Anchoring

[Cambo]

I'm sure there has been a lot of discussion about anchoring on this site but I have a couple of questions that I have not seen the answers to, but maybe I'm just not looking in the right place.

We just returned from our honeymoon cruise on Georgian Bay and spent every night at anchor as we generally do. This past week was unusually windy throughout the night and coming from all different directions. We have always had great luck with anchoring but this weather got me thinking.

Our last night out, the wind was forecasted to make a 180 degree shift. We anchored the usual way into the wind as it was still blowing when we arrived. The wind did shift 180 degrees throughout the night but thankfully it was quite light in the morning so the anchor held.

I have seen different methods such and a bow and stern anchor which would work but that would not allow my boat to swing with other boats in the anchorage which could cause a real mess. It appeared the other boats around were anchored regularly but maybe they did not see the forecast.

What would you all do in this situation? Bow and stern anchor if distance from other boats permits? Wake up in the night and re set the anchor? Different type of anchor?(We use a plow anchor)



My next question is with regards to entering an unknown anchorage. I generally stand at the bow to watch for rocks or obstructions. We have not had a close call yet, but I realized we have not come up with a pre arranged game plan if a big rock does pop up right in front of us. I feel like there will not be the time to give clear directions to avoid it in some cases and being a tiller steered boat, the throttle is not in hand at all times. Is it better to have her get it into reverse as quickly as she can and potentially hit the rock head on, or would it be better to steer hard over and potentially take the rock on the side? This is of course a worst case scenario... We enter unknown water as slow as possible and are very cautious but you never know, say with a heavy cross wind so you have to keep the boat moving quicker and murky waters.

 

[Johnb]

We do most of our anchoring in areas with strong tidal currents. The boat usually lines up with the current which means that you are guaranteed that some time during the night it will swing 180 degrees and the anchor must reset.

I usually set an alarm and do an anchor watch until the reset is complete. After watching the dance that our boat does when the wind is variable and the current dominates only part of the time, I figure you can never predict what will happen.

A few years back in the Sacramento River we anchored in a good strong current and were about to settle down for dinner when a honking powerful gust from astern pushed us forward (sailing under bare poles). Next thing we did a Salchow and the rode was around the keel. Strangely that put us sideways to the current and provided so much resistance that we settled beautifully steady. That is not a standard anchoring technique.

I ended up going over the side to make sure the rode was not around propeller or rudder, then attached a float to it and let it go rather than trying to power in circles. Maybe this is the best reason for a small kellet - see the link below

http://cruising.coastalboating.net/Seamanship/Anchoring/Kellets.html

This probably doesn't help you.......

 

[Kermit]

Congratulations on your wedding! Did you put out the sign?

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Bahama Moor?? Used for those exact circumstances.

 

[gettinthere]

We anchor frequently where the current reverses twice a day with the tide. Sometimes that current is running 2 or 3 knots. Add in wind shifts and gusts ove a week long period and we see every angle. But we've held every time (so far!). Good anchor, good chain, good holding and good technique will keep you hooked firmly.

As for that story of wrapping the keel, was that with a rope rode?

 

[Sumner]

Bahama Moor?? Used for those exact circumstances.

That is a good option if you feel that with the change in wind direction you are going to move too close to shore or shallow water. Only problem is if you are the only one using it and everyone else swings. We used it a lot in Florida where we anchored in very tight places.

We also very seldom anchored in "anchorages" just for the reason you mentioned and also because we liked to be alone in a secluded location if possible.

We have anchored in the past with a stern anchor or a stern shore line but never again if there is going to be 'big' wind predicted. With a bow and stern anchor out when the wind gets around to 90 degrees from the boat and it will if it is going around 180 you will experience large loads on the anchor gear and the attach points on the boat. The wind will be working on the whole side of the boat which is much larger in area than the bow.

The last time we tried that I ended up with a screwed up rotator cuff, a fractured shoulder and too very large concussions to the head and was lucky that it wasn't worse....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/MacgregorTrips-3-Powell09/09-10-9-Powell-09.html

Sumner

 

[shemandr]

Campo,
Georgian Bay is likely very different than the usual places I anchor so I don't know how this translates. We usually anchor in soft sand/mud which is considered good holding. If we anchored in wind the anchors we used (Danforth, Manson Supreme) were buried so deep they do not pull out if the wind shifts 180. I have a picture which I will try to post as evidence. This anchor stood up to 35+ wind. The wind shift was before the big wind occurred - to be accurate. I did not set the anchor by motoring in reverse as is advocated often. The times I've experience an anchor pulling out have been from the sailing around on the anchor as modern Clorax bottles tend to do. And, I've observed rodes chafed through.
As far as entering an anchorage, the ones we use are charted. Local knowledge and cruising guides usually make hitting a rock unlikely. I suppose Georgian Bay, Maine and other places could be different. If a rock appeared in front of me and I did not have time to reverse the motor to stop, I would turn away from the rock and take the hit as a glancing blow. But realistically, you're not going to know if you are turning into a larger more dangerous part of the rock, or shelf. I can tell you that the rocks don't move and someone standing on the bow, is in great danger of being thrown into the water and seriously injured or killed, even at low speed, if you hit a rock dead on and the boat suddenly stops.

