New Sailor...dumb question. We will be anchoring overnight soon. We have learned to set the anchor successfully and now have a question. When anchoring overnight and expecting the boat to swing 180 degrees overnight due to tide/wind shift, etc., will a properly set CQR type anchor hold or will it need to be reset after the boat shifts 100 to 180 degrees off the original setting? Or will the anchor hold during the shift and back again when the tide changes. Thanks!!!
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tons of scope
The anchor may pull around, If you want to feel real comfortable, let out as much scope as possible 10-1 mabe more. And go big on anchor and chain.
The anchor may pull around, If you want to feel real comfortable, let out as much scope as possible 10-1 mabe more. And go big on anchor and chain.
Should hold
But remember that even a perfectly set "perfect" anchor can drag under certain circumstances. Will you be anchoring in a lettuce bed or mud? That will make a difference in the type of anchor you want to use. If the CQR is appropriate for whatever bottom you're anchoring in, and given you use a good amount of scope (as Tony says, use as much scope as the tide and swing room will allow), a CQR should hold just fine overnight. But don't feel so comfortable you don't have an anchor watch. Be sure to wake up every couple of hours to take bearings around you to make sure you're not dragging. Have fun! LaDonna
But remember that even a perfectly set "perfect" anchor can drag under certain circumstances. Will you be anchoring in a lettuce bed or mud? That will make a difference in the type of anchor you want to use. If the CQR is appropriate for whatever bottom you're anchoring in, and given you use a good amount of scope (as Tony says, use as much scope as the tide and swing room will allow), a CQR should hold just fine overnight. But don't feel so comfortable you don't have an anchor watch. Be sure to wake up every couple of hours to take bearings around you to make sure you're not dragging. Have fun! LaDonna
anchoring---
Scope, anchor size, chain and a bottom that is condusive to the anchor you deploy all factor in to a good "SET". Make sure of your original set. I usually drop anchor, measure scope (depends on amount of chain/rope ratio, wind and or current) Then set it firmly by motoring in reverse. Additionally, you can set an anchor alarm! Be prepared to have a sleepless night the first few times till you finally get use to it...Good Luck....Gary
Scope, anchor size, chain and a bottom that is condusive to the anchor you deploy all factor in to a good "SET". Make sure of your original set. I usually drop anchor, measure scope (depends on amount of chain/rope ratio, wind and or current) Then set it firmly by motoring in reverse. Additionally, you can set an anchor alarm! Be prepared to have a sleepless night the first few times till you finally get use to it...Good Luck....Gary
Anchor Holding with 180 Degree Swing
We routinely swung 180 degrees with tide changes in the Bahamas and we never drug once. There are some inportant factors that will keep you hooked. You need all the chain, of the appropriate size, you can handle. This keeps the pull on the anchor horizontal. You also need to actually look at the anchor (either dive on it or use a look bucket from a dink) to make sure it is set really well. We use a Delta anchor in sand and a Fortress in mud. I predict the Delta will repalce the CQR as the anchor of choice for a lot of cruisers. We also paid attention to giving ourselves "dragging room" in case we did drag. The weather you expect over night should also help you make some anchoring decisions. We would probably put out 2 anchors 180 degrees apart (one upstream and one downstream) if the current was really bad and/or we wanted to be prepared to be hit with big winds overnight. Have you ever looked at using an anchor sentinel? It is a weight that is suspended along the anchor line and controlled with a small retrieval line. We became true believers in their use. The key to staying anchored is keeping the pull on the anchor as horizontal as possible. If you have a lot of chain and a sentinel, the anchor stays put and about half of the chain swings with the boat. Worked for us. Good hooking!
We routinely swung 180 degrees with tide changes in the Bahamas and we never drug once. There are some inportant factors that will keep you hooked. You need all the chain, of the appropriate size, you can handle. This keeps the pull on the anchor horizontal. You also need to actually look at the anchor (either dive on it or use a look bucket from a dink) to make sure it is set really well. We use a Delta anchor in sand and a Fortress in mud. I predict the Delta will repalce the CQR as the anchor of choice for a lot of cruisers. We also paid attention to giving ourselves "dragging room" in case we did drag. The weather you expect over night should also help you make some anchoring decisions. We would probably put out 2 anchors 180 degrees apart (one upstream and one downstream) if the current was really bad and/or we wanted to be prepared to be hit with big winds overnight. Have you ever looked at using an anchor sentinel? It is a weight that is suspended along the anchor line and controlled with a small retrieval line. We became true believers in their use. The key to staying anchored is keeping the pull on the anchor as horizontal as possible. If you have a lot of chain and a sentinel, the anchor stays put and about half of the chain swings with the boat. Worked for us. Good hooking!
Plows
One of the best features of a plow, especially the Bruce, is that it resets so easily. Up here in Puget Sound a 180 degree swing overnight is the rule rather than the exception. That can mess up a Danfroth, but a Bruce, even if it pulls out, will just reset. Of course, we're in nice sticky mud. But I would think ther same would go for sand and a CQR.
One of the best features of a plow, especially the Bruce, is that it resets so easily. Up here in Puget Sound a 180 degree swing overnight is the rule rather than the exception. That can mess up a Danfroth, but a Bruce, even if it pulls out, will just reset. Of course, we're in nice sticky mud. But I would think ther same would go for sand and a CQR.
Anchors
Hector, I agree with everything already mentioned. On our recent trip to the Bahamas, we anchored with our 33# Bruce, 50' 5/16" HT chain, backed by 250' of 5/8" rope. Never had a problem with dragging, even as a line of thunderstorms passed through with some significant gusts. Of course we were careful to make sure the anchor was dropped into a clear patch of sand and after backing down at 1500-2000 rpm we always dove on the anchor to make sure it was set. Good luck and enjoy. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again
Hector, I agree with everything already mentioned. On our recent trip to the Bahamas, we anchored with our 33# Bruce, 50' 5/16" HT chain, backed by 250' of 5/8" rope. Never had a problem with dragging, even as a line of thunderstorms passed through with some significant gusts. Of course we were careful to make sure the anchor was dropped into a clear patch of sand and after backing down at 1500-2000 rpm we always dove on the anchor to make sure it was set. Good luck and enjoy. Paul Bednarzyk S/V Knot Again
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