Have you ever fouled your anchor? Were you able to retrieve it, or did you donate the tackle to Davey Jones' locker? How did you loose the snag? Dive on the anchor, back around it, or simply use brute force? Share your stickiest stories here, then vote in this week's Quick Quiz at the bottom of the home page.
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It was the morning after proposing...
...(luckily our very own Karisa said 'yes'), in our favorite local anchorage on the west side of Blake Island in Puget Sound. As some of you may know, the few mooring buoys there get snapped up quickly in the summer, so we had anchored on the shelf in 50' water. The currents usually run counter the wind direction at some point during the night, and it's not uncommon to spin in circles and ride over the anchor several times. This fine late spring morning, I attempted to raise the anchor as always. No amount of huffing, grunting, or back-breaking yanking was working. I even pulled the bow of the boat down towards the water with a spare jib halyard attached to a winch. I motored in every direction, all to no avail. In desperation, I called a friend (Bob Kruger, to give our eventual saviour credit) who owns dive gear and found he was out sailing in Elliott Bay at the time! Shortly thereafter, he showed up and rafted onto our boat. After congratulating us on our engagement to be married, he jumped in after our anchor. The bubbles drifted away from the bow and after quite some time, he emerged to tell us the the anchor in fact was a good 30' off to one side. The rode had apparently wrapped around a sunken log or tree trunk several times and needed to be untangled. He managed to free the anchor and away we went. Big thanks to Bob! Believe it or not, I have anchored at Blake Island since, but not without some reservation, and never in that same spot!
...(luckily our very own Karisa said 'yes'), in our favorite local anchorage on the west side of Blake Island in Puget Sound. As some of you may know, the few mooring buoys there get snapped up quickly in the summer, so we had anchored on the shelf in 50' water. The currents usually run counter the wind direction at some point during the night, and it's not uncommon to spin in circles and ride over the anchor several times. This fine late spring morning, I attempted to raise the anchor as always. No amount of huffing, grunting, or back-breaking yanking was working. I even pulled the bow of the boat down towards the water with a spare jib halyard attached to a winch. I motored in every direction, all to no avail. In desperation, I called a friend (Bob Kruger, to give our eventual saviour credit) who owns dive gear and found he was out sailing in Elliott Bay at the time! Shortly thereafter, he showed up and rafted onto our boat. After congratulating us on our engagement to be married, he jumped in after our anchor. The bubbles drifted away from the bow and after quite some time, he emerged to tell us the the anchor in fact was a good 30' off to one side. The rode had apparently wrapped around a sunken log or tree trunk several times and needed to be untangled. He managed to free the anchor and away we went. Big thanks to Bob! Believe it or not, I have anchored at Blake Island since, but not without some reservation, and never in that same spot!
Wrapped Around the Keel
I anchored behind Exchange Island near Jacksonville, FL and failed to give the current its due attention. The current was much more significant than wind direction. The rode wrapped around the winged keel. I attached a second rode to the bitter end of the original, getting slack in the line. My crew was in the dinghy and tied a fender to the on a smaller line to the bitter end of the original anchor rode when it came to him and then cut the connection with his knife. The rode eased around the keel, I retrieved my crew and dinghy, then we motored up to the floating fender and retrieved the anchor. BEWARE THE WINGED KEEL! Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
I anchored behind Exchange Island near Jacksonville, FL and failed to give the current its due attention. The current was much more significant than wind direction. The rode wrapped around the winged keel. I attached a second rode to the bitter end of the original, getting slack in the line. My crew was in the dinghy and tied a fender to the on a smaller line to the bitter end of the original anchor rode when it came to him and then cut the connection with his knife. The rode eased around the keel, I retrieved my crew and dinghy, then we motored up to the floating fender and retrieved the anchor. BEWARE THE WINGED KEEL! Bill Jones s/v Bardi Sea
Anchors away
On Lake Lanier the bottom is tree strewn. When the lake was made in the late 50's they cut off the tree tops above a certain height, the rest remains. This lake is dark and dangerous at 20 feet or more, so if it is stuck it will probable remain there. In order, pull, grunt, pull some more, grunt some more, try the windlass or winch, grunt some more, swear, cut the line. Moral of the story on this lake, don't spend to much money on an anchor. I feel pretty lucky, we have only left 2 on the bottom in 9 years.
