I was going out this morning to a garage sale looking for a used grill to take to our lake home. We normally have renters in their but its vacant this month and we are going up next week for a couple of days and a grill would be nice. Anyway, I stumbled on something else. They have this annual free garbage/junk pickup day and I brought home a manhole cover. That sucker is heavy, problably 150 to 175 pounds. Hardly could lift it to get it in my trunk. We are going to put our 34 in the marina but would like to day anchor in front of our house. Is this enough for a 12000 lb boat or should i add more. Our place is on an inland lake and is fairly protected in about 12-15 ft of water and the winds are mostly under 10-15. Bottom is mostly mud. Would only do this on mild days. The manhole cover has a hole in the center to put my chain. thanks. craig
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use an anchor
You would be better off dropping an anchor with a pick up ball. The manhole cover has little holding power...
You would be better off dropping an anchor with a pick up ball. The manhole cover has little holding power...
Robert?
Sounds too much like the "skipper" sneaking back in...ha,ha,ha??? This guy is talking about a "day anchor" not a mooring (I hope), seems like that weight would be plenty. I use a small grappling(sp) hook for a "lunch anchor" on my 28.5. Full time mooring, no way.
Sounds too much like the "skipper" sneaking back in...ha,ha,ha??? This guy is talking about a "day anchor" not a mooring (I hope), seems like that weight would be plenty. I use a small grappling(sp) hook for a "lunch anchor" on my 28.5. Full time mooring, no way.
Keep in Mind
The marina is four blocks from our house. Most days the wind is 0-5 in the bay where our house is. Dont plan on leaving it on the mooring unless the weather is right. I might add some 25 pound bar bell weights. This is no joke. The sewer cover is in my trunk. Best news is I can drop this down this next winter when there is 3 ft of ice. Hows that. Cost of sewer cover. zero, just my time.
The marina is four blocks from our house. Most days the wind is 0-5 in the bay where our house is. Dont plan on leaving it on the mooring unless the weather is right. I might add some 25 pound bar bell weights. This is no joke. The sewer cover is in my trunk. Best news is I can drop this down this next winter when there is 3 ft of ice. Hows that. Cost of sewer cover. zero, just my time.
chapmans
For a boat your size, Chapman's recommends a 250 lb mushroom anchor plus 30' of heavy chain (one-inch diameter) plus 20' of light chain. (See page 275.) They don't mention manhole covers, but it seems to me that a flat, round disk would be the absolute worse design possible for grabbing hold of the bottom. That cover you bought will probably serve better as a grill than an anchor.
For a boat your size, Chapman's recommends a 250 lb mushroom anchor plus 30' of heavy chain (one-inch diameter) plus 20' of light chain. (See page 275.) They don't mention manhole covers, but it seems to me that a flat, round disk would be the absolute worse design possible for grabbing hold of the bottom. That cover you bought will probably serve better as a grill than an anchor.
why ask for opinion
you obviously have your mind made up regardless of what experienced sailors tell you
you obviously have your mind made up regardless of what experienced sailors tell you
I think it is OK
Obviously it is all in the conditions of the day. Ask your self this: Can you hold your boat at the dock on a calm day with just a line and your self? Of course you can, do you have 200# of dead weight - No, even if you weigh 300# you have a lever acting against you. So, would I recommend this anchor as a mooring, I think not, but if you truly are only going to day moor when the wind isn't blowing, your boat isn't going anywhere. If you use it as a mooring that you walk away from for a week you are crazy, but I think the way you have described what you what to do it should be fine. On the other hand it's your boat and your risk/reward so do what you think is right, the rest of us have opions - but none are probably better than yours. Good luck, have fun life, is short. Ed
Obviously it is all in the conditions of the day. Ask your self this: Can you hold your boat at the dock on a calm day with just a line and your self? Of course you can, do you have 200# of dead weight - No, even if you weigh 300# you have a lever acting against you. So, would I recommend this anchor as a mooring, I think not, but if you truly are only going to day moor when the wind isn't blowing, your boat isn't going anywhere. If you use it as a mooring that you walk away from for a week you are crazy, but I think the way you have described what you what to do it should be fine. On the other hand it's your boat and your risk/reward so do what you think is right, the rest of us have opions - but none are probably better than yours. Good luck, have fun life, is short. Ed
salvage
There has been many a captain, who tried to get by on the cheap. They made do with castoffs and misfits and have been confined to the deep.
There has been many a captain, who tried to get by on the cheap. They made do with castoffs and misfits and have been confined to the deep.
Thanks for being so cute, i found my ans.
Thanks to all for proving one thing. Very few read whats in front of them and only can respond to what there own needs are. I found my answer, please put this to rest. craig
Thanks to all for proving one thing. Very few read whats in front of them and only can respond to what there own needs are. I found my answer, please put this to rest. craig
Day anchor revisited
I know your trying to put this one to bed, but I just saw the post and it interests me. For the conditions you describe it sounds perfect... but it's not a perfect world. All I can think about is a sudden freak thunderstorm in July or August. It might not happen for two or three years but eventually you'll look out the window and start wondering, is this thing gonna hold? That said, I think it's worth a try. Keep in mind that it's got to bury itself in the mud (even 2 tons of concrete will drag in a storm, unless it penetrates the seabottom) The disk might act just like a mushroom and bury, but you'll know the answer as soon as you start trying to set it. As you set it use a 10:1 rode, attached to your stern (more power in forward gear) and work it into the mud. Go north, then east, then west, etc. When you drop it in the lake, consider using 20 feet of chain with a shackle larger than the center hole at both ends and two messenger lines. If you can't get it to set, you might be able to retrieve the other end to attach a danforth and have one heck of a sentinal down there. BTW, I think that lots of folks on this board, myself included, have gotten so much out of it, that we try to "give back" a little to soon or maybe to often, without understanding the questions asked. Always try to think of us like alot of guys sitting around the dock after a great days sail, some of us might be on our 4th or 5th beer, but all in all you can get some pretty good info here.
I know your trying to put this one to bed, but I just saw the post and it interests me. For the conditions you describe it sounds perfect... but it's not a perfect world. All I can think about is a sudden freak thunderstorm in July or August. It might not happen for two or three years but eventually you'll look out the window and start wondering, is this thing gonna hold? That said, I think it's worth a try. Keep in mind that it's got to bury itself in the mud (even 2 tons of concrete will drag in a storm, unless it penetrates the seabottom) The disk might act just like a mushroom and bury, but you'll know the answer as soon as you start trying to set it. As you set it use a 10:1 rode, attached to your stern (more power in forward gear) and work it into the mud. Go north, then east, then west, etc. When you drop it in the lake, consider using 20 feet of chain with a shackle larger than the center hole at both ends and two messenger lines. If you can't get it to set, you might be able to retrieve the other end to attach a danforth and have one heck of a sentinal down there. BTW, I think that lots of folks on this board, myself included, have gotten so much out of it, that we try to "give back" a little to soon or maybe to often, without understanding the questions asked. Always try to think of us like alot of guys sitting around the dock after a great days sail, some of us might be on our 4th or 5th beer, but all in all you can get some pretty good info here.
Wire Tie the Pin in the Shackle
... and for the under-water shackle be sure to wire tie the pin to the shackle. One of the first places the shackle corrodes is in the thread area. Of course you will want to wire-tie all shackle pins but this is to point out the problems with corrosion and the threads.
... and for the under-water shackle be sure to wire tie the pin to the shackle. One of the first places the shackle corrodes is in the thread area. Of course you will want to wire-tie all shackle pins but this is to point out the problems with corrosion and the threads.
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