, is your icon that of a Cro-magnum humanoid? That "tells me enough to know" that you're a dinosaur.

I think it's much closer to Australopithecus, a small-brained, large-jawed (= big mouth) pre-human, not even at the grade of a Neanderthal. Actually, I continued to be shocked by the stunning lack of knowledge, and strange perspective (IMO), of many out in the cruising/boating world. A loud hailer is a component of some fog horn/hailer systems. People carry them when cruising areas where fog is frequent. Anybody who cruises Puget Sound probably should have one. Lorin's probably confusing it w/ what his high school football coach had; maybe not that long ago for him.

Hailers are connected to a device that automates the fog signal, but which might also have a microphone, as with a VHF radio. So one might also use it as a "bull horn" to establish contact. They're a good alternative to yelling until your throat is sore at a friend or foe across the anchorage. Few people, as we've learned, monitor VHF 16 at anchor, or even otherwise. Fewer still know how to use digital selective calling or even want to. Certainly no one except a racer or naval signal man would know or bother to read international code flag "Lima" (come within hail) or "Kilo" (contact me, I wish to communicate), respectively. I wonder how many carry a flag key, or the phonetic alphabet, on their boat. I'm not going to stand on the bow yelling at a guy 200-ft upwind of me who clearly does not wish to hear from me when I have a loud hailer. Admiralty Law, as we discovered in this thread, requires that the newcomer be warned or advised that he is within your swinging radius (berth). That's what I did. I guess Lorin and other Austalopithecines would just throw feces at the guy and hoot!! I'm relieved that he would not want to be in an anchorage w/me!

 

[JamesG161]

What a thread!!:2cool:

Short story....

We made canal passage to a marina in which two local fisherman had their lines cast. One began to cuss and threaten to shoot us if we returned out sea. We called police. They said we were on water call the Marine Resource cops. We call them and they said it was land cops.

So we pulled out the best weapon known to mortal man.

3 iPhones

Pointed the deadly video evidence devices toward the Jerk on exiting in the canal.

He just began to look innocent and pulled in his lines. We passed safely and without comment.

Until...

We go out of camera range and we heard him scream...

Don't you come back again!:lame:

I am Packing all the time now.

Jim....

 

[primaluce]

"Anchoring Etiquette Clashes with Control Freaks"

 

[primaluce]

I regret my flippant comment above re control freak.

It would seem from the diagram provided by KG, that had the interloper just anchored normally, i.e., anchor down and set and about 150' scope, there would not have been a problem to you or him (other than he'd drift into the island when the wind shifted).

 

[Stu Jackson]

I regret my flippant comment above re control freak.

It would seem from the diagram provided by KG, that had the interloper just anchored normally, i.e., anchor down and set and about 150' scope, there would not have been a problem to you or him (other than he'd drift into the island when the wind shifted).

I thought you meant that the freak was the bozo.

Also, if the bozo had anchored appropriately aft of KG everything would have been just fine, too.

 

[primaluce]

The Freak was the Bozo, I regretted using the term "Freak" although "Bozo" is a clown.

You're right, fore or aft or to the side ... without stern anchor. Great graphics on this discussion.

 

[rpsorensen]

Maybe a little common courtesy, something that seems to be lacking in our society, could have easily prevented any exchange of words. The second boat in could have hailed the boat already anchored to find out how his ground tackle was set and set a safe distance from the first boat. After the second boat was safely anchored the second boater, being as his dingy was already deployed, row over to the first boater and respectfully inform them that the anchorage gets busy on weekends with the majority of boaters setting both bow and stern anchors. It does not have to become confrontational only respectfully informative.

Also any successive boats coming into the anchorage can easily hail one of the boats already in the anchorage to see what everyone else is doing.

 

[Stu Jackson]

...........and respectfully inform them that the anchorage gets busy on weekends with the majority of boaters setting both bow and stern anchors.

From the OP:

All is well. The next day the two yachts depart leaving us alone in the anchorage; it's Wednesday. The following day, Thursday, a guy and his wife................

 

[Kings Gambit]

From the OP:

All is well. The next day the two yachts depart leaving us alone in the anchorage; it's Wednesday. The following day, Thursday, a guy and his wife................

Chatting with my wife about this thread last night she reminded me that we arrived at LS on Monday; spent Monday and Tuesday nights in that spot with various other (few) boats arriving for one night and departing, when the "guy and his wife" came in on Wednesday for this scenario. So, it all took place in the middle of the week; we hauled up Thursday and returned to Ventura.