On Lake Lanier the bottom is tree strewn. When the lake was made in the late 50's they cut off the tree tops above a certain height, the rest remains. This lake is dark and dangerous at 20 feet or more, so if it is stuck it will probable remain there. In order, pull, grunt, pull some more, grunt some more, try the windlass or winch, grunt some more, swear, cut the line. Moral of the story on this lake, don't spend to much money on an anchor. I feel pretty lucky, we have only left 2 on the bottom in 9 years.
Diving on another boat's anchor
I've managed not to leave any tackle behind, but this summer I got to free another boat's snag. At an anchorage in the Drake Channel we saw a power boat having difficulty anchoring. Turns out he had a chunk of coral stuck in his Claw. Next day its still there but they're anchoring with a danforth chained to the Claw, using a swimmer to make it stick right. We knocked the coral out that second night. Never did find out if they figured it out or not. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
I've managed not to leave any tackle behind, but this summer I got to free another boat's snag. At an anchorage in the Drake Channel we saw a power boat having difficulty anchoring. Turns out he had a chunk of coral stuck in his Claw. Next day its still there but they're anchoring with a danforth chained to the Claw, using a swimmer to make it stick right. We knocked the coral out that second night. Never did find out if they figured it out or not. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
Lucky Us
We were in a small harbour in northern Italy and the grumpy old Harbourmaster would not let us tie up anywhere. In desperation we went on the fisherman's quay knowing we would have to move in an hour when the fishing fleet returned. While we watched, a beautiful and very large yacht in the middle of the harbour attempted to raise its anchor. We noticed specially because there was a stunning blonde on board with the handsome young Italian romeo. Their anchor was fouled on the bottom and Romeo was preparing to dive into the filthy water. The previous day I had noticed a foot of very heavy chain in the gutter so I nipped back for it, rowed out to the yacht in the dinghy, put it round their anchor rode on a warp and allowed it to drop to the bottom. I rowed back to shore and pulled. The anchor came up and Romeo was very grateful. He was then seen to be using his mobile phone. Suddenly the Harbourmaster reappeared and directed us to the best berth in the harbour. We stayed two days and he would not accept any payment for the berth. Never did figure out why!!!!
We were in a small harbour in northern Italy and the grumpy old Harbourmaster would not let us tie up anywhere. In desperation we went on the fisherman's quay knowing we would have to move in an hour when the fishing fleet returned. While we watched, a beautiful and very large yacht in the middle of the harbour attempted to raise its anchor. We noticed specially because there was a stunning blonde on board with the handsome young Italian romeo. Their anchor was fouled on the bottom and Romeo was preparing to dive into the filthy water. The previous day I had noticed a foot of very heavy chain in the gutter so I nipped back for it, rowed out to the yacht in the dinghy, put it round their anchor rode on a warp and allowed it to drop to the bottom. I rowed back to shore and pulled. The anchor came up and Romeo was very grateful. He was then seen to be using his mobile phone. Suddenly the Harbourmaster reappeared and directed us to the best berth in the harbour. We stayed two days and he would not accept any payment for the berth. Never did figure out why!!!!
Wrapped around a hunk of concrete
This is actually Rob's story but it's a good one. This was when he had his C30. He originally had a medium sized danforth which generally worked ok but had some problems dragging on occasion. On the last occasion, he had anchored overnight & in the morning took his guest to shore in the dinghy. He was gone about 30 minutes & while heading upriver to the boat, he noticed a Sheriff's boat giving a ticket to a sailboat that was tied off to a wing dam. That's not a very common sight so he edged a little closer & noticed that it was a C30. You guessed it, his boat had dragged about 2 miles downriver & got hung up on a wing dam. Long story short, he didn't get a ticket but the anchor was hopelessly wrapped around the dam. So off to West Marine he went to purchase the biggest bruce his boat could manage. He ended up with a 35 lber in his hand but the sales clerk was concerned it was too heavy. He said that Rob could use it for the weekend and if he had trouble getting it up, they'd trade it in for a smaller model. Rob has always felt that you can't have too big an anchor. Lo & behold, when he went to pull the bruce at the end of the weekend, that sucker just about tore his arms out of the sockets! He knew it would be heavy but damn! After a while he finally managed to wrestle the thing up and found it wrapped around an enormous ball of concrete & rebar. That anchor feels feather light every time he uses it now!!
