We prefer the anchor, and we carry four different types (Danforth, plow, fisherman and para-anchor). There is no substitute in hot weather. A dock, although secure, is usually too hot, noisy or can have varments trying to board your boat. We have had both snakes and mice use our dock lines over the years. At anchor you can exercise some control over how your boat lies. Moorings are sometimes hard on gear, depending on how they are rigged. You pretty much are forced to swing the same as other boats in the field.
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anchor
My wife and I love to anchor. We have a 35lb CQR and 100 feet of chain (plus 150' of rode!) for our 36' Catalina MkII. We just came back from a few days in Georgian Bay where we rolled very uncomfortably at Hope Island (Thursday) due to high winds creating wave patterns that disrupted that fairly unsheltered anchorage and last nigh (Sunday) when everything was calm and beautiful, plus the little gem at Echo Bay in Massassauga Park... In comparison, we were tied to a dock in Penetanguishene where the Poker Run crowd was having a party... We have, so far, never had an incident with a poorly set anchor, but we do pay attention to giving preferably a 7 X scope and back up against the anchor to make sure it is well set. We also use an anchor buoy to help mark approximately where the anchor lies on the bottom... And, the visiting by dinghy to neighbouring boats is more fun than sitting in a marina...
My wife and I love to anchor. We have a 35lb CQR and 100 feet of chain (plus 150' of rode!) for our 36' Catalina MkII. We just came back from a few days in Georgian Bay where we rolled very uncomfortably at Hope Island (Thursday) due to high winds creating wave patterns that disrupted that fairly unsheltered anchorage and last nigh (Sunday) when everything was calm and beautiful, plus the little gem at Echo Bay in Massassauga Park... In comparison, we were tied to a dock in Penetanguishene where the Poker Run crowd was having a party... We have, so far, never had an incident with a poorly set anchor, but we do pay attention to giving preferably a 7 X scope and back up against the anchor to make sure it is well set. We also use an anchor buoy to help mark approximately where the anchor lies on the bottom... And, the visiting by dinghy to neighbouring boats is more fun than sitting in a marina...
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Peter Middlebrook
Peter
Sydney is surrounded by many protected waterways and it is never difficult to find a vacant swing-mooring. They are either private or belong to yacht clubs. This is prefered by us because they are well spaced and secure. We only use our anchor when all moorings are taken up which is rare even in the summer.
Sydney is surrounded by many protected waterways and it is never difficult to find a vacant swing-mooring. They are either private or belong to yacht clubs. This is prefered by us because they are well spaced and secure. We only use our anchor when all moorings are taken up which is rare even in the summer.
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Peter Middlebrook
Peter
Sydney is surrounded by many protected waterways and it is never difficult to find a vacant swing-mooring. They are either private or belong to yacht clubs. This is prefered by us because they are well spaced and secure. We only use our anchor when all moorings are taken up which is rare even in the summer.
Sydney is surrounded by many protected waterways and it is never difficult to find a vacant swing-mooring. They are either private or belong to yacht clubs. This is prefered by us because they are well spaced and secure. We only use our anchor when all moorings are taken up which is rare even in the summer.
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Mark Mazour
Home we go!
We have a 24ft S2 7.3 it can sleep 4 but we also have an airconditioned house with a bed for evreyone that is 30 minutes from our saling grounds.
We have a 24ft S2 7.3 it can sleep 4 but we also have an airconditioned house with a bed for evreyone that is 30 minutes from our saling grounds.
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Joedy
I sleep with an eye open
I usually try to find a vacant mooring,a lot of times i tie up to a buddy with a bigger boat,I find is more fun with other people specially for the kids.If i have to use my anchor i sleep with an eye open .HAHAHAHAHA
I usually try to find a vacant mooring,a lot of times i tie up to a buddy with a bigger boat,I find is more fun with other people specially for the kids.If i have to use my anchor i sleep with an eye open .HAHAHAHAHA
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Fred
Happy Hookers
My order of preference: 1. Anchoring: better choice of scenery, neighbors, etc. I know my ground tackle and trust it. 2. Close second is a mooring that I KNOW to be good. I will dive on it to be sure. If it's a yacht club mooring it may come with club launch privileges (nice bonus if snotty weather makes for a dicey dinghy ride to shore). 3. A slip. Easy access to shore, and we can tie off to avoid bashing up our topsides. We always scope out the area to make sure it provides privacy & security. 4. Tying up to dock, wharf, etc. Last resort.
My order of preference: 1. Anchoring: better choice of scenery, neighbors, etc. I know my ground tackle and trust it. 2. Close second is a mooring that I KNOW to be good. I will dive on it to be sure. If it's a yacht club mooring it may come with club launch privileges (nice bonus if snotty weather makes for a dicey dinghy ride to shore). 3. A slip. Easy access to shore, and we can tie off to avoid bashing up our topsides. We always scope out the area to make sure it provides privacy & security. 4. Tying up to dock, wharf, etc. Last resort.
