Brian: "Castoff" asked how to set a tripline to help retrieve a fortress-type anchor, which you might not have seen. Could we get your thoughts on this? Without a tripline, I had trouble once with the rode becoming fouled around and under debri on the bottom when the wind was real low and variable so that the boat wandered all over its anchorage. Then after a strong blow, the rode was really stuck requiring a deep dive in cold water. I've used a tripline in that location since where it appears to be helpful in retrieving. Dick
Tripline
- Thread starter Dick of Sylvan
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Dick, with Fortress anchors and a few other brands, a hole is available in the rear part of the anchor to attach a shackle for a trip line. Here is how this can work: 1. Attach the shackle to the trip line hole, and to the shackle attach a 3/8" rope line that is long enough to reach the surface. Then attach a buoy to the end of the rope line. The buoy sits on the surface and bobs there. Then, if you can't pull the anchor out the usual way, which is by the anchor rode that you have attached to the top of the shank, you can grab the buoy and pull the anchor out from the rear. 2. This method is easier, but more risky: instead of attaching your shackle and chain/rope to the hole in the top of the shank, attach the shackle to the trip line hole. Run your chain up along side the shank, and put a tie wrap through a link of the chain and then through the hole in the top of the shank where the shackle would normally go. Tighten the tie wrap. Again, if you can't pull the anchor out when you are over top of it because the flukes are stuck, you can then go past the anchor and snap the tie wrap, and pull the anchor out by the rear where the shackle is attached to the trip line hole. I would never do this without someone being on watch, because with a windshift, the anchor might swing around and pop loose when you didn't intend it to! You may also consider using an anchor ball. I was at a seminar last night with a local sportfishing club, and that is pretty much the only way they retrieve an anchor.
Brian, how does the anchor ball work?
I have read the description in the WM catalog but cannot envision how it actually works... Thanks David
I have read the description in the WM catalog but cannot envision how it actually works... Thanks David
Brian, how does the anchor ball work?
David, here is a link to a web site with an easy to follow guide on how to use an anchor ball: http://www.fryingpantower.com/articles/Boat/how_to_use_an_anchorball.htm
David, here is a link to a web site with an easy to follow guide on how to use an anchor ball: http://www.fryingpantower.com/articles/Boat/how_to_use_an_anchorball.htm
Anchor Ball Magic
Brian: About 10 years ago we were on a guided halibut fishing trip near Homer,Alaska in the guide's 18 ft. alum. OB runabout. Our guide dropped anchor in about 50 ft of water and we drifted our heavy gear back into a 200 ft. hole in the tidal current. To pull the anchor he attached the ball to the rode and ran the boat past the anchor and beyond-- the ball ran down the rode and viola, soon up bobbed the ball and anchor where I pulled it in fairly easily. For a heavy anchor and no windless, it was pure magic. Fishing was good too! Dick
Brian: About 10 years ago we were on a guided halibut fishing trip near Homer,Alaska in the guide's 18 ft. alum. OB runabout. Our guide dropped anchor in about 50 ft of water and we drifted our heavy gear back into a 200 ft. hole in the tidal current. To pull the anchor he attached the ball to the rode and ran the boat past the anchor and beyond-- the ball ran down the rode and viola, soon up bobbed the ball and anchor where I pulled it in fairly easily. For a heavy anchor and no windless, it was pure magic. Fishing was good too! Dick
Anchor Ball Magic
Dick, I hear you! On occasion I talk with commercial fishermen out in the Pacific Northwest, and that is the ONLY way they retrieve their anchors. I think the bottom line is this: If you are anchoring in deep water and you will need to retrieve your anchor several times as you move around to find a better fishing spot, then consider using an anchor ball to make life easier. You might even consider using an anchor ball in place of a trip line if you have to anchor regularly in rocky bottom areas.
Dick, I hear you! On occasion I talk with commercial fishermen out in the Pacific Northwest, and that is the ONLY way they retrieve their anchors. I think the bottom line is this: If you are anchoring in deep water and you will need to retrieve your anchor several times as you move around to find a better fishing spot, then consider using an anchor ball to make life easier. You might even consider using an anchor ball in place of a trip line if you have to anchor regularly in rocky bottom areas.
