Anchoring Question

[sailingdog]

The Bulwagga is a PITA to stow and doesn't really sit on a bow roller all that well. Also, IMHO, the stock connection is a major weak point. Personally, I like ONE PIECE anchors. My Rocna probably sets and re-sets as well as a Bulwagga but sits on a bow roller much more nicely and has less dead weight.

Also, the vertical third fluke on the Bulwagga strikes me as being really good at catching or fouling the rode in a reversing tide/wind situation. That isn't an issue with more conventional next generation anchors like the Spade, Rocna, Manson Supreme or Buegel.

Get a Bullwagga and you can safetly be assured that it will reset within 5-15' depending on the bottom and wind strength...assuming you have 7:1 scope out.

If you tend to be a heavy sleeper, get an oversized anchor and rode.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Try this

Get to an anchorage early enough to be awake when the current reverses and see what happens, then you'll know what could occur in the middle of the night. You'll have to pick a nasty day with the right current reversal, but since they change for us here every six hours, that's doable. If it doesn't work during the daytime, it won't work at night, so you'll have to up your anchoring system size properly.

 

[catsailor]

Simpler experiment; set the anchor and then motor up past it 180 degrees

Get to an anchorage early enough to be awake when the current reverses and see what happens, then you'll know what could occur in the middle of the night. You'll have to pick a nasty day with the right current reversal, but since they change for us here every six hours, that's doable. If it doesn't work during the daytime, it won't work at night, so you'll have to up your anchoring system size properly.

Not right over the rode; keep the rode away from the prop.

Use a reasonable speed; what you guess the wind could get the boat to do under bare poles in front of a thunderstorm gust front with only 200 feet to get moving. For the sake of discussion only, say 1-knot. There is every chance it will pull (nearly 100%), and then some will reset. Some won't. I warn you; many will risk damage if they were well set in the first dirrection, specifically pivoting fluke types. they are not meant for such abuse. Once the shank is bent they are paperwieghts.

If I expect a stong gust in the night from the west but it is from the south at dusk, I set the anchor against the westerly - the southerly generally will not turn it. If you set 2 anchors, join them to only one main rode or you are going to have fun un-twisting them in the AM. I generally do this by clipping the secondary anchor to the main rode - the secondary rode is short (50') and it all goes in the water.

 

[Bob S]

Who sleeps at anchor anyways?

 

[Woody1949]

That scenario certanly argues for having a stern anchor as well.

 

[Ross]

Who sleeps at anchor anyways?

We always anchor out and sleep like the innocent. I always set with more than 7:1 scope. In the Chesapeake bay bottoms my CQR sets on the first try if the scope is great enough.

Doesn't the Bulwagga present the same problems as a fisherman anchor. I have a small Northill anchor and when one fluke digs in the other sticks up waiting to foul the rode.

 

[Bob V]

Anchor sleep vs regular

I even wake up when it is unusually quiet when sleeping on the hook.

I remember after a month long trip once jumping out of bed in my house and looking out the window to check the anchor.



Of course, I use a BAR (big ass Rocna) anchor with all chain so the boat is probably more secure than the house.

 

[sailingdog]

Doesn't the Bulwagga present the same problems as a fisherman anchor. I have a small Northill anchor and when one fluke digs in the other sticks up waiting to foul the rode.

Yes, the third of the three flukes sticks up and can foul the rode pretty easily. I would be worried about that and the fluke chafing through the rode.

 

[sailingdog]

Bob-

Just curious, what size Rocna do you use on your C42. Also, did you know that they (Rocna) came out with a stowable, two-piece version of the anchor??? My friend just got a 20 kg version of it.

I even wake up when it is unusually quiet when sleeping on the hook.

I remember after a month long trip once jumping out of bed in my house and looking out the window to check the anchor.



Of course, I use a BAR (big ass Rocna) anchor with all chain so the boat is probably more secure than the house.

 

[javaprog]

I vote with those who say use lots of scope and lay down two anchors 180 degrees apart. I've only done this a couple of times and it worked fine.

ditto,

and

Most anchoring problems are as simple as "the anchor is too small"

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

I don't think it has been pointed out yet so - if one depends on a good anchor well set in order to sleep uninterrupted, you ought to have great faith in the next guy...

 

[Franklin]

No big deal, except that people with nylon rodes sometimes get them wrapped around the keel.

not if they use a kellet.