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Peter Middlebrook
Hot Mooring
Securely moored in Cowan Waters near Sydney last summer we were awakened early in the morning by the sounds of flames and the smell of smoke. Was it our boat or our rafting mate that caused my near naked rush from the security of my bed. The entire foreshore was alight with a bushfire that had erupted during the night. Thank God we had not tethered to the shoreline or drifted on an anchor. Moorings work for me.
Securely moored in Cowan Waters near Sydney last summer we were awakened early in the morning by the sounds of flames and the smell of smoke. Was it our boat or our rafting mate that caused my near naked rush from the security of my bed. The entire foreshore was alight with a bushfire that had erupted during the night. Thank God we had not tethered to the shoreline or drifted on an anchor. Moorings work for me.
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Steve Hunter
Marina of Last Resort
Anchoring in an out of the way cove in the San Juans or British Columbia. Not only is it more romantic but less frantic. If you have a good anchor(s), all chain rode, an inverter and small genset you can be there for days undisturbed and explore land via the dinghy. Mooring would be a second choice. Frequently in the Pacific Northwest many mooring buoys are private or in crowded anchorages. In rough seas they can be a &#%!% to hook. Last choice would be a marina dock. Tough on the boat if they are rafting and with my luck I always get some drunk power boaters who don't seem to get enough noise listening to the drone of their twin screw engines all day so they party all night. I have often secured an anchor in an "iffy" location to avoid a marina. Marinas God bless them are great for fuel, water, laundry and stores but not as a place to stay unless you are a masochist.
Anchoring in an out of the way cove in the San Juans or British Columbia. Not only is it more romantic but less frantic. If you have a good anchor(s), all chain rode, an inverter and small genset you can be there for days undisturbed and explore land via the dinghy. Mooring would be a second choice. Frequently in the Pacific Northwest many mooring buoys are private or in crowded anchorages. In rough seas they can be a &#%!% to hook. Last choice would be a marina dock. Tough on the boat if they are rafting and with my luck I always get some drunk power boaters who don't seem to get enough noise listening to the drone of their twin screw engines all day so they party all night. I have often secured an anchor in an "iffy" location to avoid a marina. Marinas God bless them are great for fuel, water, laundry and stores but not as a place to stay unless you are a masochist.
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Steve Hunter
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r. Cameron
Anchoring usually free
We anchor in most cases because mooring balls cost $20-25 a night. We upgraded to a 44# Delta and chain rode and sleep great. We sail where the water's clear and would alway swim the anchor or mooring system because who knows whats down there. Take care. Reid Cameron (433)
We anchor in most cases because mooring balls cost $20-25 a night. We upgraded to a 44# Delta and chain rode and sleep great. We sail where the water's clear and would alway swim the anchor or mooring system because who knows whats down there. Take care. Reid Cameron (433)
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Warren Blanchard
We Usually Have a Ball
In Abaco the holding ground is generally not that good so when possible we pick up a mooring for $15 per night. That's especially true in the harbours where there's not much room to swing. If we're on the hook, I rig a poor man's anchor alarm (dinghy anchor off the bow with a bunch of pots & pans tied on the middle of the rode and placed so they'll slide across the deck if the boat moves) and sleep with one eye (ear) open.
In Abaco the holding ground is generally not that good so when possible we pick up a mooring for $15 per night. That's especially true in the harbours where there's not much room to swing. If we're on the hook, I rig a poor man's anchor alarm (dinghy anchor off the bow with a bunch of pots & pans tied on the middle of the rode and placed so they'll slide across the deck if the boat moves) and sleep with one eye (ear) open.
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Warren Blanchard
We Usually Have a Ball (follow-up)
I was trying to post a picture and the first post left home without me! This is taken from the top of the Elbow Reef Lighthouse in Hope Town Harbour and shows a typical tight anchorage where a mooring is pretty much required because of the short swing room.
I was trying to post a picture and the first post left home without me! This is taken from the top of the Elbow Reef Lighthouse in Hope Town Harbour and shows a typical tight anchorage where a mooring is pretty much required because of the short swing room.
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Jim Garner
Anchors Away!
In the harbors of the west coast of Florida there are literally hundreds of places to anchor at night. From Dunedin to Marco Island you have a choice of Intercoastal Waterway or Gulf travel. You can always find a safe harbor quickly if needed. In the ICW there are restaurants galore.I always use a fore and aft anchor. The waters are not deep and the anchors hold well. Tides change, currents change, winds change but the boat is stable. I have a shoal draft boat which is ideal for these waters. Mosquito netting or DEET is a must.