This is actually Rob's story but it's a good one. This was when he had his C30. He originally had a medium sized danforth which generally worked ok but had some problems dragging on occasion. On the last occasion, he had anchored overnight & in the morning took his guest to shore in the dinghy. He was gone about 30 minutes & while heading upriver to the boat, he noticed a Sheriff's boat giving a ticket to a sailboat that was tied off to a wing dam. That's not a very common sight so he edged a little closer & noticed that it was a C30. You guessed it, his boat had dragged about 2 miles downriver & got hung up on a wing dam. Long story short, he didn't get a ticket but the anchor was hopelessly wrapped around the dam. So off to West Marine he went to purchase the biggest bruce his boat could manage. He ended up with a 35 lber in his hand but the sales clerk was concerned it was too heavy. He said that Rob could use it for the weekend and if he had trouble getting it up, they'd trade it in for a smaller model. Rob has always felt that you can't have too big an anchor. Lo & behold, when he went to pull the bruce at the end of the weekend, that sucker just about tore his arms out of the sockets! He knew it would be heavy but damn! After a while he finally managed to wrestle the thing up and found it wrapped around an enormous ball of concrete & rebar. That anchor feels feather light every time he uses it now!!
Had to move while rafted.
We had deployed two good sized anchors in a North Channel location called "The Pool' then rafted four boats together. half way though dinner we noticed that we were much closer to the cliff face to the lee of us. No time to untie, so moved four rafted as one. Actaually, with the outer two boats only using their engines we could manouver very well.
We had deployed two good sized anchors in a North Channel location called "The Pool' then rafted four boats together. half way though dinner we noticed that we were much closer to the cliff face to the lee of us. No time to untie, so moved four rafted as one. Actaually, with the outer two boats only using their engines we could manouver very well.
Lake Lanier Trees
I also lost an anchor to a submerged tree in Lake Lanier. I don't know how you are supposed to anchor in that lake.
I also lost an anchor to a submerged tree in Lake Lanier. I don't know how you are supposed to anchor in that lake.
I have had a few fouled anchors. mostly they get wrapped arond an old logging cable or sunken logs on the bottom. In a few cases I have been able to send down a chain circled around the rode and pull the anchor backwards. This also involves unshackeling the rode from the anchor then pulling the rode, sans anchor, back on to the boat. The last time it happened I was not able to get a chain around the anchor down the rode as it was snarled pretty bad. That is where a cel phone and a list of local divers comes in handy. The diver cost less than a new anchor, chain, and rode. Another trick, is to use a trip line on the anchor.
One time I fouled my anchor, took some work to get it back on board. To my suprise, when I hauled the anchor up on deck I found I had snagged another anchor with chain and a short piece of rope attached. No other boats were around during the time I was anchored. I now use it as my lunch hook. Never found out who lost it or when. Not telling where I found it...finders keepers!
Chain then more chain
While sailing my Vision 32 singlehanded on Ky Lake one beautiful but mostly windless day, I decided to anchor in 30' of water & have lunch. Well, along comes some friends who rafted on either side. After a couple of hours the wind began to pick up so both left to sail. I started pulling up my anchor, had all slack out of the rope/chain rode, then I began to struggle to get the rest. I finally got the anchor up where I could see it & was amazed to see chain hanging on the flukes. I tied off the chain ,stowed my anchor & rode. I then started pulling up 3/8'' galvanized chain. I finally managed to have about 150' of chain on the fore deck when I could'nt pull any more. I tied it to the anchor roller, started the engine & tried pulling it. I came to a jaring halt. I decided that I really did not want to know what was on the other end. After tieing a large fender to it, I gave up & put the chain back in the water. Both the chain & my fender disappeared. I'm still looking for a underwater metal detector to recover all that chain
While sailing my Vision 32 singlehanded on Ky Lake one beautiful but mostly windless day, I decided to anchor in 30' of water & have lunch. Well, along comes some friends who rafted on either side. After a couple of hours the wind began to pick up so both left to sail. I started pulling up my anchor, had all slack out of the rope/chain rode, then I began to struggle to get the rest. I finally got the anchor up where I could see it & was amazed to see chain hanging on the flukes. I tied off the chain ,stowed my anchor & rode. I then started pulling up 3/8'' galvanized chain. I finally managed to have about 150' of chain on the fore deck when I could'nt pull any more. I tied it to the anchor roller, started the engine & tried pulling it. I came to a jaring halt. I decided that I really did not want to know what was on the other end. After tieing a large fender to it, I gave up & put the chain back in the water. Both the chain & my fender disappeared. I'm still looking for a underwater metal detector to recover all that chain
100 LB. Lift Bag
Fouled mine plenty of times. I just dive the anchor, clip a 100 lb lift bag to the trip eye on the anchor, and up it goes, like a rocket.