I no longer bother with anchor alarms because they kept waking me up. Rather, I set out the rocna and the all-chain rode, and let nature take its course. Every once in a while I hear the chain moving along the bottom--this because the owner's stateroom is forward on our boat--but I've trained myself to go back to sleep immediately.

Anchor watches are for those with tiny hooks.

I'd say you were dragging and it's good it woke you up or you didn't set the alarm right. Supposed to set the drop point at the cordinates of where the bow is when the anchor is dropped. Then if you let out 100' of rode, then set your alarm at 100' + boat length + buffer (like 10').

That way you can swing and even shift directions and it not go off, but if you drag it goes off.

 

[sailingdog]

Don—

That's usually not a real worry for me, considering my board up draft is 16" or so... and I can anchor in water that most boats would be solidly aground in... Having a boat drag down on me isn't much of a worry in many places I choose to anchor, since I take advantage of my extreme shoal draft.

I don't think it has been pointed out yet so - if one depends on a good anchor well set in order to sleep uninterrupted, you ought to have great faith in the next guy...

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

That certainly proves there is an exception to every rule.
The part which worries me at anchor is not mine so much as the guys around me which makes me question why anyone would be so sanguine as some here seem to be..
You are probably the only one who can justifiably not worry but you could always drag down on me...

Don—

That's usually not a real worry for me, considering my board up draft is 16" or so... and I can anchor in water that most boats would be solidly aground in... Having a boat drag down on me isn't much of a worry in many places I choose to anchor, since I take advantage of my extreme shoal draft.

 

[sailingdog]

Don—

I don't worry much about dragging, since I'm using what most would consider an oversized anchor. However, I would point out that my boat is probably a much bigger target than many others of longer LOA, since it is 18' wide.

That certainly proves there is an exception to every rule.
The part which worries me at anchor is not mine so much as the guys around me which makes me question why anyone would be so sanguine as some here seem to be..
You are probably the only one who can justifiably not worry but you could always drag down on me...

 

[Ross]

That certainly proves there is an exception to every rule.
The part which worries me at anchor is not mine so much as the guys around me which makes me question why anyone would be so sanguine as some here seem to be..
You are probably the only one who can justifiably not worry but you could always drag down on me...

Don, This is the best answer I can give you. This is our favorite anchotage at sunrise.

 

[Scott B]

Ok, with the collective wisdom of this group maybe I can find an answer to my anchoring question. If you anchor for the night and the wind shifts 180 degrees would your anchor still hold or would it break free? Thanks and Fairwinds!

After what we went through last year while on the hook and how our anchor performed and that included much more than 180 deg shifts ..... I sleep like a baby ..... no worries. Doesn't mean I won't wake up and poke my head up to look around, but I also wake up in the middle of the night at home as well, it's just the way I sleep now .... it's not the anchor waking me up.

 

[Lyle]

Pretty tough to find room to swing for 7/1 scope for most of our anchorages in the Pacific Northwest. I have found good performance with a properly sized Bruce anchor (which will reset itself under most conditions) and preferably all chain rode (at minimum 3/1 - preferably more). Having said that I would certainly get up to check - if the wind was strong enough to wake me. I think your comfort level is relevant to the number of nights you have spent at anchor and your previous experience in similar conditions.
Lyle
Catalina 350
"Serenity"

 

[Maine Sail]

Certain..

Certain anchor types will re-set better than other types. Danforth/Fortress types are probably not the best choice for a re-setter. CQR's IMO and experience are also not as reliable as one would hope for. Bruce or Claw style anchors re-set quite well as do the newer generation anchors. The Spade, Manson Supreme, Rocna & Bullwega all have proven to be good re-setters, fast initial setters and high holding power.

Here is a video showing why I believe in the Rocna / Manson Supreme style anchors. This guy was on a Manson Supreme..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luWJwTRkTUo

 

[Bob V]

anchor size

Bob-

Just curious, what size Rocna do you use on your C42. Also, did you know that they (Rocna) came out with a stowable, two-piece version of the anchor??? My friend just got a 20 kg version of it.

I have the 25 kg model Rocna with 110 ft of 5/16 chain and 150 ft of nylon rode. I heard about the new stowable Rocna but I'm not interested. I have a large fortress anchor that fits in the anchor locker along with the chain and nylon rode for two anchors. I like the fortress because while it is huge, it only weighs about 27 lbs and I can handle it with 50 ft of chain in my rowboat with ease.