Anyone use an auger or screw-type anchor?

[caruthers]

Anyone ever use one of these? http://sandsharkanchor.com/features/

Since I plan on anchoring close to shore in shallow water, this system looks ideal. Anyone?

I'd like to modify one of these to use with an extension pole with a slip ring for the rode shackle so I could set the auger from onboard. Thoughts?

 

[inarathree]

The auger type I used went like this...

I used a tree spike, that I bought at home depot. It had a 6" disk, and a 4' pole, that has a eye loop at the top. At low tide I waded out and screwed it in all the way into the sand using a led pipe as a handle. I attached a rode shackle to 5' of chain, then 20' of anchor line, then a s/s "carabiner" type shackle, to attach to the bow ring. It worked great. Auger type moorings are much stronger than any other type of mooring system. The size and length that I used for my 22' should hold in a hurricane. Also, I think that this type of mooring is the only type of mooring that you can use and insure your boat on in FL.

 

[Ray Bowles]

I've seen a lot of powerboaters us these when they pull up on shore. They screw these into the sand and run a line to it to hold them on the bank.
I'd never even think about using this offshore while hanging on a rode.
That's the job for a proper anchor sysem.
Ray

 

[caruthers]

Thanks for the responses

Ray, I don't really think it's possible to use these at depths far offshore. I like the idea of cranking one of these in a shallow protected spot and not having to worry about being spun around 180 degress and dragging anchor. I imagine an auger screwed a foot and a half to two feet deep would rival the holding power of your basic danforth.

 

[Paul Mermelstein]

Re: Thanks for the responses

One of the things to consider about any anchoring system is when you need to UNanchor, at night, in a storm, and in a hurry. Also, for this one, I would wonder about how well it will hold in a variety of bottoms (mud is common in your area) and about how trustyworthy it is overall. I have never seen anyone use this type of anchor in the Chesapeake.

 

[caruthers]

I guess as far as unanchoring in a hurry goes, if it can't be unscrewed quick enough you could always chop the line after the buoy and retrieve it later. As far as holding power goes in mud, why would a traditional anchor dug in at a few inches hold better than an auger at two feet? If it's true that folks set moorings and docks with auger-type devices I'd feel pretty comfortable with it's holding power, especially if the wind shifts 180. I think another advantage would be reduced length of the rode which makes for a smaller radius in wind shifts. I think the design could be improved to place a selectable connecting point closer to the bottom to reduce the sidewards leverage.

 

[Joe]

Here's a few alternatives.... when I was a river rat we always used a spike type with foot platform....held the 22 footer well, easy to set and retrieve, inexpensive and didn't take a lot of room in the boat.. We had two of them on board. No chain, only nylon rode. We did have chain on the drop anchor for deeper water.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s..._100537_225006000_225000000_225006000_225-6-0

http://www.myboatsgear.com/mbg/product.asp?prodID=1840

http://www.wagnerproducts.com/ppointe.htm

http://www.theslideknot.com/shore-spike.php

http://www.wedgeeanchor.com/

http://www.lowcostboatingstore.com/MARINE-TECH-559500-SAND-SPIKE--CHROME_p_25160.html

http://www.lowcostboatingstore.com/KWIK-TEK-A3-SCREW-ANCHOR-SYSTEM_p_1022.html

 

[captstu]

Helix screw for permanent anchor

Hi,

I use 3 Helix Screws (6' by 6") shackled together as the permanent mooring on the Shearwater, a 34' Gemini catamaran. Chain is a no-no, it goes away in a year or so, so I use 1" nylon as the downlead and 2 5/8" lines as the pendants, one hooked to each hull. It is solid. the water is 12' at HHW.

I also use 2' Helix Screws (also 6' by 6") in shallow water with limited tidal action for the temporary mooring.

Both were driven with a 12' pipe, the deer one on SCUBA and the shallow one by walking around in circles.

Haven't tried them yet as temporary moorings, but they are easy to remove if you want to do that. I suppose a smaller one would work as a day mooring, but no better than an anchor.