Fouled mine plenty of times. I just dive the anchor, clip a 100 lb lift bag to the trip eye on the anchor, and up it goes, like a rocket.
Now, find the anchor!
My last anchoring problem resulted in a lost anchor. I know the approximate position, but a day of trolling with a large magnet did not do anything. Any advice (I'm working on priciple here -- the cost of a new one has become secondary!) Its too dark to see, even diving on it. Grappling hook? Anyone ever try some kind of extension on a metal detector?
My last anchoring problem resulted in a lost anchor. I know the approximate position, but a day of trolling with a large magnet did not do anything. Any advice (I'm working on priciple here -- the cost of a new one has become secondary!) Its too dark to see, even diving on it. Grappling hook? Anyone ever try some kind of extension on a metal detector?
Three Times
All of this was in the California Delta. Once it was a grapevine from a flooded vineyard, the second was a fence post from the same vineyard. The third was after a blow that buried my Danforth deep in the sticky Delta mud. I had the bright idea of diving down and pulling it out manually. This is in murky, 10' deep water. As I pulled I realized that I was sinking into the mud myself (over my knees). As I had visions of an ignoble death in the mud the anchor came loose and I pulled myself out of the mud by the rode.
All of this was in the California Delta. Once it was a grapevine from a flooded vineyard, the second was a fence post from the same vineyard. The third was after a blow that buried my Danforth deep in the sticky Delta mud. I had the bright idea of diving down and pulling it out manually. This is in murky, 10' deep water. As I pulled I realized that I was sinking into the mud myself (over my knees). As I had visions of an ignoble death in the mud the anchor came loose and I pulled myself out of the mud by the rode.
Backing Out
I sail mostly in lakes, some with dead trees that were submerged as the damn filled with water. Every now and then I get snagged. First I try muscle power to pull the anchor up, if that doesn't work I try winching it. When all else fails I leave some slack in the rode (letting the boat drift away from the anchor), cleat off to the bow cleat, keeping the running end of the anchor rode very tight, I run the rode back, wrap it around the winch and cleat of to a stern cleat. The reason for all the cleating is to make sure no one cleat has to take the brunt of the upcoming jolt! Then I throw my 9.9 Honda in reverse, open throttle, and back away. I usually don't even feel a jolt -- the boat just keeps going in reverse! So far this has always worked in getting the anchor loose. One time I even broke of a dead tree that my anchor was wrapped around, that had an 8 in. trunk. We had a heck of a time getting that tree to the surface and getting untangled from it. Another time I slightly bent the shank of the anchor. I've been wondering how well these anchor-release gadgets work and have often thought of buying and trying one, but I don't expect they would work at all with the anchor and rode wrapped around a tree! Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
I sail mostly in lakes, some with dead trees that were submerged as the damn filled with water. Every now and then I get snagged. First I try muscle power to pull the anchor up, if that doesn't work I try winching it. When all else fails I leave some slack in the rode (letting the boat drift away from the anchor), cleat off to the bow cleat, keeping the running end of the anchor rode very tight, I run the rode back, wrap it around the winch and cleat of to a stern cleat. The reason for all the cleating is to make sure no one cleat has to take the brunt of the upcoming jolt! Then I throw my 9.9 Honda in reverse, open throttle, and back away. I usually don't even feel a jolt -- the boat just keeps going in reverse! So far this has always worked in getting the anchor loose. One time I even broke of a dead tree that my anchor was wrapped around, that had an 8 in. trunk. We had a heck of a time getting that tree to the surface and getting untangled from it. Another time I slightly bent the shank of the anchor. I've been wondering how well these anchor-release gadgets work and have often thought of buying and trying one, but I don't expect they would work at all with the anchor and rode wrapped around a tree! Jim Schaff s/v Morning Glory
Cheap anchor
Use cheap ones and cut'em lose that's what i do. I have a rack of cheap anchors in my locker lined-up like toy soldiers ready for sacrifice to the tree gods below. However, I keep a fortess on the bow cause it looks classy
w
Use cheap ones and cut'em lose that's what i do. I have a rack of cheap anchors in my locker lined-up like toy soldiers ready for sacrifice to the tree gods below. However, I keep a fortess on the bow cause it looks classy
wFinal results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 12/4/2000: Have you fouled your anchor? 56% Yes, retrieved it 35% Never fouled 09% Yes, lost it
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 12/4/2000: Have you fouled your anchor? 56% Yes, retrieved it 35% Never fouled 09% Yes, lost it
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