I had my Hunter 260 anchored off of a campsite on Kimball pt. this past weekend when a wicked thunderstorm blew up. My anchor slipped in about 50mph winds and my boat luckily ended up beached up against a bush that held it in place. We were able to refloat her with about 6 people pushing as the storm subsided. I guess this taught me to get to a more protected cove the next time a storm comes up and think about getting a second anchor. Any recommendations on anchoring and what to do in thunderstorms would be helpful.
- Status
Thunderstorm II
We also had a major thunderstorm roll through this past Saturday evening. We started off around 2 p.m. and it was sunny and warm with about 5 to 7 knots of breeze. Our destination was a Cub Scout campout on the lake. We set the anchor and dinghied ashore using my son's Sunfish. We took our camping gear ashore and set up with the other campers. We started to have dinner with the group around 5:30 and then shortly thereafter we heard thunder and then BAM!! the thunderstorm was on us. I watched Zinfandel and she was getting moved all around, actually doing 360 degrees on the hook 2 or 3 times as the wind was coming from different directions, but she was staying put. After about 45 minutes we noticed that she was dragging anchor. I quickly took off my shirt, gave my wallet, and cell phone to my wife and ran to the water and swam to the boat which was about 150 to 200 yards away. I got on board and started the engine and stablizied the situation. In hindsight we probably did not have enough rode out (7 to 1 ratio), but based on conditions when we anchored it seemed like it was fine. I guess the lesson learned is if you are going to anchor and leave the boat more is better (more rode, second anchor). Like the Boys Scouts say "Be prepared".
We also had a major thunderstorm roll through this past Saturday evening. We started off around 2 p.m. and it was sunny and warm with about 5 to 7 knots of breeze. Our destination was a Cub Scout campout on the lake. We set the anchor and dinghied ashore using my son's Sunfish. We took our camping gear ashore and set up with the other campers. We started to have dinner with the group around 5:30 and then shortly thereafter we heard thunder and then BAM!! the thunderstorm was on us. I watched Zinfandel and she was getting moved all around, actually doing 360 degrees on the hook 2 or 3 times as the wind was coming from different directions, but she was staying put. After about 45 minutes we noticed that she was dragging anchor. I quickly took off my shirt, gave my wallet, and cell phone to my wife and ran to the water and swam to the boat which was about 150 to 200 yards away. I got on board and started the engine and stablizied the situation. In hindsight we probably did not have enough rode out (7 to 1 ratio), but based on conditions when we anchored it seemed like it was fine. I guess the lesson learned is if you are going to anchor and leave the boat more is better (more rode, second anchor). Like the Boys Scouts say "Be prepared".
Rode, rode, rode, chain!
I agree with John's conclusion - lots of rode. Actually 10:1 is the recommemded ratio in bad weather. Also, you can not have too much chain to hold the line down. Be careful out there!..Seth
I agree with John's conclusion - lots of rode. Actually 10:1 is the recommemded ratio in bad weather. Also, you can not have too much chain to hold the line down. Be careful out there!..Seth
what a storm
I was at Kerr Lake for a pig picking near Clarkesville (mile marker 12) and witnessed the storm from inside a cabin's screened porch. Whoa! And to think I just abougt makde the 15-mile sail from Steele Creek Marina that afternoon in my H 26. I would have been stuck in the middle of a nasty storm some two hours by motor away from my home turf. I remember thinking how much I hoped sailors weren't out in the wind and electrical activity. Do you think a mushroom-style anchor serving as a second anchor (for the stern) would have done any good? Rick Second Wind
I was at Kerr Lake for a pig picking near Clarkesville (mile marker 12) and witnessed the storm from inside a cabin's screened porch. Whoa! And to think I just abougt makde the 15-mile sail from Steele Creek Marina that afternoon in my H 26. I would have been stuck in the middle of a nasty storm some two hours by motor away from my home turf. I remember thinking how much I hoped sailors weren't out in the wind and electrical activity. Do you think a mushroom-style anchor serving as a second anchor (for the stern) would have done any good? Rick Second Wind
mushroom anchor idea
when anchoring out overnite I run a mushroom anchor down the rode of my primary hook on a snap shackle. This gets the primary rode down to a very low scope and also allows my H23 wing keel to rotate around the mushroom without snagging on the primary rode. I also have 10 feet of chain at the hook. She ain't goin nowhere! Clear as mud?