In the harbors of the west coast of Florida there are literally hundreds of places to anchor at night. From Dunedin to Marco Island you have a choice of Intercoastal Waterway or Gulf travel. You can always find a safe harbor quickly if needed. In the ICW there are restaurants galore.I always use a fore and aft anchor. The waters are not deep and the anchors hold well. Tides change, currents change, winds change but the boat is stable. I have a shoal draft boat which is ideal for these waters. Mosquito netting or DEET is a must.
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Captain Kimo
Beached the trailerable boat with swing keel*!
A alternative and preferred method of overnighting for me is beaching the boat in a cove with sandy or muddy shoreline. I find I sleep sounder than at anchor. The Mac26X with it's high bow sail area tends to spin all night around the anchor. Seeing the stars continuously in motion up through the forward window while sleeping in the V berth, gives an unsettling feeling upon waking that the anchor is dragging. Second best method is anchoring in a cove. However, concern for tree stump on the bottom fouling the anchor and need for short scope of rode with a sentinel anchor to reduce swing, makings for careful cove selection. Docking at marina's courtesy dock for $10-20 (fresh water but no power) with the noise and racing cigarette boats clearing their carbureters in the early AM, make this a non starter. Only done in very high wind conditions due. No buoy moorings normally available on the lake.
A alternative and preferred method of overnighting for me is beaching the boat in a cove with sandy or muddy shoreline. I find I sleep sounder than at anchor. The Mac26X with it's high bow sail area tends to spin all night around the anchor. Seeing the stars continuously in motion up through the forward window while sleeping in the V berth, gives an unsettling feeling upon waking that the anchor is dragging. Second best method is anchoring in a cove. However, concern for tree stump on the bottom fouling the anchor and need for short scope of rode with a sentinel anchor to reduce swing, makings for careful cove selection. Docking at marina's courtesy dock for $10-20 (fresh water but no power) with the noise and racing cigarette boats clearing their carbureters in the early AM, make this a non starter. Only done in very high wind conditions due. No buoy moorings normally available on the lake.
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mike
anchor out
we like to anchor out.if its too gusty we stay at the dock.we only get one day so we really are never far from the marina .we like anchoring out every chance we get.
we like to anchor out.if its too gusty we stay at the dock.we only get one day so we really are never far from the marina .we like anchoring out every chance we get.
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Ron Barrow
Either
I always ask if pier space is available, but will anchor if it's not. Fortunately, Puget Sound has great anchorages available. Pier space is usually at a premium on weekends, so we always have a back up plan on where to anchor. Pier space is usually available during the week and we opt for that if it's available. My wife prefers to be pierside, but trusts my judgement when we anchor.
I always ask if pier space is available, but will anchor if it's not. Fortunately, Puget Sound has great anchorages available. Pier space is usually at a premium on weekends, so we always have a back up plan on where to anchor. Pier space is usually available during the week and we opt for that if it's available. My wife prefers to be pierside, but trusts my judgement when we anchor.
Throw the hook out !! Just kidding!
We spend weekends and long weekends at Santa Cruz Island, East Santa Barbara Channel Calif.Its always an experience, dingy around, plenty of stars at night an often good neighbors. Read a good book about anchoring "Staying Put" by Brian M. Fagan
We spend weekends and long weekends at Santa Cruz Island, East Santa Barbara Channel Calif.Its always an experience, dingy around, plenty of stars at night an often good neighbors. Read a good book about anchoring "Staying Put" by Brian M. Fagan
Rattles at anchor
Having missed the lock gate on Watchet Marina and been forced to then ride out a night at anchor down at Minehead in a Force 6, where the for about 2 hours of the tide, we ended up broadside on to a heavy swell, does nayknown know/have a proven method for stopping the MacGregor 26M's dagger board rattling and clanging all night. It doesn't matter if it is up or down - it bangs away, and half down you can see the casing taking the bashing as well? I have some ideas, but it is much easier to use a proven method (why reinvent the wheel?)
Having missed the lock gate on Watchet Marina and been forced to then ride out a night at anchor down at Minehead in a Force 6, where the for about 2 hours of the tide, we ended up broadside on to a heavy swell, does nayknown know/have a proven method for stopping the MacGregor 26M's dagger board rattling and clanging all night. It doesn't matter if it is up or down - it bangs away, and half down you can see the casing taking the bashing as well? I have some ideas, but it is much easier to use a proven method (why reinvent the wheel?)
Anchor in one particular harbor
As most of my sailing is along the Texas Intercoastal waterway, I bring the keel up and anchor in a nice cove along the way. About the only thing that rocks the boat is when a barge goes by in the night.
As most of my sailing is along the Texas Intercoastal waterway, I bring the keel up and anchor in a nice cove along the way. About the only thing that rocks the boat is when a barge goes by in the night.
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