 

[capta]

First off, you should be using an anchor that will reset without any problem. You never know when a squall or current change will cause your pick to become unpicked. With a good anchor, it will reset in just a few feet and even with your gps running, you might never know. The next generation Rocna type anchors do seem better for this.
How often do you actually find uncharted anchorages? I've been doing this for quite a few years and can count on the fingers of one hand the number of anchorages where there weren't charts, a guide book or coastal pilots available to aid you in entering an anchorage.

 

[WayneH]

It depends. If you are by yourself, definitely set two anchors. If everyone else in the anchorage is on ONE rode then set one anchor.

We have set a bow and stern anchor numerous times to hold us alongside a channel without impeding traffic.

We also rode the anchor line a time or two in Shell Island Pass. We set a single hook because we were in a normal 2 knot current. Well, the storm came up from astern and blew us bare poles to the other end of the anchor rode. The anchor turned us cross current which was stronger than the wind until we got back to start when it all started over again. I took the dinghy out on the second run and dropped a stern anchor at the end of the down current run. Kneeling in the dinghy gave me enough windage to return to the boat without paddling. LOL

 

[Stu Jackson]

First off, you should be using an anchor that will reset without any problem. ....The next generation Rocna type anchors do seem better for this.

Why NEW GEN Anchors are Better:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,2705.msg19651.html#msg19651

 

[Chris Patterson]

If things keep going like they SEEM to be going, I'll let you know soon how good a Westerbeke anchor works out.....

 

[mitiempo]

I agree the new gen anchors are much better at re-setting after a shift of wind or tide - Rocna and Manson Supreme being the most popular. It would be very rare in this area (B.C.) to use 2 anchors. Often though in tight areas a stern line to shore is used especially in the summer when popular anchorages in Desolation for example can have dozens of boats in them.

If you do use 2 anchors they should be both from the bow. If one is from the stern you could well end up broadside to the wind and or waves.

Discussed in detail here by John Harries. http://www.morganscloud.com/2013/04/18/at-the-turn-of-the-tide-two-anchors-done-right/

 

[Stu Jackson]

If you do use 2 anchors they should be both from the bow. If one is from the stern you could well end up broadside to the wind and or waves.

My experience in tidal rivers is that sometimes rivers are too narrow for a double bow (Bahamian) rig.

There's not enough room to have the boat swing, and one doesn't know which direction it will go: to the middle of the river or to the shore.

Then I prefer aft and bow anchors when using two anchors.

 

[mitiempo]

Makes sense in that case Stu.

 

[rpwillia]

A Westerbeke should work great!

If things keep going like they SEEM to be going, I'll let you know soon how good a Westerbeke anchor works out.....

We used to use car engines with the pistons removed for moorings. They worked great in the Potomac River mud.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Sounds much like the Labor Day weekend we just had in Prisoners Harbor at Santa Cruz Island; particularly Saturday night and Sunday. The harbor is protected from southern and western quadrants, and somewhat from the north. Wind (and sea) from the east and northeast comes right in. I wouldn't say we had big wind, but we had wind from every which direction blowing through anchorage at up to 21 kt. We anchored on two hooks initially (not something I like to do) b/c the boat near me was on two (bow & stern). When he finally pulled his stern hook mine came up as well. In my opinion, there's no need to use two hooks if you have room to swing your full radius. Examples were mentioned above where that would not be the case. As far as I know my bow hook has never pulled out [and reset] with a change of orientation, but my stern hook has pulled out a few times without resetting, usually due to insufficient scope payed out and/or a poor set for the bottom conditions (e.g. eel grass). A stern hook should be rigged so it can be jettisoned in case you need to get underway immediately. If you want it back at some point the rode needs to have flotation attached (or attachable), or an anchor buoy should be attached to the crown of the anchor with a line long enough to pull up to the deck. The flotation should have your contact information on it.

As far as rocks are concerned, be sure to study the chart b/f going in and know the notation. NOAA Chart No. 1 has the notation key. If my lookout saw a rock up close I'd try to reverse but if a hit was unavoidable I'd likely strike it w/the keel straight on (hopefully not going very fast). A sudden turn might lose the lookout plus risk hitting the rudder (spade on our boat) as the boat's stern swings toward the rock. Also, as mentioned, there might be other rocks near. If there are boats, especially commercial fishing boats, in the anchorage I might approach and inquire about hazards. Once a squid boat skipper told me of a rock near where I was planning to set and used his side-scan sonar to give me the EXACT position of it, etc. So, we did not get close enough to hit it!

 

[Ron20324]

We used to use car engines with the pistons removed for moorings. They worked great in the Potomac River mud.

Six cylinder, or V-8?

 

[Gunni]

The simple answer is Bahamian. But that makes for a complicated honeymoon...The improved answer is a spade/rollbar anchor that is two sizes bigger than recommended, and all-chain rode.

 

[bananabender56]

Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific - the only time we used 2 anchors was for wind over current = stern anchor.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Just a thought should an anchor ever get caught on underneath obstruction. Tie a trip line to the back end of the anchor tied off to a floater or fender. Should the anchor not come loose, then go to the trip line and pull up from the back end. Never lost any more anchors either in rivers, lakes, etc....