OK, can someone explain how the ball gets
to the bottom if the anchor is stuck. It seems to me the ball can only move to the anchor if the anchor has been pulled free and is moving too. That means that if the anchor is stuck, and anchor ball can never go down to it. Am I missing something?
to the bottom if the anchor is stuck. It seems to me the ball can only move to the anchor if the anchor has been pulled free and is moving too. That means that if the anchor is stuck, and anchor ball can never go down to it. Am I missing something?
Fred, Seems like
the power boaters use their boats to yank their anchors off the bottom and use the float to bring 'em up. Least that's what the pictures in the referenced website show. Sure would be fun to be anchored closely off a beach with an offshore wind flow. Betcha the powerboats would end up on shore 'cause the instructions said Pull That-away. *5 Stu PS I agree, I don't get it either. Now matter how hard and fast you pull, how ya gonna get a 22# piece of steel to start to float?
the power boaters use their boats to yank their anchors off the bottom and use the float to bring 'em up. Least that's what the pictures in the referenced website show. Sure would be fun to be anchored closely off a beach with an offshore wind flow. Betcha the powerboats would end up on shore 'cause the instructions said Pull That-away. *5 Stu PS I agree, I don't get it either. Now matter how hard and fast you pull, how ya gonna get a 22# piece of steel to start to float?
Changes Scope
Stu and Fred: I think what happens is as the float ball is forced downward (as if by magic), the rode scope to the anchor changes. At some point the float pressure upward is enough to lift the flukes up a bit and the anchor slips out. The buoyancy of the float is greater than the weight of the anchor in water so it rises to the surface. When I saw it, it carried with it quite a bit of weed and the float was quite close to the anchor, just like the drawings. Suspect this works best in sandy or gravelly bottoms with only occasional rock, or near ledges, places good to fish. Dick
Stu and Fred: I think what happens is as the float ball is forced downward (as if by magic), the rode scope to the anchor changes. At some point the float pressure upward is enough to lift the flukes up a bit and the anchor slips out. The buoyancy of the float is greater than the weight of the anchor in water so it rises to the surface. When I saw it, it carried with it quite a bit of weed and the float was quite close to the anchor, just like the drawings. Suspect this works best in sandy or gravelly bottoms with only occasional rock, or near ledges, places good to fish. Dick
Anchor ball magic
I have a problem here. A buoy will float, and the anchor will stay on (or in) the seabed. The method, though, seem very elegant. I just don't understand what physical process is bringing the buoy close to the anchor. There is no way this bouy will moove downwards unless you drive off with large speed. ( Even that, I would believe to be difficult). I do believe, though, that if you get it there, it could lift your anchor. Where is the missing link??
I have a problem here. A buoy will float, and the anchor will stay on (or in) the seabed. The method, though, seem very elegant. I just don't understand what physical process is bringing the buoy close to the anchor. There is no way this bouy will moove downwards unless you drive off with large speed. ( Even that, I would believe to be difficult). I do believe, though, that if you get it there, it could lift your anchor. Where is the missing link??
Rode Slips through Ring
Kjell: The ring holding the ball is big so that rode slips through it easily. I guess as the boat moves in its arc away from the ball and the rode begins to tighten again, something has to give, either the anchor lifts or the ball has to go down. I suspect that the anchor usually breaks from the bottom before the ball gets real close, then the pull of the boat pulls the rode thru as it rises so that they reach the surface about the same time. When our guide did it, he didn't go especially fast though we did it against probably an 8 knot current. It would be interesting to see an underwater video of the process. Dick
Kjell: The ring holding the ball is big so that rode slips through it easily. I guess as the boat moves in its arc away from the ball and the rode begins to tighten again, something has to give, either the anchor lifts or the ball has to go down. I suspect that the anchor usually breaks from the bottom before the ball gets real close, then the pull of the boat pulls the rode thru as it rises so that they reach the surface about the same time. When our guide did it, he didn't go especially fast though we did it against probably an 8 knot current. It would be interesting to see an underwater video of the process. Dick
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