Incidentally, we had just been in Pelican Bay for 3 nights, Yellowbanks for 2 nights, with stern hooks deployed in both places; to Santa Barbara Island for a night, then to Isthmus Cove (Catalina Island) for one night, and right back to Yellowbanks (long story on that) for a night, and then into Little Scorpion for those 3 nights (Monday-Wednesday). It was windy that first week at Santa Cruz Island--my Avatar shows the conditions leaving Pelican Bay at 0915. While anchored bow and stern at Yellowbanks, stern to the beach, we had some kind of "sun downer" blow up in the 30-kt plus range from the beach on both days. When I FINALLY got my FX-16 Fortress up (the stern anchor) the day of departure my rope-chain splice was unraveling. Too much torque had evidently caused the (9/16") nylon strands to separate and twist up even though there was a swivel attached at the anchor shank and I had whippings in the proper places (I thought). I did not think I would need the stern anchor again soon since we were planning to go on to San Diego after Isthmus Cove; but didn't, and had to come back; so, I had not repaired it.

So, it was after lying in LS for two nights minding my own business when this local bozo comes into this National Park and fouls my berth--insisting that I deploy a stern anchor w/ a damaged splice (or fix it PDQ) with my dinghy stowed, in the middle of the week when there was not another boat there but the two of us, "because that's the way we do things here" as if he's a part owner. I guess I did not (and do not) feel too forgiving of his idiocy, even in light of his former profession, which is one I that respect!

 

[GeorgeB]

Looking for anchoring advice

I’m from Northern California so, obviously, anchoring isn’tmy expertise, so forgive the “freshman” questions. The night you overlapped with that otherboat, did you ever make contact during the night? I’m assuming that during the day the windskept you in a westwardly direction and when they died down overnight, you swung90 degrees to your left (shore) and when the winds filled in, you swung back toyour original position? It sounds likeyou deployed a stern anchor earlier in your trip. How do you do that without a dinghy? Do you first anchor the bow, then pay out bowrode then drop the stern anchor and then take in the excess bow rode? I’m planning on passing through your neck ofthe woods next year and would like to anchor in one of those dog holes withouthaving to pump up the dink every time I want to set the hook.

 

[Kings Gambit]

The dinghy was stowed (deflated & below) for the trip south (and then back). Wasn't planning on using it again after leaving SCI. The wind that next morning was light so did not push us to the fully stretched-out position of the chain; so there was no contact. Most people, if not using a dink, deploy the bow anchor then drop back 2x to deploy the stern anchor, then fix themselves between.

 

[GeorgeB]

It sounds like you have an all chain rode. I'm currently using nylon rode which would dictate about double your scope. Do you recommend all chain for those dog holes? (I have a Rocna.) How much scope do you usually put on the stern anchor? I'm assuming not much as it is "only" checking the swing?

 

[Alan Gomes]

It sounds like you have an all chain rode. I'm currently using nylon rode which would dictate about double your scope. Do you recommend all chain for those dog holes? (I have a Rocna.) How much scope do you usually put on the stern anchor? I'm assuming not much as it is "only" checking the swing?

Generally speaking, using a nylon rode does not require you to use more scope nor does all chain mean you should use less. 7:1 is a good number but the facts on the ground may not allow for it.

 

[Kings Gambit]

A formulamatic answer is difficult; "it all depends." Some authorities cite 7:1 scope for nylon and 3:1 to 5:1 for chain (in mild conditions). But, yes, if the chain or nylon is all stretched out the angle of pull on the anchor would be the same with the same scope. In my opinion, for anchoring around the Channel Islands, chain on the bow anchor is preferable but it's heavy--do you have a windlass? I tend to ride on shorter scope than most others I see around the islands; barely 3:1 most of the time; greater than 4:1 is normally a lot for me. Your stern anchor will not "check" your swing if it's overpowered and pulls out. Consequently, it should have the same holding power as the bow anchor in similar conditions, in my opinion. Boats anchored bow and stern may have the wind abeam or nearly so. Both anchors have to hold to keep your position. The ones I see dragging most often are people's stern anchor (including mine!).

 

[Alan Gomes]

It sounds like you have an all chain rode. I'm currently using nylon rode which would dictate about double your scope. Do you recommend all chain for those dog holes? (I have a Rocna.) How much scope do you usually put on the stern anchor? I'm assuming not much as it is "only" checking the swing?

You'll find a great discussion of these issues here: http://www.petersmith.net.nz/boat-anchors/catenary.php

 

[cruisingdog]

"If anyone would share on how you anchor 2 vessels to a single anchor point I'd love to know. I don't understand this yet."

Thanks for the response on anchor markers and thank you everybody else for their thoughts and ideas about etiquette / protocol on the Bounding Main. Anchorages can be very stressful and after 3 or 4 weeks in the same place, boats come and go and I never move. A pastime is to watch the boats approaching (usually at dusk) and to pick the spot they will anchor or could anchor due to spatial allowances and sea bottom conditions ... invariably, my perceived space is invaded and there's nothing I can do about it, except to move or seethe. I seethe!!! But there's a rum-soaked HERBAL remedy (Sunset Rum - 170 proof steeped a week with an ounce of whatever herb'll do ya). "Guests" move on eventually. Sometimes other boats are very welcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy1-NTllHnQ


Re above quote: If it were impossible to use one anchor per vessel or the seas were calm, I'd fix the other boat to a stern cleat so she's trailing behind.

Thanks. I'd share my beer with you for that