Mini rant
Just returned from Block Island. Anchored next to a guy who put out 130 ft of chain in 10 ft of water at high tide.
Crowded anchorage? Don’t be that guy.
Agreed! It's anchor hogging. And not without risks. That boat will not turn in harmony with its neighbors creating chances of bumping or rode entanglements. And the chance of someone going along and dropping a hook between his boat and his anchor are pretty good - especially in that part of the harbor. Out in the deeper anchorage where it's 25' that might be appropriate. Still a bit much with chain.
What were the current and forecast conditions? Have to consider the advisory reading material out there that recommends scopes of 10:1. Although it has also been pointed out that one gets a very small increment in additional holding power at scopes greater than 7:1. That is, holding power at 7:1 is effectively very near what you’d get at 10:1. So, there is rarely the need to deploy 10:1 in the practical setting, at least within protected anchorages and harbors. Moreover, with chain rode you can probably cut it down to 5:1. But if facing incoming seas a greater amount chain scope will dampen shock loads that the anchor might experience that could yank it out. It depends on the conditions, as always. But yes, such boaters are a nuisance in an anchorage when the conditions do not warrant that amount of scope (which is most of the time when boats are in it), IMO.
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