when anchoring out overnite I run a mushroom anchor down the rode of my primary hook on a snap shackle. This gets the primary rode down to a very low scope and also allows my H23 wing keel to rotate around the mushroom without snagging on the primary rode. I also have 10 feet of chain at the hook. She ain't goin nowhere! Clear as mud?
Chain and Rode
You can ride out a good storm with lots of chain and Rode. I have no hesitation to put out all 150 feet of rode with 10 feet of chain.
You can ride out a good storm with lots of chain and Rode. I have no hesitation to put out all 150 feet of rode with 10 feet of chain.
Speedy, 95 H26 has 32' of 5/16 chain and 118'
of 5/8 3 strand rode. We have about a 1 in 5 chance of having a hard thunderstorms while anchored on our river. I always run at least 7 to 1 on rode and also run a 1/2 inch stern line to shore (100 ft available). If we get caught by cross winds in a late night storm we simply drop the stern line and ride the rode. We have no neighbors out here in eastern Washington. I use a 14# Danforth and slide a 20# weight down the rode to the chain if it is blowing very hard when we first drop the hook. We probably spent 40 or more nights on the hook last summer and had 3 bad storms that you do remember. Only 1 caused the anchor to drag after dropping the land line and it reset within 30 feet. In the morning, with fresh coffee in the mugs, we return and walk the beach to retrieve the land line. Our river is gravel bottom where the water is moving and mud where there is no current. I hate mud! Ray S/V Speedy
of 5/8 3 strand rode. We have about a 1 in 5 chance of having a hard thunderstorms while anchored on our river. I always run at least 7 to 1 on rode and also run a 1/2 inch stern line to shore (100 ft available). If we get caught by cross winds in a late night storm we simply drop the stern line and ride the rode. We have no neighbors out here in eastern Washington. I use a 14# Danforth and slide a 20# weight down the rode to the chain if it is blowing very hard when we first drop the hook. We probably spent 40 or more nights on the hook last summer and had 3 bad storms that you do remember. Only 1 caused the anchor to drag after dropping the land line and it reset within 30 feet. In the morning, with fresh coffee in the mugs, we return and walk the beach to retrieve the land line. Our river is gravel bottom where the water is moving and mud where there is no current. I hate mud! Ray S/V Speedy
Our boat was in the same storm!
My husband took our two kids and a friend out sailing Saturday and *enjoyed* the same storm. Unfortunately, it was our daughter's second time in the boat. (The first time wasn't too pleasant either for her either.) Our Hunter 26, Galilean, rode out the storm up around the C bouy. Carol
My husband took our two kids and a friend out sailing Saturday and *enjoyed* the same storm. Unfortunately, it was our daughter's second time in the boat. (The first time wasn't too pleasant either for her either.) Our Hunter 26, Galilean, rode out the storm up around the C bouy. Carol
Double your pleasure
If there's any possibility of bad weather, we drop both anchors. The backup anchor isn't as big but between the two with 150' of rode, it's pretty tight. We usually anchor on a mud bottom so any dragging is slow anyway. It takes a while to free the anchors from the mud and scrub them clean but I sleep better. Ken S/V WouffHong
If there's any possibility of bad weather, we drop both anchors. The backup anchor isn't as big but between the two with 150' of rode, it's pretty tight. We usually anchor on a mud bottom so any dragging is slow anyway. It takes a while to free the anchors from the mud and scrub them clean but I sleep better. Ken S/V WouffHong
- Status