This last Friday my wife and I sailed down to our favorite little bay on Kentucky Lake. It has great protection from the south. Lots of trees,etc. Once we get in this cove there is usually not a lot of wind so I don't leave a lot of scope on the anchor rope. Well the wind came in from a different direction over night and when we woke up we had dragged our anchor and the boat was about 15-20 feet from shore . Fortunately we had plenty of water under the keel even being that close. But I was thinking beside the scope what could I have done differently next time. I think if I point the bow out toward the bay opening,drop the danforth with the forks horizontal to the boat, put out enough scope, and put the boat in reverse so that the anchor digs in .Should this should work? Any other suggestions? Paul H S/V Linda Belle 95 H26
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Bruce, CQR, or Delta?
One thing you can do is get an anchor that sets quickly and easily, which is something a Danforth doesn't do. Assuming you're anchoring in mud, any of those plow anchors I mentioned will re-set in a wind shift without any human internvention. the Bruce is prtobably the best at that. It doesn't have the pure holding power of the others but it's great for shifting winds and mud. All that said, more scope would be the best cure. it would even give the danfroth a better chance to re-set.
One thing you can do is get an anchor that sets quickly and easily, which is something a Danforth doesn't do. Assuming you're anchoring in mud, any of those plow anchors I mentioned will re-set in a wind shift without any human internvention. the Bruce is prtobably the best at that. It doesn't have the pure holding power of the others but it's great for shifting winds and mud. All that said, more scope would be the best cure. it would even give the danfroth a better chance to re-set.
So what's your favorite little cove
I promise not to anchor there if you're already there
I do a week at Kentucky Lake each April when few people are there. It's the best lake anywhere in the East! I'm jealous you're just in Eddyville - I have a five hour trailer ride to get there from Georgetown, KY. Just too far for a weekend... Fair winds!
I promise not to anchor there if you're already there
I do a week at Kentucky Lake each April when few people are there. It's the best lake anywhere in the East! I'm jealous you're just in Eddyville - I have a five hour trailer ride to get there from Georgetown, KY. Just too far for a weekend... Fair winds!My 2 cents
I anchor frequently in some rough water, sometimes with heavy (40+ gusts) wind and this is what I've learned so far: 1.) I use two anchors. A bruce and a danforth. As previously mentioned, they compliment each other nicely because the bruce sets much easier, but the danforth has better holding power. If I suspect I might swing around the anchor I like the bruce better. 2.) I stepped up the size of both anchors. I go 1 size larger than needed. Let's you sleep well at night! 3.) I set one anchor at a time. I each anchor as carefully as I can, let out a lot of line, then use the engine to back off until it holds. Then I set the second anchor. I usually leave 3-7x the water depth for anchor line. 4.) I vary how I position the anchors, but usually like to put them in opposite directions then put the boat right in the middle. This greatly reduces swing. 5.) On windy nights I set the anchor drag alarm on the GPS. Helps me sleep better! Good luck!
I anchor frequently in some rough water, sometimes with heavy (40+ gusts) wind and this is what I've learned so far: 1.) I use two anchors. A bruce and a danforth. As previously mentioned, they compliment each other nicely because the bruce sets much easier, but the danforth has better holding power. If I suspect I might swing around the anchor I like the bruce better. 2.) I stepped up the size of both anchors. I go 1 size larger than needed. Let's you sleep well at night! 3.) I set one anchor at a time. I each anchor as carefully as I can, let out a lot of line, then use the engine to back off until it holds. Then I set the second anchor. I usually leave 3-7x the water depth for anchor line. 4.) I vary how I position the anchors, but usually like to put them in opposite directions then put the boat right in the middle. This greatly reduces swing. 5.) On windy nights I set the anchor drag alarm on the GPS. Helps me sleep better! Good luck!
Danforths don't work well in grassy bottoms
Paul: While I think that the danforth is one of the better holding anchors for their size, they do not seem to work very well in grassy bottom material. It is good to know what type of bottom you are trying to anchor in and have an anchor that is appropriate for that type of bottom. I think you will see that most sailors recommend multiple anchors for just that reason. We have a danforth and delta.
