Hooking up

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DaveJ10270

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Nov 29, 2005
10
- - Bayfield, WI
All Chain

On my present boat and my previous boats I use a 44# Delta with all chain rode. I keep 275' of 5/16" high test chain in the chain locker. I have usually carried a SL Claw as a back up anchor. I like the price of the Claw anchor, but I have had trouble with it dragging while powering in reverse to set it. "Twice" it has not set as a bowling ball sized rock was resting between its flukes. Those time were at a mostly sand bottom anchorage with just an occasional stone visible yet the Claw managed to find them..
 
Bob Todd

Bob Todd

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Jun 6, 2004
300
- - E. Greenwich, RI
My setup...

...for my Nonsuch 30 is a 35 lb CQR on 50' of chain and 300' feet of three-strand. Cheers, Bob
 
S

Steve B

Dragged!!! Of Course!

Down in the Caribbean anchoring is the only way to go. I have always favoured the CQR and now use a 45lb anchor. For years we used 75 ft of chain with 150 ft of three strand twisted. Having had several experiences of dragging, particularly in Bequia, we changed to 200ft all chain two seasons ago. Havn't yet had that drag after setting it properly. Always back up at atleast 1500 RPM on my 50hp yanmar to set it right. I also have a danforth aboard but have never been able to get it to set right even though most bottoms are sand. It might work as a stern anchor to hold the boat into the roll but I prefer to let her swing on the wind. We are leaving for 10 weeks aboard on Tuesday, so lots more expeience comming shortly.
 
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Capt Lee ;-)

Mandatory - Catenary

Toy dog, I was in Kiwi waters for years, enjoyed the sailing there, especially Barrier Island. You do indeed have it right, all chain is the best, provides your catenary, with a real hood, CQR or Bruce. "The Danforth" fine for lunch, but has many draw-backs, it is cheap and light, but NEVER leave your vessel on one, it is playing russian-roulette. The two hooks on a 45 'sounds' good, I have done many times, and it is an inferior deployment, unless the wind is ALWAYS from the same diredtion, and of course same with a strong current. Fortress is quite strong, tests conducted were convincing, but still a Danfoth basically and the flukes foul oft. The Bruce was especially engineered for the rigs around the Channel and is likely the best hook ever made, I have been using a CQR for many years like how it 'nests', but have used the Bruce and it is very hard to drag a Bruce with chain. Since I have fouled anchors on: steel cAble, larger derelect anchors, steel drum and other debris, I prefer a mooring when available, and you then need not concern with swinging room for neighbors. These are just the facts from lotta years experience boys, no stock in Bruce either.
 
Dick Dixon

Dick Dixon

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Dec 9, 2005
164
Kirie Elite 37 Pascagoula, Mississippi
To Dreamboat

Dreamboat-your experience at Petit Bois Island was right on! As a sailor of those same waters, I've had similar experiences as you. That's one reason I prefer to daysail Petit Bois, Sand, and Horn Island....in thunderstorm season there is no safe place to anchor north or south of those islands. My trusty Bruce has proven itseld many times in those sandy/mud bottoms. But don't you just love Ingram's Bayou to the east?
 
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ex-admin

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending Janaury 29, 2006: What's your preferred anchor for your home waters? 51% Danforth/Fortress fluke type 27% CQR, Delta, or plow type 21% Bruce or claw type 02% Spade type
 
B

Briann

Anchor stuck

The discussion regarding anchoring choices and experiences is interesting. However if the anchor becomes stuck, how do most people free it. Something like a trip line or ???
 
W

Warren Milberg

For Briann

This is a good follow-on question. What works for me when my anchor has really buried itself in the muck (like after a high-wind night)is to pull the boat by hand up to the anchor as fast as I can. Having a Hunter 28.5 that displaces 7,100 lbs makes this job fairly easy -- but it could be done using the engine, too. When I am directly over the anchor (the rode goes straight down), I snub the line on a mooring cleat as the boat continues to move past the anchor. This has always broken my Danforth anchor free. The only "problem" has been that the anchor comes up with a medicine ball size load of mud wrapped around it!! Getting the mud off before getting the anchor aboard is best left for another discussion...
 
Franklin

Franklin

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Jul 20, 2005
2,422
Whitby 55 Kemah, Tx
Getting unstuck

One time I've used the windless to pull my 17,000 lb boat up right over the anchor and then cleat it off and let the boat bob for a while, then start the engine and give it almost full throatle and the anchor finally gave way (this was after me and the windless pulling on it for 15 minutes with no luck). My danforth brought up atleast 5 lbs of mud with it. It was dug in real deep that night.
 
B

Briann

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May 23, 2004
28
- - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Trip line

Does anyone use a trip line in case the anchor is stuck? If so what do you use?
 
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Rich L

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Mar 9, 2004
138
Hunter 26 Kentucky
backward, not forward

After moving the bow directly over the anchor and cleating the rode, put the engine in reverse, not forward. That will pull the anchor flukes backward and up. If you go forward, you may "break out", but it puts a lot of unnecessary strain on the flukes. You'll get a little less mud and Danforth and Fortress anchors will last longer, too.
 
r.w.landau

r.w.landau

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Jun 2, 2004
1,438
Oday 25 pittsburgh
Brian, I do it occasionally.

I had to cut off an 11# bruce once. I think the pride hurt more than the money. I suggest a line big enough to feel comfortable on your hands for the weight of the anchor. I use 1/4" nylon for a 16# bruce. r.w.landau
 
M

Mike16448

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Jun 8, 2004
6
- - Sausalito
Bottom snag

I recently lost a brand new 35# Delta anchor and 20' of chain due to snagging something off Angel Island in SF Bay. I worked on it for an hour trying every trick in the book. The 5/8" 3 strand nylon rode finally broke due to stretching and fraying. That amounted to a $500 loss and a lousy day overall! Advice is don't anchor in SF bay unless you are using a cheap danforth or some other throw away. There is just too much junk on the bottom.
 
S

Steve Sassa

sit back and watch the show

We love going over to Kellys Island on lake erie for the weekends and swinging on the hook. An old danforth with about 10 foot of chain. Has never let me down. Setting the anchor is easy, I alrady know how much rode I need out so I cleat it off long before I get to he spot for the night. Bring the anchor to the back of the boat so Im ready. When I get to where I want to drop for the night I just kick it over the side and through the tiller. At this point I kill the motor or back wind the main depends on how crouded it is at the time if I sail in or motor. The anchor seams to set every time. Now its time to sit back and watch the show. We love watching the other people fight with the anchor and each other when trying to pick a spot and then get the anchor out and in the water. Seams like its always the woman at the bow and the man at the helm barking out orders like capt. Blygh. (sp)? Pulling the anchor has never been a problem yet as I tend to stay in the same spot all the time. I have gone down with a mask and fins a few times and found a few spares so Im covered if I have to cut the line some time.
 
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jim duckenfield

Use a float on a nasty bottom

I'ff I'm unsure abot the bottom or think it's nasty I tie a line to the front of the acnhor and a float to the line approx = to depth at high tide.
 
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