i'm new to this....i have sailed before but now own an h-23 and have never anchored....till last weekend. after reading all the instructions, i anchored in about 10' of water and let out about a 3:1 scope...backed-up slightly/slowly with the motor. possibly 7k of wind from the north. the anchor drug slightly due to a muddy bottom, (and possibly not enough scope), but that wasn't my concern. i understood that. my problem and question is: my 86 h23 with the wing keel walked back and forth continiously through about a 45 degree arc. i didn't understand why. steady even breeze, no current. why didn't the bow stay pointed directly at the wind? what did the "new guy" do wrong? tia
anchoring h23 question
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Proper scope...
...will help to alleviate this too. Basically, youre bow was dug-in and the boat was swinging around it as a pivot point. let out more scope and your boat will be at a better attitude to respond to windage effects--be more stable. Unless you are in a super-croded spot for some reason, always let out at least 5:1.
...will help to alleviate this too. Basically, youre bow was dug-in and the boat was swinging around it as a pivot point. let out more scope and your boat will be at a better attitude to respond to windage effects--be more stable. Unless you are in a super-croded spot for some reason, always let out at least 5:1.
mushroom trick
Correct me if I'm wrong but I trick I like to use is sliding a mushroom anchor down the rode of my primary anchor. (It's attached by a caribiner (sp.?) This lowers the angle of my primary rode to the bottom and allows me to swing on the mushroom anchor. Swinging on the mushroom prevents my keel from fouling on the rode. Of course in a major wind shift I'd have to pull up the mushroom to swing on the primary. Clear as mud?
Correct me if I'm wrong but I trick I like to use is sliding a mushroom anchor down the rode of my primary anchor. (It's attached by a caribiner (sp.?) This lowers the angle of my primary rode to the bottom and allows me to swing on the mushroom anchor. Swinging on the mushroom prevents my keel from fouling on the rode. Of course in a major wind shift I'd have to pull up the mushroom to swing on the primary. Clear as mud?
Just wants to sail
My H23 does the same thing. I have used all rope rode, 20 ft 1/4 chain and 100ft rope, as well as my current all chain rode. (changes due to lake,river, now coastal sailing). I do not think you are doing anything wrong but would agree you should use at least 7:1 if you have the room. I have not tried a riding sail but that might help but my experiance with the H23 is that not much will keep it from sailing at anchor.
My H23 does the same thing. I have used all rope rode, 20 ft 1/4 chain and 100ft rope, as well as my current all chain rode. (changes due to lake,river, now coastal sailing). I do not think you are doing anything wrong but would agree you should use at least 7:1 if you have the room. I have not tried a riding sail but that might help but my experiance with the H23 is that not much will keep it from sailing at anchor.
Get a Riding Sail
Even with more rode out, we still sailed at anchor. Many of our friends have riding sails, and they don't "sail" like we do. Because we anchor out a lot we purchased one, too (check out Sailrite). Haven't used it yet, but hope to in the next few weeks.
Even with more rode out, we still sailed at anchor. Many of our friends have riding sails, and they don't "sail" like we do. Because we anchor out a lot we purchased one, too (check out Sailrite). Haven't used it yet, but hope to in the next few weeks.
thanks to everyone
for academics, and to eliminate he effects of a muddy bottom, i'm going to take the anchor to shore next time and let out 5:1, 7:1 etc and see if it was the "hold" or the boat....see what effects varying lengths of scope do. ....will try some different spots too. i have seen the riding sails but unless it is impossible to otherwise prevent sailing at anchor i'd prefer to do without the extra complications...guess its going to be a case of "practice practice practice."
for academics, and to eliminate he effects of a muddy bottom, i'm going to take the anchor to shore next time and let out 5:1, 7:1 etc and see if it was the "hold" or the boat....see what effects varying lengths of scope do. ....will try some different spots too. i have seen the riding sails but unless it is impossible to otherwise prevent sailing at anchor i'd prefer to do without the extra complications...guess its going to be a case of "practice practice practice."
Second anchor
What works for me is that I always use a second anchor in any weather and in crowded anchorage. I get as close to a 7:1 rode on my main anchor, then motor forward so that the (taught) rode is at an angle greater than 60` to the point of bow. I let out the second anchor rode (7:1 is the rule, but can get by with 5:1). Ideally I try get the first rode 90` to bow, drop second anchor, let out equal rode to the first, ending up with rodes 45` to each other and to respective port and starboard bow. If in a current, such as a river, I've found it helps when on one anchor to lock the rudder at a slight angle to steer me toward the bank when sleeping.
What works for me is that I always use a second anchor in any weather and in crowded anchorage. I get as close to a 7:1 rode on my main anchor, then motor forward so that the (taught) rode is at an angle greater than 60` to the point of bow. I let out the second anchor rode (7:1 is the rule, but can get by with 5:1). Ideally I try get the first rode 90` to bow, drop second anchor, let out equal rode to the first, ending up with rodes 45` to each other and to respective port and starboard bow. If in a current, such as a river, I've found it helps when on one anchor to lock the rudder at a slight angle to steer me toward the bank when sleeping.
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