I have a 272 O'Day and the water in the lake is dropping to the point I have to move away from my dock. The lake is allowing boat owners to anchor their boats in front of their homes as long as the boat is lighted. I would like to double anchor the boat to restrict the movement, but I am lost! Is this possible? This will be my first time to anchor any boat in the water. I would still like to tie onto my dock as a safety? Also, what is the best way to light the boat without draining the batteries. I can run a 120 volt line to the boat or keep a battery on the dock and run a line to the boat. I do need help! This is for a 45 day temporary anchoring according to the lake officials.
How to anchor a sailboat to limit movement
- Thread starter RicVen43
- Start date
- Status
Ric, there are MANY discussions of anchoring techniques if you search around the interwebs. I suggest you do a bit of reading up on anchoring techniques, and then think about what you're attempting. It is quite possible to set an anchor out, then tie off to land, but before doing that, you need to consider ramifications, such as a change in wind, current, etc. I'm guessing that with the falling lake levels, you will anchor off your dock to get to deeper water, and can't actually use the dock.
A 272 dang well ought to have a masthead all around white light for anchoring. Don't you have a house battery? Colregs say you need an all around white light visible at 1 mile for anchoring. This requirement can be met by a kerosene lantern, even. Many folks use a battery powered LED lantern, hung about 1/3 up the mast by the main halyard. Instead of burning through AA batteries with a lantern, you might consider one of these Davis Mega-Light Utility lights, hoisted up the main halyard, plugged in to the house battery. I believe they are now LED, at least, the ones I saw at the boat show recently were LED, so you get low power draw. The photo cell to turn on and off is a very nice feature. The old days of the Bebi Owl anchor light are gone, now that Bebi has closed up shop. The Davis is the closest thing I've seen recently. Of course, this all presumes your masthead all around is not working, and that, if it is, it's an incandescent that draws more power than LED.
I wouldn't run A/C mains from the dock to the boat. That just sounds like a recipe for disaster. Nor would I keep a battery on the dock - there's plenty of room for a house battery on a 272...
Hope this helps some…
Brian
A 272 dang well ought to have a masthead all around white light for anchoring. Don't you have a house battery? Colregs say you need an all around white light visible at 1 mile for anchoring. This requirement can be met by a kerosene lantern, even. Many folks use a battery powered LED lantern, hung about 1/3 up the mast by the main halyard. Instead of burning through AA batteries with a lantern, you might consider one of these Davis Mega-Light Utility lights, hoisted up the main halyard, plugged in to the house battery. I believe they are now LED, at least, the ones I saw at the boat show recently were LED, so you get low power draw. The photo cell to turn on and off is a very nice feature. The old days of the Bebi Owl anchor light are gone, now that Bebi has closed up shop. The Davis is the closest thing I've seen recently. Of course, this all presumes your masthead all around is not working, and that, if it is, it's an incandescent that draws more power than LED.
I wouldn't run A/C mains from the dock to the boat. That just sounds like a recipe for disaster. Nor would I keep a battery on the dock - there's plenty of room for a house battery on a 272...
Hope this helps some…
Brian
A small solar panel mounted on the cabin top would do well to keep the house battery up while the anchor light is on. I do like the Mega Lite utility light because the photo cell turns it off during the day.
The boat would ride best on a single anchor, since the bow would always be into the wind. Two or more anchors are possible, but would require a lot of research on your part to be able to configure them correctly. Many times a slack rode will become entangled with the rudder, or the rodes will be wrapped around each other. This would require constant vigilance.
If space for anchoring is so tight that you decide to put a line to the dock, set the anchor out aways and bring a stern line into the dock, but be aware that any wind/waves from the side will put quite a strain on the rode and dock line.
The boat would ride best on a single anchor, since the bow would always be into the wind. Two or more anchors are possible, but would require a lot of research on your part to be able to configure them correctly. Many times a slack rode will become entangled with the rudder, or the rodes will be wrapped around each other. This would require constant vigilance.
If space for anchoring is so tight that you decide to put a line to the dock, set the anchor out aways and bring a stern line into the dock, but be aware that any wind/waves from the side will put quite a strain on the rode and dock line.
The 272 does have a masthead all-around anchor light that uses very little power. You are getting great advice. I have not stayed on anchor for more than a weekend, but I would support the single anchor idea above, esp. if the winds are consistent...good luck.
Pat
Pat
Do not run an AC electric cord out to an anchored boat.
As a side note: AC current in fresh water can kill. Improper grounding, or short circuits can cause electrical currents in the water. Be careful (be very careful). Look up ESD or electro shock drowning on Google for complete explanations. If you boat on fresh water you should know about this!!! THIS WILL SAVE LIVES !!!
As a side note: AC current in fresh water can kill. Improper grounding, or short circuits can cause electrical currents in the water. Be careful (be very careful). Look up ESD or electro shock drowning on Google for complete explanations. If you boat on fresh water you should know about this!!! THIS WILL SAVE LIVES !!!
- Status