I'm having trouble securing my 1500lb Suncat near the beach where I have it moored. It is on an exposed beach on a lake that gets a lot of wind at times. I have screwed several 48" corkscrew type anchors in to the sand, but the heavy winds tend to pull them out of the sand. I thought of putting a mushroom anchor at the bow, but I am afraid I might hit the exposed portion of the mushroom with the bottom of my hull and do some damage. I can't pull it up on the beach because it is too heavy and impossible to get off the beach by myself. These mushroom anchors are usually used in deep water and it is very shallow where I keep my boat. The level of the lake is so low due to the drought that no one on the lake can use their docks. I really can't move it to deeper water and use a dinghy. I welcome any suggestions that anyone might have.
MOORING A 1500 lb SAILBOAT NEAR THE BEACH
- Thread starter gjaffess
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Here in St. Croix we use the helix normally seen holding guy wires for telephone poles. They are about 5-6 feet long and there are different diameters. I have two of them set in Christiansted harbor. It held my boat in a hurricane. You screw it down until only the head shows then shackle and chain with a pennant attached to that.
I may be off base but I do not have a clear picture if the boat is near enough to the beach with some water.
Generally a Helix style andchoring syrstem works well but in sand only at 3-4 feet will not hold. You will need to go with a longer one for sure.
On some inland lakes where there are rocks on the embankment either required by code to stabilze the embankement or voluntary, I suggested buiding a wooden structure using 2X6 treated lumber attached to posts to winch the boats up or have a system whereby the boat on the trailer is winched up with the tires on some firm surface for example treated lumber.
I am not sure if the above will help as I cannot see the clear picture.
crazy dave
Generally a Helix style andchoring syrstem works well but in sand only at 3-4 feet will not hold. You will need to go with a longer one for sure.
On some inland lakes where there are rocks on the embankment either required by code to stabilze the embankement or voluntary, I suggested buiding a wooden structure using 2X6 treated lumber attached to posts to winch the boats up or have a system whereby the boat on the trailer is winched up with the tires on some firm surface for example treated lumber.
I am not sure if the above will help as I cannot see the clear picture.
crazy dave
Interesting seamanship challenge, so here is my 2-cents. This sounds like you are mooring in the surf line where your Suncat is barely afloat and you wade out to sail. If so, you are probably getting forces from the waves, in addition to the winds you mention. The classic answer for all anchoring problems is scope (anchor rode length). Adding scope changes the vector of pull on the anchor from vertical to horizontal. Considering shallow water, and not wanting to walk a half-mile to your boat, could I suggest changing the angle, and reducing the wave forces, by adding additional weight to the rode (even a concrete block). That way the wind and wave forces will lift and move the weight around and not tug on your anchor.
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