Paul: While I think that the danforth is one of the better holding anchors for their size, they do not seem to work very well in grassy bottom material. It is good to know what type of bottom you are trying to anchor in and have an anchor that is appropriate for that type of bottom. I think you will see that most sailors recommend multiple anchors for just that reason. We have a danforth and delta.
2 anchors
I had a similar experience last month. Went out before a low for lunch and a book but did not have enough strength to weigh anchor (Delta) against 15 knots + current. Checked weather on TV and marine again and decided it didn't sound that bad so decided to spend the night out. At 7:00 the low hit with 30-40 mph winds from the N. and swung me 180 degrees. Dragged for about 100 yards before it grabbed again. Let out 80' of chain and 10' of nylon in 12' of water! Started dragging again so I threw out the Danforth and paid out the same chain and rode. It held for the rest of the front, very close to the shallows and I went to bed. Somehow the storm swung around again at 3:30 AM and hit me from the East with what seemed like twice the winds. Knowing I was running out of options, I packed a quick ditch kit, engine running, depth on (showing between 4.2 & 10.5), knife to cut anchor and at least try, radio in pocket, water activeated life harness on. The boat was pounded with 6' rolling waves and when she fish tailed on the anchor, she heeled 30 degrees in the wind - bare stick. I was checking my position between the lighthouse and a catamaran's achor light when at dawn the cat went for deeper water without turning on a steaming light - thought it was over! Everything flattened at about 7:00 and I was able to lift both anchors up with no problem and went back to the slip missing a BBQ lid, Flag and pole, lost half the bimini, and the sacrificial on the jib looked like an old ripped up flag. Everyone at the marina who spent the night said the storm just blew through with no problems, but knew I had a different story from the look on my face and the condition of the boat. My friends tell me to replace the Delta with a Bruce, but I'll always keep the Danforth as a backup. I'll be installing a GPS/Chartplotter this summer and you know I'll be using the anchor warning. The only advise I'll add to the others is to check the weather from at least 2 sources and always plan on it being twice as bad as it sounds - if you are overly cautious, it's only your pride and a few hours out.
I had a similar experience last month. Went out before a low for lunch and a book but did not have enough strength to weigh anchor (Delta) against 15 knots + current. Checked weather on TV and marine again and decided it didn't sound that bad so decided to spend the night out. At 7:00 the low hit with 30-40 mph winds from the N. and swung me 180 degrees. Dragged for about 100 yards before it grabbed again. Let out 80' of chain and 10' of nylon in 12' of water! Started dragging again so I threw out the Danforth and paid out the same chain and rode. It held for the rest of the front, very close to the shallows and I went to bed. Somehow the storm swung around again at 3:30 AM and hit me from the East with what seemed like twice the winds. Knowing I was running out of options, I packed a quick ditch kit, engine running, depth on (showing between 4.2 & 10.5), knife to cut anchor and at least try, radio in pocket, water activeated life harness on. The boat was pounded with 6' rolling waves and when she fish tailed on the anchor, she heeled 30 degrees in the wind - bare stick. I was checking my position between the lighthouse and a catamaran's achor light when at dawn the cat went for deeper water without turning on a steaming light - thought it was over! Everything flattened at about 7:00 and I was able to lift both anchors up with no problem and went back to the slip missing a BBQ lid, Flag and pole, lost half the bimini, and the sacrificial on the jib looked like an old ripped up flag. Everyone at the marina who spent the night said the storm just blew through with no problems, but knew I had a different story from the look on my face and the condition of the boat. My friends tell me to replace the Delta with a Bruce, but I'll always keep the Danforth as a backup. I'll be installing a GPS/Chartplotter this summer and you know I'll be using the anchor warning. The only advise I'll add to the others is to check the weather from at least 2 sources and always plan on it being twice as bad as it sounds - if you are overly cautious, it's only your pride and a few hours out.
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