Rafting and anchoring

[Scott B]

I don't want to start an anchoring war again We are going to be anchoring out with friends that have a 31' powerboat. Their boat weighs in at just under 10,000 lbs., ours is just over 10,000 lbs.When you raft up, generally what is the guidelines on limits on weight and wind speed. I was thinking setting our anchor, 15kg. Rocna on 50' chain and whatever rode necessary to hold. Bottom will be sand. I had a look at his set up and suggested he update before anchoring out. They just bought the boat last week so haven't had a chance to update everything.

 

[newly anonymous]

the first rule of rafting...

...is that all boats should be able, at a moments notice, to break up the raft and anchor independently.If your buddy's new boat is not yet set up to do that, it's not yet set up to raft.

 

[Scott B]

good thought

He has a CQR, but only 15-20 ft. chain and a very rusty shackle. He also has another danforth and 10 ft. chain. I have a secondary danforth with 20 ft. of chain. I have a couple of spare shackles so if worst case we could put together 30-40' of chain and enough rode.  Of course if the conditions are forecast to be bad enough we'll just head back to the marina.

 

[Ross]

Shackles cost less than 5 bucks

refuse to go out with him if he doesn't upgrade his ground tackle.

 

[newly anonymous]

I bring it up because...

...I belong to a yacht club cruising fleet that loves to raft, and we sometimes leave our rafts together all night if conditions permit. We've gotten to the point where we have engineered some sophisticated rafts, a few of which actually work. One night, however, a blow came up and the hulls started knocking together, so we decided to break up the raft. It was at that point that one of the boats admitted that they didn't have adequate ground tackle to spend the night on their own hook. One of the kinder skippers offered to hold the slackers on his anchor overnight, this despite my somewhat wiser suggestion that the boat with inadequate ground tackle sail home in the dark. It finally occurred to my wife, a true sweetheart, that we could loan the slackers our spare, a Guardian G-37, which we did.From that time forward, the word has gone out that no one is welcome to raft unless they've got sufficient gear to spend the night alone.

 

[Rick D]

SoCal Rafts

We've rafted as many as ten for a couple of days in protected waters. We anchor the biggest boats in the middle and smaller as it goes out to the ends. We set an anchor for every other boat. After the first two, we use a dinghy to take the anchor out and set it to avoid fouling the others. One complication with multiple rodes out is getting them twisted, which is a real mess and dangerous. We set a smaller stern anchor from one or two of the boats to give just enough drag to keep from doing 360's. Doesn't take much. Other than that, lots of fenders, spring lines and a evac plan. Enjoy, Rick D.

 

[Steve O.]

rafting

Rafting is OK during the day when you are swimming or partying, but I would never raft up overnight. If a blow comes in you will have damaged gelcoat, torn off rub rail or toe rail. It's just not worth it to me.

 

[sailaway78]

I would never

I enjoy rafting up with others, and the ensuing interactions with friends, including the fine meals that can be a result. But I would not even consider staying rafted overnight. Just too many things that can happen, most of them not good. Just listening to fenders squeaking all night is reason enough for me not to do it.

 

[Scott B]

thanks for the ideas

Between the two of us we have unough equipment to anchor separately if need be and he'll probably grab a new shackle at the marine chandlry. We're headed to a fairly protected area and will only raft if conditions permit.