Multi Day Anchoring

[emma-mia]

A couple of weeks ago I was on anchor for 3 days. The first 2.5 days were fine, the 3rd day in the afternoon while I was on the boat the anchor started dragging. When I pulled up the anchor there was 10' of chain wrapped all around it.

I was in 10' of water with 40' of rode out (it's a rather crowded anchorage /Vineyard Haven-Martha's Vineyard). I have a 25lb. Danforth anchor with 20' of chain (1988 Catalina 30). The winds were anywhere from 2-15kts. the entire time. High tide to low tide is about 5' difference. As the wind and tide changed the boat faced 3 different directions over 3 days.

My question: Is there a rule of thumb as to how often you need to reset your anchor or should you be able to set on anchor multiple days without re-setting?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Was that 10 feet of someone else's chain or yours?

 

[Stephen K]

I was in 10' of water with 40' of rode out (it's a rather crowded anchorage /Vineyard Haven-Martha's Vineyard). I have a 25lb. Danforth anchor with 20' of chain (1988 Catalina 30). The winds were anywhere from 2-15kts. the entire time. High tide to low tide is about 5' difference. As the wind and tide changed the boat faced 3 different directions over 3 days.

With those winds, you shouldn't have to reset the anchor over your 3 days...IF you set the anchor properly and used adequate scope. According to your information, you were in 10 ft of water and also have a 5' tide movement. Lets also assume your anchor roller is 4 feet above the water line. Then your 40' is just about a 2:1 scope, which is not adequate.

 

[canavap]

When I run the motor to charge up the batteries (typically in the evening), I will back down on the anchor to make sure it is in. I usually do this every other day.

You may want to consider adding more chain. With 10' of chain wrapped around the anchor, you were left with only 10' of "usable" chain and thus only 30' of actual rode in water that is 10-15' deep. That is definitely not enough.

I am familiar with the area and can appreciate how crowded it gets. If I can't put out at least 5:1, I'll pick up a mooring for a night and then find a good anchoring place the next morning.

Were you in the lagoon or outside the breakwater?

 

[emma-mia]

Stu; Good question (ha ha), it was mine.
It seems unamimous, I need more scope.
Canavap; We were outside the breakwater. I also anchor in Cutty, which is even more crowded. Inside the harbor I usually only get 3:1 scope which sets in heavy mud. Do you know what most boaters use in Cutty?
Thanks to all for the info.

 

[canavap]

To be honest, I've never anchored inside at Cutty. It is usually really crowded in there - I am not surprised that you only get room for 3:1. I would guess the most you could get is 5:1 but you would have to get there early for that and you would still probably have to pull up some rode as more folks try to shoehorn in there.

I usually pick up a mooring if I am inside. I've been on anchor outside (much more room and you basically anchor just off of the last row of moorings). As long as the wind is somewhere out of the south, outside on anchor is great and there is plenty of room to put out scope.

If you are forced to go with short scope you definitely want more chain. FWIW, we carry 50' of chain. Hope to see you out there (next year - soccer season has started for the kids - my sailing is now relegated to day sails).

 

[Bob S]

pick53,

read this post:
http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=594777&highlight=Anchoring

I printed Mainesail's procedure and use it. Don't be afraid to dinghy over or ask how much scope your neighbors have paid out if you feel you're too close. I have 60' of chain (2x boat length) with a Mason Supreme anchor. I've never dragged but I did have a hard time setting a lunch hook in Vineyard Haven just inside the breakwater West Chop side ten yards in from the channel. The bottom was too soft and I just couldn't get a good enough set (I wanted to dinghy to the Black Dog). I picked up and moved further out. I've never anchored on the lagoon side. There isn't much room and it's pretty shallow.
Be careful in Cutty Hunk Pond the bottom is eel grass/mud that's not favorable for a Danforth anchor. It is crazy crowded too. I did it once and never slept. We anchor sailed all night long. I was worried about a 180° swing. I agree with canavap, I anchor outside now and feel much safer.

 

[emma-mia]

Bob S; A great piece by Mainesail. I feel better about staying away from crowded anchorages. A few years ago while in Cutty, I had 5:1 scope and the next morning our dinghy was almost touching the boat behind us. He asked what my scope was and when I told him 5:1 he said no one should have more than 3:1 in there. I thought, gee I need to be able to set 3:1 and be able to sleep at night. From now on if I can't get a minimum of 5:1, I'll go somewhere else.
What's your boat's name? I think I've seen you in the harbor. We are "Emma-Mia"

 

[sinnettc]

One thing you might try, and I saw a lot of people doing this in the San Juan Islands this summer, is set your anchor with a bridle that attaches to the rode near, or below, the water. I don't completely understand the mechanics or exactly how to rig one properly, but it sure seemed to shorten the scope people were using.

We also saw one boat using a decoy as an anchor marker; took me about an hour to figure out that the duck wasn't just sleeping over there.

 

[Bob S]

Lovely Lady
Seems like everyone is paranoid in Cutty. I had a guy dinghy up to us and ask repeatedly what kind of anchor I had. I told him and he told me I should stay up and keep an anchor watch and if I dragged he would be blowing on his air horn so be ready. i can understand peoples concerns but rudeness is unacceptable. We generally anchor outside the pond or will pick up a mooring.

We've probably shared a launch .

 

[Twice Around]

My family cruised with a 12# danforth & 6 feet of chain for years...with 7:1 scope that held in almost anything. In this day & age as most of you have noted, all these boats with heavy anchors, a lot of chain rode & of course a windlass to avoid any actual work are anchoring at 2:1 or 3:1 in the harbor and don't swing at all...it is very annoying & frustrating for us traditionalists. I've moved up to 20' of chain, & that is about as much weight as I am willing to, #1 carry in the bow, & #2 haul up the next morning. I'll go anchor somewhere else if that isn't enough.

 

[emma-mia]

Twice Around: Thank you for that. I thought my 20' of chain and 25lb. danforth was more than adequate. Pulling up first thing in the morning IS heavy.